BILL ON HIS OWN
US, 1983, 100 minutes, Colour.
Mickey Rooney, Helen Hunt, Teresa Wright, Dennis Quaid.
Directed by Anthony Page.
Bill On His Own is the impressive sequel to the moving telemovie Bill, starring Mickey Rooney as William. Sacter, a retarded man who spent 44 years in an institution and on his release managed to make his way in his world. This film follows immediately on the original and was made by the same director and crew. The screenplay was written by Barry Morrow, played by Denis Quaid in the film.
Mickey Rooney won an Emmy Award for his excellent performance as Bill. He makes the character come alive. He is just as effective in the sequel. As with the original, the sequel contains footage showing the real Bill Sacter. He died at the time of the making of the sequel.
The film offers a picture of a human being with great personal presence, victimised because of criteria for intelligence, but showing that he had an important place in the world. Denis Quaid makes a guest appearance as Barry Morrow. There is excellent support, especially from Teresa Wright as Bill's landlady. The films offer a great deal of in sight into the plight of those considered retarded.
1. An interesting and engaging sequel? The impact of Bill's character? Situations? The reality of William Sacter? The quality of Mickey Rooney's performance?
2. The prologue highlighting the outline of the first film? The epilogue with the footage of the real William Sacter and the tribute to him? Barry Morrow's writing of the screenplay? The information about Bill's death?
3. The portrait of a human being, a worthwhile human being, an emotional portrait of Bill? Audience understanding? The criterion of intelligence? The nature of wit and wits? Learning? Presence, friendship?
4. Audience response to Bill and the background of the original film?
5. His work in the coffee shop, his success, the faulty connections, the fire, the destruction of the coffee shop, the plea for its rebuilding, the success of the new coffee shop? An achievement of Bill, for Bill?
6. Barry Morrow and his friendship, help? His wife and child? The delightful sequences of Bill with this family and with the child? The visit to California, enjoying the outing, the pier? Barry's decision to help Bill face the facts that he must go back home?
7. Jenny as a typical student, full of good will and theory? Her wanting to help? Tom's warning? Her encounter with Bill, wanting to teach him, her impulsiveness, hard attitude and her having to apologise? Seeing him try to use the phone? Attempts at teaching - and not estimating the way Bill's mind worked? Enrolling him with the school? Taking him to the restaurant, anger about his cap and her insensitivity? Her boyfriend and his anxiety? Her friendship with Bill? Her unwillingness to let him go? Her giving up? The discussions with May and the others? Her presence at his Bar Mitzvah? Her plea to the Board about the rebuilding of the coffee shop? Her return to discuss
her future with him? What she had learnt from her experience with Bill? Her future social work?
8. Tom and his help, warning to Jenny, his presence at the Bar Mitzvah, the plea to the Board about the library or the coffee shop?
9. Bill at home and his friendship with may, friendship with Angela, Ken? The visits of Mrs. Driscoll and the possible eviction? Chasing the dog down the street and the boy's mother warning her son against Bill? His rescuing the dog and the mother's thanking him?
10. The portrait of May, a good woman, her document, the search, Mrs. Driscoll's visit, the visit to her office, the Bar Mitzvah, discovering the document in the Bible? Her joy in having Bill? Angela and her doll, jealousies and rivalry, love for Bill? Ken and his powers of observation, sardonic?
11. Mrs Driscoll and officialdom, decisions, documents? Her afternoon tea visit?
12. Bill as a good man, his own comments about being good? His success? The rules? Portrait of a warm and compassionate man?
