Buster and Billie (1974)

Undescribable Perfection

As Good As It Gets

a film so unique, intoxicating and bizarre that it not only demands another viewing, but is also forgivable as a satirical comedy where the jokes eventually take the back seat.

A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.

This movie was an excellent story about teens and what happens when there is no commutation. I lived this story. Only I'm still alive to talk about it. Thats the way it was in the south even in the sixties.Jan Michael Vincent did a great job.I think it was one of his best performances.It's been a long time since I've seen the movie. I wish I could find it to buy. I would like my daughter to see it. At the time this movie came out things weren't quite as bold so it wasn't well reviewed at that time.But now it would fit in just write!!! I think they should try to remake it.I think Brad Pitts would make a good Buster and not sure who Billie would be.

For all his faults, JAN MICHAEL VINCENT certainly made some great movies in the seventies (be it, THE BIG Wednesday, HOOPER, THE MECHANIC, VIGILANTE FORCE) including this (little seen) gem. VINCENT plays Buster, a tough, high-school loner, who against the wishes of his (childish, rather ugly) friends, dates the local good-time girl (of whom, most of busters friends have been casually 'involved' with) But these two opposites find love, but as in all classic love tales, their romance is doomed. To give anything else away, would ruin this highly original period piece(set in 1948.) Needless to say, it does continue the ever growing trend of seventies movies, and features a downbeat ending. Long after the viewer shakes off initial images of sexist, drunken teens, several scenes of true beauty, shine through this great movie. The period details are spot-on, and there's not one bad performance (look out for a young ROBERT ENGLUND) but as with most other JMV movies, Hollywood soon moved onto bigger (although, not always better) actors, and he soon became a tragic casualty of cinema. He certainly had the 'look' (predating the 'tom cruise' boyish-good looks) but unfortunately ended up, in bad TV movies or low budget dreck (ENEMY TERRITORY aside) Too bad, because he had the makings of another JAMES DEAN (and gives a similar performance in this movie) Hunt this movie out (if you can, it's quite rare) but you'll be glad you did. Another notable aspect, is the fine (and rather haunting) musical score, including the main theme (sung by HOYT AXTON) which never fails to bring a lump in my throat, and made all the more lyrical, by the movies tragic (yet strangely, touching) ending.A fine unseen gem, and well worth hunting down piece of 70's obscure 10 out of 10

Buster and Billie touched my heart i was twelve the first time i seen it at our small town drive-in i'm forty-two now. It was a true love story i remember crying so much and thinking Billie never had ever hurt anyone in her life or Buster. I loved it when he bought her that beautiful dress because she had never had anything. Buster was so in love with her and treated her so very special like Billie deserved. I would love to see it again if i could find it. I would for sure need tissues if i watched it again it was so very sad. I'm so glad they found one another and had a wonderful time together even though it was a short time. I hope all of you who enjoy a great movie get to see it. Tam from Indiana

This is the kind of movie that hard-core movie fans watch again and again and talk about endlessly. I have seen it a dozen times and there is more to it each time. But we have to ask how it narrowly missed greatness.The chemistry between Jan Michael Vincent and Joan Goodfellow works as it is; but Hollywood was so intent on making JVM a "star" that much stronger actors were passed over. The biggest imponderable is this: Roberta Pedon read for the part of "Billie"; if she had been chosen for the role (despite her well-known drug problems and troubled past) and a stronger male actor cast as "Buster", this movie could have become a downbeat version of "Casablanca" for the baby-boom generation. Joan Goodfellow plays the "Billie" role in an intentionally understated and professional manner; but Vincent can't seem to decide whether he is playing a tormented lover or a kung-fu fighter. He fails at both.