Bernice Bobs Her Hair (1976)

March 21, 2025 7:01 PM

Bernice, a shy young woman, leaves her safe home to go visit her flapper cousin. When her cousin tries to teach Bernice how to be much more modern, Bernice gives her much more than she bargained for. In 1976, Joan Micklin Silver directed a TV production created for the PBS series The American Short Story.

Based on a short story by F Scott Fitzgerald.

Related: The song Bernice Bobs Her Hair on The Divine Comedy's 1993 album Liberation.

Currently on Tubi.

posted by bunderful (6 comments total)

I used to have rather long hair, and it was a big event when I cut it.

I felt a pang when I saw Bernice take down her hair in the barber shop and look in the mirror at her mane. Even a good change can leave us with mixed feelings.
posted by bunderful at 7:28 PM on March 21 [1 favorite]

Scalp the selfish thing…..
posted by Ideefixe at 8:53 PM on March 21 [1 favorite]

The last time I got a dramatic haircut, the hairstylist was kindly concerned and asked "you're not going through a breakup or anything else major, are you?" I appreciated that she just wanted to make sure that I was clear about what I wanted.

My hair is still mostly in its post-Covid stage, which is just long and witchy. I could use a trim probably, but I'm not ready for a dramatic cut again yet. I'm sure I'll see someone's new hairstyle and decide I want that too.

This is charming and sad. I've never read the original story but Duvall plays up the sorrow of being goaded into being someone she's not. (The bob looks good on her, though.) Silver is sensitive in her direction and I like that Bernice finds some power in the end.

(It's also currently on the Criterion Channel, if that's your thing.)
posted by edencosmic at 3:16 PM on March 22 [1 favorite]

“Charming and sad” sums it up pretty well. I really identify with Bernice’s slowness to understand how she’s been manipulated, which makes it a bit painful for me. I don’t even know if I’d have caught on when she did.

(Honestly I didn’t until I went and scanned the Fitzgerald short story).
posted by bunderful at 8:26 AM on March 23

I remember watching this as a young kid with my parents, and being shocked by the bobbing scene. Such that it’s one of my few early television memories. Had no idea until just now it was Shelley Duvall I’ve been picturing all these years.

It’s highly weird to encounter this post tonight, as my partner just bobbed my 6-year-old daughter’s beautiful long blond hair this afternoon and I am _shaken_.
posted by distorte at 2:50 PM on March 23 [1 favorite]

there's also a wonderful song by The Divine Comedy. It was some time before I ever realized it was actually based on a story.
posted by aesop at 9:56 AM on March 25