Betsy, The, 1978, R, 2:05

The Betsy

Runtime: 125 minutes

Studio: Allied Artists; Harold Robbins International Company

Country of Origin: United States

A ruthless auto magnate enlists a daring racecar driver to secretly create a revolutionary fuel-efficient automobile called “The Betsy”—but power struggles, romantic entanglements, and betrayal threaten to derail everything.

Ratings:

My Rating: ~5.5/10

The Dove Foundation: Not listed

IMDb: 5.2/10

Rotten Tomatoes: 17% critics, ~19% audience

Metacritic: Not available

TMDb: Not available

Plot Summary:

Loren Hardeman Sr., an elderly auto industry titan, insists on reviving his company with a new fuel-efficient car named after his great-granddaughter — “The Betsy.” He brings in Angelo Perino, a charismatic racecar driver, to design the prototype. But his grandson, Loren Hardeman III, resents this intrusion and plots to undermine the project. Meanwhile, Angelo becomes romantically entangled with both the young Betsy and Lady Bobby Ayres, the disgruntled mistress of the grandson. Flashbacks reveal a tragic family history involving betrayal and scandal that adds emotional weight — and melodrama — to the unfolding generational battle.

Critics Review:

Reviews were overwhelmingly negative. Gene Siskel delivered a harsh critique; other reviewers likened the film to a condensed soap opera. Rex Reed dubbed it “bloatedly pretentious and awesomely corny,” comparing it unfavorably to the Edsel. It has since been featured in The Golden Turkey Awards as a classic “melodramatic flop,” and included by Razzie founder John Wilson in his list of the “100 Most Enjoyably Bad Movies Ever Made.” A recent Blu-ray review offered a more nuanced take: while acknowledging its trashy, soap-opera tone, the reviewer found it “surprisingly not at all bad in some respects,” noting its entertainingly over-the-top premise and Laurence Olivier’s “fascinatingly hammy” performance.

Christian Perspective:

The Betsy includes mature themes—infidelity, sexual relationships, betrayal, and familial dysfunction—without any overt redemptive arc or explicit moral resolution. From a Christian perspective, the movie would not be aligned with Christian values. It portrays a star-studded tapestry of sin, lust, and greed, with little nuance or spiritual counterbalance. There's no clear ethical lesson or faith-based transformation; rather, the story revels in its scandal. As such, it does not model behavior in keeping with Christian ideals of forgiveness, integrity, or redemption.

Family Friendliness:

Not recommended for families.

Rated R, The Betsy contains explicit sexual content, mature themes, and complex adult relationships, making it unsuitable for younger audiences.

Notable Songs:

N/A (Score composed by John Barry)