The Ballad of Andy Crocker
Encyclopedia
The Ballad of Andy Crocker is the title of a 1969 American
made-for-television film
which was first broadcast by ABC
.
The film tells the story of a young man's struggle to reclaim his life after fighting in the Vietnam War
. It approaches a surreal, allegorical tale, similar to The Swimmer
, starring Burt Lancaster
. Written by actor Stuart Margolin
, the film is notable as being one of the very first films to deal with the subject matter of Vietnam veterans "coming home". It is also noted for its unusual casting, which placed a number of noted musical artists in key acting roles.
, in his first lead acting role, stars as Andy Crocker, a soldier who is wounded in a gun battle in Vietnam
. Awarded the Purple Heart
, Crocker is sent home to Dallas, Texas
where he reunites with his parents (played by Pat Hingle
and Claudia Bryar
). Crocker says that all that kept him going during the trials of Vietnam was his dreams of running a motorcycle racing track and marrying his sweetheart, Lisa (Joey Heatherton
).
Crocker, however, soon discovers that his friends and loved ones have moved on while he was in Vietnam. Lisa has married another man (her "Dear John" letter to Andy apparently never received), and a friend entrusted to take care of the motorcycle track business (Mack, played by Jimmy Dean
) has made arrangements to sell it out from under Andy. An attempt at rekindling his relationship with Lisa ends in disaster.
Ultimately, Andy finds himself running afoul of Lisa's family (particularly her rich mother, played by Agnes Moorehead
, who offers Andy a loan to help save the racetrack as long as he leaves town), and the law after he punches Mack for betraying him. Fleeing from the Dallas area, Andy eventually finds himself in San Francisco where be briefly reunites with his old army friend David (played by Marvin Gaye
). Afterwards, realizing he has nowhere else to go, he sits down in front of a U.S. Army Recruiting Office and waits for the doors to open.
Also appearing in the film is Bobby Hatfield
of The Righteous Brothers
as a restaurant owner.
The title of the film refers to a song (co-written by Margolin) that recurs throughout the film as "Greek chorus
" to the events unfolding. Singer/songwriter Murray Macleod sang the title song.
The Ballad of Andy Crocker has fallen into the public domain
in North America, and is widely available on DVD. According to Allmovie, the film was intended as a pilot
for a potential weekly series ("Corporal Crocker"), but no series eventuated.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
made-for-television film
Television movie
A television film is a feature film that is a television program produced for and originally distributed by a television network, in contrast to...
which was first broadcast by ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
.
The film tells the story of a young man's struggle to reclaim his life after fighting in the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
. It approaches a surreal, allegorical tale, similar to The Swimmer
The Swimmer (film)
The Swimmer is a 1968 American film directed by Frank Perry and starring Burt Lancaster. The surreal, allegorical tale is based on the 1964 short story by John Cheever, adapted by Eleanor Perry, the director's wife...
, starring Burt Lancaster
Burt Lancaster
Burton Stephen "Burt" Lancaster was an American film actor noted for his athletic physique and distinctive smile...
. Written by actor Stuart Margolin
Stuart Margolin
Stuart Margolin is an American film and television actor and director.-Television:Margolin is best known for his role on the television show The Rockford Files, playing Evelyn "Angel" Martin, the shifty friend and former cellmate of Jim Rockford...
, the film is notable as being one of the very first films to deal with the subject matter of Vietnam veterans "coming home". It is also noted for its unusual casting, which placed a number of noted musical artists in key acting roles.
Plot summary
Lee MajorsLee Majors
Lee Majors is an American television, film and voice actor, best known for his starring role as Colonel Steve Austin in The Six Million Dollar Man and as Colt Seavers in The Fall Guy ....
, in his first lead acting role, stars as Andy Crocker, a soldier who is wounded in a gun battle in Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
. Awarded the Purple Heart
Purple Heart
The Purple Heart is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the President to those who have been wounded or killed while serving on or after April 5, 1917 with the U.S. military. The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor is located in New Windsor, New York...
, Crocker is sent home to Dallas, Texas
Dallas, Texas
Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
where he reunites with his parents (played by Pat Hingle
Pat Hingle
Martin Patterson "Pat" Hingle was an American actor.-Early life:Hingle was born Martin Patterson Hingle in Miami, Florida, the son of Marvin Louise , a schoolteacher and musician, and Clarence Martin Hingle, a building contractor. Hingle enlisted in the U.S. Navy in December 1941, dropping out of...
and Claudia Bryar
Claudia Bryar
Claudia Bryar was an American actress who mostly specialized in television. Active from the 1950s to the 1980s, she is perhaps best known for her role as Mrs...
). Crocker says that all that kept him going during the trials of Vietnam was his dreams of running a motorcycle racing track and marrying his sweetheart, Lisa (Joey Heatherton
Joey Heatherton
Joey Heatherton is an American actress, dancer, and singer.-Early life:Christened Davenie Johanna Heatherton and nicknamed "Joey," she was raised in Rockville Centre, New York, a suburb of New York City. There she attended St. Agnes Cathedral School, a Catholic grade and high school...
).
Crocker, however, soon discovers that his friends and loved ones have moved on while he was in Vietnam. Lisa has married another man (her "Dear John" letter to Andy apparently never received), and a friend entrusted to take care of the motorcycle track business (Mack, played by Jimmy Dean
Jimmy Dean
Jimmy Ray Dean was an American country music singer, television host, actor and businessman. Although he may be best known today as the creator of the Jimmy Dean sausage brand, he became a national television personality starting in 1957, rising to fame for his 1961 country crossover hit "Big Bad...
) has made arrangements to sell it out from under Andy. An attempt at rekindling his relationship with Lisa ends in disaster.
Ultimately, Andy finds himself running afoul of Lisa's family (particularly her rich mother, played by Agnes Moorehead
Agnes Moorehead
Agnes Robertson Moorehead was an American actress. Although she began with the Mercury Theatre, appeared in more than seventy films beginning with Citizen Kane and on dozens of television shows during a career that spanned more than thirty years, Moorehead is most widely known to modern audiences...
, who offers Andy a loan to help save the racetrack as long as he leaves town), and the law after he punches Mack for betraying him. Fleeing from the Dallas area, Andy eventually finds himself in San Francisco where be briefly reunites with his old army friend David (played by Marvin Gaye
Marvin Gaye
Marvin Pentz Gay, Jr. , better known by his stage name Marvin Gaye, was an American singer-songwriter and musician with a three-octave vocal range....
). Afterwards, realizing he has nowhere else to go, he sits down in front of a U.S. Army Recruiting Office and waits for the doors to open.
Also appearing in the film is Bobby Hatfield
Bobby Hatfield
Robert Lee "Bobby" Hatfield was an American singer, best known as one half of the Righteous Brothers.-Early life:...
of The Righteous Brothers
The Righteous Brothers
The Righteous Brothers were the musical duo of Bill Medley and Bobby Hatfield. They recorded from 1963 through 1975, and continued to perform until Hatfield's death in 2003...
as a restaurant owner.
The title of the film refers to a song (co-written by Margolin) that recurs throughout the film as "Greek chorus
Greek chorus
A Greek chorus is a homogenous, non-individualised group of performers in the plays of classical Greece, who comment with a collective voice on the dramatic action....
" to the events unfolding. Singer/songwriter Murray Macleod sang the title song.
The Ballad of Andy Crocker has fallen into the public domain
Public domain
Works are in the public domain if the intellectual property rights have expired, if the intellectual property rights are forfeited, or if they are not covered by intellectual property rights at all...
in North America, and is widely available on DVD. According to Allmovie, the film was intended as a pilot
Television pilot
A "television pilot" is a standalone episode of a television series that is used to sell the show to a television network. At the time of its inception, the pilot is meant to be the "testing ground" to see if a series will be possibly desired and successful and therefore a test episode of an...
for a potential weekly series ("Corporal Crocker"), but no series eventuated.