Billie

Director: Don Weis Don Weis

Overview

Billie is a screen version of Ronald Alexander's perennial stage favorite Time Out For Ginger. Patty Duke plays a tomboyish high schooler who excels in athletics but who continues to strike out socially. Jim Backus and Jane Greer perform yeoman service as Duke's parents, who wonder how long it's going to be before their daughter stops trying to be their son. Backus is particularly concerned because he's running for mayor on a platform of "male supremacy" (this is 1965, remember?). From time to time, Duke expresses her frustration in song: her big number finds her holding her gym shoes in one hand, a bottle of perfume in the other. Warren Berlinger also stars as Duke's long-suffering boyfriend.

Product Details

Release Date:	02/24/2015
UPC:	0883904303817
Original Release:	1965
Rating:	NR
Source:	Mgm Mod
Language:	English
Time:	1:27:00
Sales rank:	37,061

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Patty Duke	Actor
Jim Backus	Actor
Jane Greer	Actor
Warren Berlinger	Actor
Charles Lane	Coach Jones
Dick Sargent	Matt Bullitt
Ted Bessell	Bob Matthews
Richard Deacon	Principal Wilson
Bobby Diamond	Eddie Davis
Michael Fox	Ray Case
Clive Clerk	Ted Chekas
Harlan Warde	Dr. Hall
Jean MacRae	Nurse Webb
Allan Grant	Himself
Georgia Simmons	Mrs. Hosenwacker
Arline Anderson	Mrs. Clifton
Layte Bowden	Miss Channing
Matty Jordan	Reporter
Shirley J. Shawn	Mrs. Harper
Maria Lennard	Adele Colin
Billy De Wolfe	Mayor Davis
Breena Howard	Mary Jensen
Craig W. Chudy	Starter
Mark Elwes	Birkinshaw
Susan Seaforth Hayes	Jean Matthews

Technical Credits

Ronald Alexander

Don Weis	Director,Producer
Ronald Alexander	Screenwriter
Peter Lawford	Executive Producer

Editorial Reviews

Billie is a ridiculous and incredibly dated teen musical -- but it's one that has a very pleasing campiness to it that provides a substantial reward for those in the mood to laugh at how silly the whole film is. Not that there aren't some legitimate assets beyond its camp value. Billie does boast a perky, energetic performance from a strangely-bewigged Patty Duke. It's not what one calls a great performance, because the material doesn't really allow for such a thing. But Duke gives the role her all, and she's a great deal of fun. True, her singing is nothing to write home about -- but then, neither are the songs she has been given to warble. Jim Backus is fun as the male chauvinist father, and Jane Greer is a welcome addition as the understanding mother. It's also fun to see 1960's sitcom fixtures Dick Sargent, Richard Deacon and Ted Bessel in small roles. Ronald Alexander's screenplay is ridiculous, and modern viewers will undoubtedly howl at the "I enjoy being a girl after all" resolution -- but that's all to the good for its camp appeal. It's ludicrous and unbelievable and would be totally insulting if one took it at all seriously -- so it's best to approach Billie in a totally mocking manner to get the most enjoyment out of it.

All Movie Guide - Craig Butler