The Beverly Hillbillies Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

A hillbilly family strikes oil, moves to Beverly Hills, and accidentally terrorizes wealthy socialites while thwarting a hilariously incompetent gold-digging scheme.

🍿 The Beverly Hillbillies: Detailed Plot Synopsis

From the Ozarks to Beverly Hills

Jed Clampett, a simple hillbilly from Arkansas, becomes an overnight billionaire after discovering oil on his land. Encouraged by his family, he decides to move to Beverly Hills, California, hoping for a better life. He packs up his daughter Elly May, Granny, and cousin Jethro, and they embark on a culture clash adventure.

Culture Shock and Fish Out of Water

Upon arriving in Beverly Hills, the Clampetts’ rustic lifestyle clashes spectacularly with the sophisticated environment. They misunderstand social norms, misinterpret modern conveniences, and generally cause chaos wherever they go. Their banker, Mr. Drysdale, struggles to manage them while also trying to keep them happy so they won’t withdraw their massive fortune.

Scheming and Scams

Amidst the comedic mishaps, a pair of con artists, Laura and Woodrow, plot to steal the Clampett family’s wealth. Laura disguises herself as a French tutor to get close to Jed, intending to marry him and abscond with his fortune. Their plans are complicated by the Clampetts’ innate goodness and Granny’s suspicion.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Jed Clampett (Jim Varney): The good-natured and newly-wealthy patriarch of the Clampett family, who seeks a wife and the best for his family in Beverly Hills.
• Granny (Cloris Leachman): The traditional and fiercely independent matriarch of the Clampett family, distrustful of city folk and protective of her kin.
• Elly May Clampett (Erika Eleniak): Jed’s beautiful tomboy daughter, who struggles to adapt to high society while staying true to herself.
• Jethro Bodine (Diedrich Bader): The well-meaning but dim-witted cousin of Jed, with aspirations of grandeur and a naive view of the world.
• Milburn Drysdale (Dabney Coleman): The greedy and opportunistic bank president who tries to manage the Clampett’s fortune while maintaining his social standing.
• Miss Jane Hathaway (Lily Tomlin): Drysdale’s loyal and efficient secretary, who becomes fond of the Clampetts and their unconventional ways.
• Laura Jackson (Lea Thompson): The con artist who poses as a French tutor to swindle Jed out of his fortune, ultimately failing in her scheme.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Jed Clampett: “Well, doggies!” – Jed’s catchphrase, often exclaimed upon seeing something impressive or surprising in Beverly Hills.
• Granny: “I’m gonna give him a dose of my ‘rheumatiz’ medicine!’” – Granny threatens to use her potent homemade concoction as a weapon against those who cross her or her family.
• Miss Jane Hathaway: “Mr. Drysdale!” – Miss Hathaway’s frequent exclamation, usually delivered in a state of panic or exasperation regarding the Clampetts or Mr. Drysdale’s demands.
• Jethro Bodine: “I wanna be a brain surgeon!” – Jethro’s recurring aspiration to pursue various high-profile careers, despite his obvious lack of intelligence.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $25,000,000
• Domestic Gross: $44,029,386
• Worldwide Gross: $57,405,220

💥 The Beverly Hillbillies Reviews

Personal Review

Okay, so it’s not high art, but I have a soft spot for this movie. Jim Varney as Jed is surprisingly good, and Lily Tomlin is hilarious as Miss Jane. The whole ‘fish out of water’ thing is fun to watch, and when they soup up the jalopy, it’s epic! I watched it when I was a kid, and the part where they don’t realize the one finger salute on the freeway always makes me laugh. It’s just a feel-good movie that doesn’t take itself too seriously. If you can handle some silly humor, give it a watch!

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of the original TV series”
  • “Viewers who enjoy slapstick comedy”
  • “Families looking for light-hearted entertainment”
  • “Fans of Jim Varney”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Some mild crude humor”
  • “Stereotypical portrayals”
  • “Potentially dated humor”

Professional Reviews

• Rotten Tomatoes: “While the cast tries their best, ‘The Beverly Hillbillies’ movie struggles to recapture the charm of the original TV show, relying too heavily on outdated stereotypes and predictable gags.
• AllMovie: “A broad, sometimes funny, but ultimately forgettable adaptation of the classic sitcom. The cast is game, especially Jim Varney, but the script lacks the original’s gentle humor, replacing it with cheap laughs.

Audience Reactions

Jim Varney’s surprisingly heartwarming performance as Jed Clampett won over many viewers.: The casting, especially Jim Varney and Lily Tomlin, was praised for capturing the essence of the characters, despite not perfectly matching the original cast.

The over-the-top antics and ‘fish out of water’ scenarios provided consistent laughs for some viewers.: Nostalgic fans of the TV show appreciated the movie’s attempt to stay true to the original’s humor, even if it wasn’t always successful.

Overall Consensus: A lighthearted and silly adaptation of the classic TV show. While some found it to be a charming and funny throwback, others felt it failed to capture the original’s magic, with humor that was too broad and predictable.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “Jim Varney almost didn’t get the role of Jed Clampett because the studio was concerned he was too identified with his ‘Ernest’ character. His screen test convinced them otherwise.”
• “Buddy Ebsen, the original Jed Clampett from the TV series, makes a cameo appearance as Barnaby Jones, another character he famously played on television.”

🖥️ How to Watch The Beverly Hillbillies?

The Beverly Hillbillies (1993) is available for rent or purchase on various platforms including Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV. Check your local listings for availability on streaming services. Physical copies (DVD/Blu-ray) may also be available for purchase online or in stores. Availability may vary depending on your region.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed The Beverly Hillbillies, you might like these similar films:

• Coming to America (1988): A wealthy foreigner experiences culture clash and comedic situations when adapting to life in America.
• Wayne’s World (1992): Also directed by Penelope Spheeris, captures a similar offbeat, comedic style.
• Bowfinger (1999): Features comedic struggles of characters out of their element, set in Hollywood.
• The Addams Family (1991): Another TV-show-turned-movie that translates a family dynamic for big-screen comedy.

🛒 The Beverly Hillbillies Related Products

• The Beverly Hillbillies: The Official First Season: Relive the original TV series’ first season! See where it all began and compare it to the movie. Includes original unaired pilot episode and behind-the-scenes interviews.
• Funko Pop! Television: Beverly Hillbillies – Jed Clampett: Add Jed Clampett to your Funko Pop! collection. A great way to show your love for this film.
• The Beverly Hillbillies Movie Poster (1993): A vintage poster of The Beverly Hillbillies (1993) with Jim Varney, Erika Eleniak, Lily Tomlin and Cloris Leachman. A valuable wall decor to bring back memories from the 90s, a must have for fans and collectors.
• The Beverly Hillbillies T-Shirt: A t-shirt with The Beverly Hillbillies (1993) theme. It is made with thick cotton fabric that makes it very comfortable for daily wear. A good buy to wear and show how much you like the movie.

🎧 Soundtrack

The Beverly Hillbillies features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “The Ballad of Jed Clampett” – performed by Jerry Scoggins (performed in the film version by Flatt & Scruggs)
• “White Lightning” – performed by Joe Diffie
• “Country Line” – performed by Travis Tritt

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

Buddy Ebsen dances to Ballad of Jed Clampett

Check out this heartwarming video of Buddy Ebsen dancing to the Beverly Hillbillies theme song! It’s apparently his last performance as Jed Clampett, and it’s really cool to see him enjoying the music.

She Utterly Hated Buddy Ebsen, Now We Know the Reason Why

Did you know that Buddy Ebsen and Nancy Kulp didn’t get along in real life? This video dives into the reasons behind their feud and it’s honestly more dramatic than the show itself!

The Beverly Hillbillies Winston Cigarettes Commercial w/ Jed Clampett, Jethro & Miss Hathaway

You won’t believe this! Check out the Beverly Hillbillies shilling for Winston cigarettes in this crazy vintage commercial. It’s wild to see them promoting something like that now!

✨ Rate