Bill: On His Own (1983 TV Movie) User Reviews

Occasionally heart warming but unnecessary

[gcd70 · 6/10 · 1 March 2008]

Though occasionally heart warming and moving, this rather unnecessary sequel is just too formulated and predictable.

We pick up the story of the rather amazing Bill Sackter roughly where we left off, though time seems to have passed for some and not for others. In fact the plot is at times quite unclear and even patchy, giving one the impression that several events that occurred over a prolonged period were crammed into a few months in order to create this film.

Director Anthony Page plays on the emotional stronghold he knows he has on us. Being on such an obvious winner with "Bill", the creative crew have gone for broke with this sequel. The result, sadly, is a tele-movie that is just too contrived.

Most of the original cast return, including Dennis Quaid and Largo Woodruff, while a very young Helen Hunt (from TV's "Mad About You") freshens up proceedings as a college major who feels helping "Bill" hone his social skills would make a fascinating study. And the man himself, Mickey Rooney, is a complete delight yet again.

Writer/director Page somehow draws out the short story to ninety minutes, though most won't notice. Worthwhile and enjoyable.

Saturday, December 16, 1995 - Video

Further adventures of Bill...

[planktonrules · 8/10 · 2 January 2024]

In 1981, a made for TV movie debuted about a man named Bill Sackter. Bill was a mentally challenged guy who had lived most of his life in an institution and he was eventually befriended by a filmmaker named Barry, who eventually became Bill's caretaker. The film was exquisitely made and Mickey Rooney did a great job playing the title character...and it wasn't surprising that the film earned two Emmys.

Because "Bill" was so successful, it isn't surprising that Barry Morrow decided to write a sequel. However, the movie was not as well received and only received one Emmy nomination. It's also sad to note that before the film debuted on TV, the real life Bill had died and never got a chance to see this sequel.

When the film begins, Barry and his family move away and Bill is taken to live at a group home. The film is about his adjustment to the program as well as his relationship with a young budding social worker (Helen Hunt). However, after a 'helpful neighbor' points out that the group home is overcrowded and violates the zoning laws, Bill might need to find a new home.

As in the past film, Mickey Rooney is very good as Bill. Helen Hunt is just okay as the well-meaning but clueless social worker...and I think it's mostly because of how the character was written. Me being a former social worker doubtless was why I felt frustrated by the character. Still, the rest of the movie is enjoyable and interesting...though not nearly as much as the first story...hence its lower score than "Bill".

By the way, not only did Barry Morrow write this film and co-wrote "Bill", he later wrote "Rain Man"...which was inspired in many ways from the Bill movies.

By the way, I worked in two group homes for the mentally challenged in the 1980s...and, sadly, problems with neighbors complaining about the residents wasn't uncommon at all. Also what wasn't uncommon and is talked about in BOTH films is the abusive treatment these folks often experienced in various state institutions.

Facing homelessness thanks to idiotic red tape and stupid zoning laws.

[mark.waltz · 6/10 · 2 December 2021]

While well acted and not bad, this is very disappointing thanks to a weaker script and a depressing story. Bill bids his friends (Dennis Quaid and Largo Woodruff) off to California as he moves into the boarding house run by Teresa Wright but city zoning laws makes his presence violating the law. Along comes novice social worker Helen Hunt whose inexperience is noticeable to the audience and one of the other tenants ("You don't listen very well"), and that makes her well-meaning character not very likable.

After a while, her presence gets frustrating and you long for the return of his black social worker from the previous movie. She may have had her frustrations and weaknesses, but underneath that, you could see she really was trying to work with him rather than openly degrade him. It's not Hunt's fault. She's playing the role as written, but it's weak writing that makes her character an intruder rather than a welcome presence.

Among the other tenants of Wright's boarding house is Edie McClurg, terrific as a mentally disabled woman who seems to have a crush on Bill. Marianna Clore Blase is the city worker who seems to have no interest in trying to find a loophole to help Wright, professional but cold, and while I did not like the character, I found the actress fascinating for reminding me of a combination of Nancy Marchand and Priscilla Morrill. It's obvious now that the plot will have twist that lightens her up so do will be able to stay. But the story seems forced and ultimately an unnecessary sequel to a great TV movie.

Credits - Helen Hunt - Mickey Rooney - Edie McClurg

[eburg-2 · 1 November 2003]

The credits for this film failed to recognize the contributions of myself and the residents of the Center For The Retarded in Houston.

The film was filmed in Houston and San Antonio. I was hired as a consultant to the film, participated in readings for authenticity as to script and dialogue.

The people in my Independent Living Program at Center For The Retarded, were in the movie.

While sitting in on readings, I suggested several changes to the script to make it more realistic. My suggestions were incorporated into the script. One primary suggestion was to change the occupation of Helen Hunt from a Special Education teacher to a social worker.

As regards Helen: I've never been able to watch her in any other venues since then (I liked her in the movie with Jack Nicholson though -thought she portrayed a real person in that role).

During the script readings, for whatever reason, she walked in to the readings with a very cold attitude. She displayed an annoyance for being there, would not communicate with people, read her lines, came and left without comment, was very negative.

During the filming in San Antonio, when the people from my program were cast as extras as people sitting in the 'nursing home' that Bill was possibly being placed into....Helen totally ignored them, wouldn't communicate with any of us.

On the other hand, Edie McClurg and Mickey Rooney were fantastic. During the filming in San Antonio, Mickey received information that day that the Supreme Court had rejected a decision related to compensations for actors for movies made prior to television presently being aired on television. Mickey was very upset, was extremely irritated. He was scaring my people. I went up to him, told him he was scaring my people with his ravings. He immediately stopped, apologized and went over and talked with each person, gave them extremely genuine affection and conversation, a true gentleman and nice guy.

Edie told a fascinating story during one of our readings about being in Paris and walking across a bridge. A group of kids who had developmental disabilities were walking across the bridge, all holding on to a rope behind their teacher. As Edie walked by them, she heard them talking in French. She expressed her surprise to hear these children with developmental disabilities talking in French, commenting that her mouth dropped open, looking and listening in astonishment that these children were talking in French. She commented on how hard she had been studying French and was so surprised to hear them talking in French until she realized...duh.....their French!

She was an absolute delight, her performance was extremely genuine and real in this movie. She spent a lot of time with the people in my program. They really loved she and Mickey. They didn't know who either of them were, especially who Mickey was in the history of cinema, but they loved them both; with the love that only people with developmental disabilities can provide unconditionally and honestly.

The ending credits show the real Bill meeting people at the Center For The Retarded in Houston.

having grown up with mentally challenged siblings

[gordonbrea · 10/10 · 6 May 2012]

Having grown up with mentally challenged siblings this movie is such a sweet and heart warming movie. It touched my heart and gave me hope that someday my sisters could and would be accepted in this world as well as valued the way I value them.... I know the pain of having someone who is different if you will in your life that you love and respect and to have to watch them being treated as less than human its just not right! Bill is so correct when he says Jesus loves us ALL! We should all take the time to know someone like Bill he was and is an inspiration! God bless you ALWAYS BILL SACKTER AND BARRY MORROW & YOUR ENTIRE FAMILY FOR BEING THE FAMILY BILL NEEDED AND Didn't HAVE. thank you so much for this movie!

The challenged world can be brutal

[Delrvich · 10/10 · 30 April 2021]

10 for inspiring. I've not seen the other Bill movies but this one only gives a small glimpse of how unfair, lonely, and dangerous it can be for the mentally challenged especially if orphaned and or also physically disabled.