ode to billy joe be a humerous and touch tale of event lead up to why billy joe mcallister jump off the tallahatchie bridge and a relate in the bobbie gentry hit . director max baer jr. ( who would have think jethro have this kind of talent . ) skillfully re create an atmosphere of 1950 rural mississippi . and breathes life into character only hint at in the song . script by herman raucher and with the same feeling of nostalgia he give summer of 42 and and beautifully score by michel legrand and ode to billy joe be a sweet and touch story of the awkwardness of teenage love and and the consequence of an unfortunate event and which and in today politically correct time and would probably be scorn or laugh at . glynnis oconnor and robby benson and be re team after their excellent debut in jeremy . another treasured film on vhs and that i hope will someday come out on dvd .