Harold Robbin's sexy best seller stars Tommy Lee Jones as a racing driver drawn into the spider's web of a Detroit carmaking dynasty. Checkered flag support from Laurence Olivier, Robert Duvall and Leslie-Anne Down. Year: ... more »1978 Director: Daniel Petrie Starring: Laurence Olivier, Robert Duvall, Katharine Ross« less
Steve S. (Spat) from WAINSCOTT, NY Reviewed on 5/11/2022...
Lord Larry has a field day, a role accepted for shits and giggles.
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Movie Reviews
I liked it quite a bit
Alamo_guy | 09/27/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I always liked it. My son said it was flawed. That was so many years ago. I liked the story and I liked the actors. It kept me entertained flaws or no flaws. Tommy Lee Jones and Robert Duval are standouts. They got John Barry to write the music so it can't be all bad. My days are numbered. This was one of the first DVDs that my son bought. He just found it in that pile of rubble he keeps in his room. I asked him for years to play it for me. Now I am too tired and it doesn't seem all that important. He put it in the player but the images seem to have lost the magic. The first time I saw it there was magic. I remember that it had a good story. The kind of story I like to see when I go to the movies. Well Tommy Lee and Duvall are still plugging away. Maybe there is magic in the world after all.
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First Rate Trash Wallow
David Baldwin | Philadelphia,PA USA | 01/28/2006
(4 out of 5 stars)
"There are moments in "The Betsy" where you think you're watching something as profound as "The Godfather" before you pinch yourself and realize you are watching what is essentially schlock. Entertaining, well-crafted schlock but schlock nonetheless. It's Harold Robbins for goodness sake. Credit director Daniel Petrie and his scriptwriters for fashioning a film that is almost respectable. A first-rate cast is assembled to give the film some gravity led by Laurence Olivier as a scion of an auto empire who is as ruthless in the boardroom as he is in his personal relationships. A young Tommy Lee Jones impresses as an ambitious auto racer. Absolutely luminous are Lesley Anne Down as a gold-digging Brit and Kathleen Beller as Olivier's granddaughter. I've never read a Harold Robbins book the film feels like one of those page turners you read on a lazy summer day."
A So-Bad-It's-Great Classic
lothar-the-conqueror | Lotharvania, USA | 05/16/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"There's so much awfulness to love in this movie, a camp classic done as straight as an arrow. I have a hard time figuring out what's my favorite thing about this movie because there's so much to love -- the total miscasting? Olivier's "Americanish" accent which is frequently slurred? The complete lack of chemistry between any of the principle characters? That "Where's My Paycheck?" look on Katherine Ross' face? The way Tommy Lee Jones spits out his lines so quickly like he needs to leave the set early to go to the Coal Miner's Daughter audition? ... The heavily gauzed-lens flashbacks? The complete implausibility of Harold Robbins' story? Mansions decorated with whicker furniture? Sir Larry's parade of horrendous toupees?If you miss Dynasty or The Colbys for any of the above reasons, or if you are just a connoisseur of So-Bad-They're-Great movies you can't miss this one. ..."
Tommy Lee Jones at his sexiest!!!
lumberjack75 | Texas | 08/18/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"One of my favorite trashy, guilty pleasures movies. This is the story of a dysfunctional family, prominent in the auto manufactuing business. It is great fun to watch Robert Duvall and Sir Lawrence Olivier try to one-up each other, with Tommy Lee Jones as a sort of good guy, with an agenda of his own."
Not a masterpiece but still good
David Baldwin | 10/20/2003
(3 out of 5 stars)
"The betsy which is based on a novel by Harold Robbins is not a very good movie but it is not that bad.I didn't like Olivier's performance but i think Tommy Lee Jones did great.The love scenes in the movie are very beautiful and Kathleen Beller is a very gorgeous actress [Most known for her role as Kirby andrews in Dynasty] and i adore her love scene with Tommy Lee Jones."