Bernice Bobs Her Hair

well, we watched this movie in English class. Not only is it a movie from the 70s (you can tell from the picture quality), but it's absolutely absurd. The girl who plays Bernice is, well, either awful or incredibly good. Bernice is this sad, pathetic, horse-toothed girl who spends the summer with her pretty and popular cousin Marjorie. THe movie was slow-moving, but very funny. I laughed the entire time I watched it because Bernice was such a sad little person.She only showed true spirit at the end. If you would like to have yourself a good laugh, or don't mind losing 45 minutes of your life, this is a pretty good way to spend it. I'ts ridiculous and silly and entertaining, mostly because Bernice is the strangest person I have ever had the privilege to watch.

Shelley Duvall is perfection, as Bernice, in this 1976 TV movie adapted from F. Scott Fitzgerald's short story, "Bernice Bobs Her Hair." It's only 45 minutes long, but I watched it on a streaming channel that ran it with ads (many, many ads) so, word to the wise, try to find it without commercials!

The sets and costumes are lovely and all the actors are charming, giving it an authentic feeling of the year 1919, just as the so-called flapper age was about to begin. Socially awkward Bernice is being coached by her cousin, Marjorie, in how to become more popular. As an offhand remark, Marjorie suggests that Bernice ought to "bob" her hair...

I found the story captivating and heartily recommend it to anyone who likes Fitzgerald, or period pieces, or Shelley Duvall. 10/10.

I thoroughly enjoyed 'Bernice Bobs Her Hair.' The story is that of Bernice, played by the stunning Shelly Duvall, who spends the summer with her cousin, Marjorie. It ended up being a sweet and saxy summer that no one would ever forget. Marjorie decides that before her cousin leaves, she should teach her a little something about what it's like winning the men during the mid-1920's! Marjorie sasses up a big bowl of attitude when she realizes that her own friends have taken a shine to Beatrice! The story culminates at the trilling and shocking surprise ending of the movie! 'Bernice Bobs Her Hair' gives us an steamy, intimate peek into the scandalous lives of the rich. This movie has everything: love, lust, adventure, exploitation, deceit, and revenge. A must see!

Before diving into the play, PBS-produced film released as part of the esteemed American Short Story Collection, based on the book by F. Scott Fitzgerald, we get a fantastic and in-depth (yet only three-minute) forward narrated by Henry Fonda. It is worth viewing alone.

Bernice (Shelly Duvall) seems to be a dud. She is not like her sophisticated cousin Marjorie (Veronica Cartwright). So, Marjorie helps Bernice become a cut above (taking lessons on how to become) and only then realizes what she did.

We may all learn a lesson from this. I think I will cut my hair. Somehow I do not think it will have the same effect.

Wishing to lift our spirits before jumping into a heavily themed discussion about "The Great Gatsby," my teacher showed our class this short and enjoyable story. She described it as a "chick-flick" and perhaps she was right. I found it entertaining and one could easily identify with the b***hy Marjorie or timid Bernice. Marjorie was the average girl who was popular and had boys aching to dance with her, while Bernice was her homely, boring cousin staying for a summer visit. Naturally, Marjorie felt she was superior to Bernice and felt like her vapid cousin's inability to socialize was ruining her whole summer. What followed a slow beginning was a light-hearted and funny transformation of Bernice. You will be shocked at the end.

The picture quality was rather poor and at times it was hard for a young child of the 80's like me to understand what they were saying. However, these unpleasant elements did not detract from my enjoyment of the story. The characters and plot were all believable. Although the ending was fitting and a splendid example of poetic justice, my whole class was left wanting to see more. See this film if you like to see film adaptations of Fitzgerald's and do not care for high-tech contemporary films.

I'd give it a 7/10...for now.