BILL

US, 1981, 100 minutes, Colour.
Mickey Rooney, Dennis Quaid.
Directed by Anthony Page.

Bill is a very fine telemovie. It shows the true story of Bill Sackter, who spent 44 years in a mental institution, and with the friendship of a young film-maker, was able to be released and live a life on his own. The film has one of Mickey Rooney's best performances. He looks, acts like, sound like the character he is portraying. It is an insightful and empathetic performance. He is well-supported by Dennis Quaid as the young man who helps him. While the film is geared towards the broad television audience, it has strength and substance in its screenplay and in its presentation of the grim realities of Bill's life. Direction is by Englishman, Anthony Page.

1. The quality of this telemovie? Impact? A true story? The Emmy Award to Mickey Rooney?

2. An authentic atmosphere? Acting and situations, dialogue, incidents, empathy? The ending and the transition to the real Bill Sackter? His achievement and recognition?

3. The atmosphere of the Mid-West? The cities, institutions, education, filmmaking?

4. Mickey Rooney's presence, appearance, manner of speaking? Warmth, timing? Sympathy and understanding?

5. Audience response to the retarded man and his development? The opening with Bill watching Santa Claus with the children, 'Ho ho ho'? The introduction to Bill, his walking the city, the wino and his being bashed? Miss Keating rescuing him? His return to Grandville - and the revelation that he had spent over 40 years? His job at the Country Club, the quality of his work? His simplicity, child-like behaviour and speaking? His age, appearance, baldness, toupee - good hair being the sign of a good man, his comments that he didn't want to be a low-grade man? His simplicity and honesty? Background, his mother putting him in the institution when young, her inability to handle him, his sister and the absence from her?

6. The portrait of the institution: the high grim walls? the introduction to Ray and Bill talking with him, playing the organ for him? Barry's visit to the room, with the inmates of the asylum? His reaction, audience reaction? Authorities and their running of such institutions? Miss Keating and the welfare organisation? The personal attention, lack of it?

7. Barry as a young man with ambition, his work, education, film-making? His relationship with Beverley? The warmth of the scenes with the couple? An atmosphere of truth about their relationship? Sharing ups and downs, Bev's pregnancy, the preparations for the birth? the baby, the delight in the baby's birth? Bill becoming part of their lives? Bev's uncertainties? Barry's delight with Bill? The visit to Barry's parents and Bill's misjudarlent at the table, his being hurt, the reconciliation?

8. The bond between Barry and Bill? The idea of the film, 'The Bill Show'? Barry delighted, listening to Bill, filming him speak, eliciting his life from him, Bill's dislike of Grandville, Barry's wanting him to go back, Bill having enough, fearing that Barry was leaving him? Barry admitting his mistake? The success of the film, the progress of their friendship? Barry's discussions with Miss Keating - and her pointing out that film-making ends? The question of the benefit to Bill? His new teeth, the visit to Larry's parents? The work at the Country Club, his wandering, hospitalisation, his bad leg? His inability to remember Barry's phone number? The delights in seeing Barry at the hospital, his trusting him? Buddies? Going to Iowa, Barry's guardianship? Bill and his charm with the baby? His working at the school, friendship with Amy, the suspicions of the teachers and parents? Tom getting him a job? Mrs Archer and her hostility? Barry's discussions with Mrs Archer? Success with Bill's Coffee Shop?

9. Bill and his simplicity, his liking people, relationship with Ray, with Tom, with the workmen, with Mae, with Amy?

10. The sketch of authorities: Miss Keating, Tom, Mrs Archer? Kindness, fears, apprehensions?

11. A film of warmth and understanding, Bill showing what it was to be a human being irrespective of intellectual development?

12. A film of the quality of human life and values?