Bernice Bobs Her Hair (1976)

I remember seeing this in 7th grade history, and for some reason it stuck with me. Probably because that's around when I saw Singin' in the Rain for the first time and started really getting into the 1920's. Then I noticed it on the Netflix Instant Streaming thing and was like hey! Let's do this! Also, Bud Cort!

Set in 1920 and based on the F. Scott Fitzgerald short story of the same name, this made-for-PBS production stars Shelley Duvall as Bernice, a shy and serious young woman visiting her fun-loving, highly desirable cousin Marjorie (Veronica Cartwright) for the summer. Bernice is perceived as plain-faced and dull-minded, always bringing the mood down at parties she attends with Marjorie. When she overhears her cousin complaining about her spoiling everyone's fun, Bernice decides to go back home. Instead, Marjorie convinces her to stay if she can make-over her personality a bit. Marjorie teaches her to be frivolous and flirty, to take more pride in her appearance, to have more self-confidence, and to be kind of a bitch. Soon Bernice is sought after by all the men in their group of friends, especially Warren (Bud Cort), the Yale-educated aspiring writer who lives across the street and has been pursuing Marjorie for years (she always shoots him down, but would not want him to date anyone else). One common topic of conversation is Bernice's boast that she will soon bob her hair, much to everyone else's shock and interest. When a jealous Marjorie tricks her into actually doing it, it gives Bernice a new acceptance of herself and the will to get out from under her cousin's thumb.

The story is an interesting look into the lives of privileged young people at the dawn of a new decade. They dance, they drive around wildly in cars, they flirt effortlessly- they are always on the lookout for something outrageous and new. Bernice starts off as the antithesis of this outlook, dreading a crowded dance floor and unaware of how to snare a man's affections. Her transformation makes her more interesting to those around her, but at the loss of any depth she might have sought to have. Lines like "the only topics of conversation between you and a man are 'you, me, or us'" made me so frustrated even in middle school. I first thought it was completely a satire, written to poke fun at the empty lives of these shallow partygoers, since most of their conversations seem so empty, but Wikipedia tells me Fitzgerald based it on letters he wrote to his younger sister on how to attract men. Which actually makes it kind of funnier.

Bernice Bobs Her Hair is cute and well-made, but not particularly interesting to people not into the 20's. Not much actually happens, and all of the characters are sort of awful in their own way. Half of it is just conversations between the cousins about boys: sigh. Mostly I get a kick out of seeing Bud Cort go on about his future plans and how he doesn't have much time, he's already 19! Adorable. And Shelley Duvall's scary face and annoying voice suit the character surprisingly well. The ending, however, is what really saves it. Definitely the best part. Check it out if you're into the time period or Fitzgerald and have 45 minutes to spare.

3.5/5