In July 1985, the biggest movie in the country was “Back to the Future.” The number one song was “A View to a Kill” by Duran Duran, from the James Bond movie of the same name. A large number of the movies listed in the top 10 the weekend of July 19, even beyond the obvious “Back to the Future,” offer a murderer’s row of movies we still talk about today: “Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome,” “Cocoon,” “Rambo: First Blood Part II,” “St. Elmo’s Fire.” Just for good measure, “E.T.” was re-released into theaters that weekend.
Do you know what’s difficult? It’s difficult to have a brand-new, wide release film and have it finish 14th at the box office. Want to know what’s even more difficult? To have a brand-new, wide release film finish 14th at the box office, and then, 40 years later, for it to still be culturally important enough to warrant a gigantic retrospective piece with the cast and crew of that film, which is what you are currently reading.
But this all seems appropriate for “The Legend of Billie Jean,” a story of a young woman with no agency, completely ignored and discarded, who slowly develops an underground cult following, while becoming an inspiration to young people (and especially women) across the country.
Mark Rosenthal and Lawrence Konner’s original script for the film was inspired by the story of Phoolan Devi, an Indian icon and eventual member of parliament who defied authority and developed an underground following. (Her story is pretty fascinating and, ultimately, tragic.) For “The Legend of Billie Jean” (originally titled “Legend” until the Ridley Scott, Tom Cruise movie came out), Phoolan Devi of India became Billie Jean Davy of Corpus Christi, Texas.
This is the story of how “The Legend of Billie Jean” became (as Pat Benatar would sing), invincible. (Though, as I learned the hard way, not everyone involved is thrilled about this anniversary.) {read}