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    Nostalgia Central
    Home»Movies»Movies by Decade»Movies - 1970s
    Movies - 1970s Movies - B 2 Mins Read

    Betsy, The (1978)

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    Based on a novel by Harold Robbins, The Betsy looks like a TV miniseries with added nudity and swearing as hot-shot racing driver Angelo Perino with mob connections (Tommy Lee Jones) and crusty old car manufacturer and owner of the Bethlehem Motor Company Loren Hardeman Sr. – referred to as “Number One” by everyone – (Laurence Olivier) take turns to work their way through the female members of the cast.

    The duo also attempts to design an economic everyday production-line car that will transform the industry, called the Betsy – after Hardeman’s granddaughter (Kathleen Beller). Of course, Detroit – and revenge-driven grandson Loren Hardeman III (Robert Duvall) – do their damndest to kill the revolutionary car off.

    The film has two stories in one: a 1970s drama with a series of flashbacks to the Roaring Twenties. Basically, it’s a fairly confusing tale of whom is having an affair with whom. We learn that Hardeman Snr earlier had an affair with his son’s wife (Katharine Ross), while the son indulged in homosexual goings-on.

    Hardeman’s grandson commits adultery with Lady Bobby Ayres (Lesley-Anne Down) who, in turn, is sharing a bed with Angelo Perino, who is also the love target of the real Betsy.

    Olivier, Duvall, and Lee Jones are terrible in this (one assumes the money must’ve been great!), the script is appalling and many of the younger leads are just bland and boring – but if you like trash and glitter and sex, this is probably the film for you.

    Number One (Loren Hardeman Sr.)
    Laurence Olivier
    Loren Hardeman III
    Robert Duvall
    Sally Hardeman
    Katharine Ross
    Angelo Perino
    Tommy Lee Jones
    Alicia Hardeman
    Jane Alexander
    Lady Bobby Ayres
    Lesley-Anne Down
    Jake Weinstein
    Joseph Wiseman
    Betsy Hardeman
    Kathleen Beller
    Dan Weyman
    Edward Herrmann
    Loren Hardeman Jr.
    Paul Rudd
    John Duncan
    Roy Poole
    Mark Sampson
    Richard Venture
    Angelo Luigi Perino
    Titos Vandis
    Joe Warren
    Clifford David
    Mrs Craddock
    Inga Swenson

    Director
    Daniel Petrie

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