Bill: On His Own

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.

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!

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.

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.