Plot & Details
This Emmy-winning made-for-TV movie, based on a book by Oscar-winning screenwriter Barry Morrow (from his true story), stars Mickey Rooney in the title role of a mentally-challenged adult who has spent his life holed up in a bleak institution. When documentary filmmaker Morrow (Dennis Quaid) and his family invite him into their home to stay with them, Bill is given his first taste of independence in the real world. Together, Bill and the Morrows unexpectedly teach each other valuable lessons about life and themselves. The film was so popular that it spawned a sequel two years later called Bill: On His Own.
- Genre(s): Drama
- Run Time: 97min.
- Director(s): Anthony Page
- Themes: Starting Over,Living With Disability
- Tone: Compassionate,Earnest,Heartwarming,Poignant,Sentimental
- Keywords: independence,institution,mental-retardation,one-against-odds
- Language: English
Awards
Golden Globes
| Year | Award | Category | Cast & Crew | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Hollywood Foreign Press Association | Best Performance by an Actor in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television | Mickey Rooney | Won |
| 1981 | Hollywood Foreign Press Association | Best Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television | Won |
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