The Ballad of Andy Crocker (1969)

The Ballad of Andy Crocker is a 1969 American made-for-television film produced by Thomas/Spelling Productions, which was first broadcast by ABC on November 18, 1969, in the anthology series ABC Movie of the Week. The film tells the story of a young man's struggle to reclaim his life after fighting in the Vietnam War. It tells a surreal, allegorical tale, similarly to The Swimmer starring Burt Lancaster. Written by actor Stuart Margolin, the film is notable as being one of the first films to deal with the subject matter of Vietnam veterans "coming home". It is also noted for its unusual casting, which placed a number of noted musical artists in key acting roles, including Jimmy Dean and Marvin Gaye.