Billie (1965)

User Rating:

5.6/10   

Director:

Don Weis

Writers:

Ronald Alexander (play)
Ronald Alexander (screenplay)

Release Date:

13 December 1965 (UK)

Genre:

Comedy | Family | Musical | Romance | Sport

Tagline:

Billie's Got the Beat!

Plot:

A 16-year-old tomboy and high school athlete becomes embroiled with the lives around her boyfriend whose conservative father is running for mayor. |

Plot Keywords:

High School | Mayor | Running | Tomboy | School Life

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Patty Duke	...	Billie Carol
Jim Backus	...	Howard G. Carol
Jane Greer	...	Agnes Carol
Warren Berlinger	...	Mike Benson
Billy De Wolfe	...	Mayor Charlie Davis
Charles Lane	...	Coach Jones
Dick Sargent	...	Matt Bullitt
Susan Seaforth Hayes	...	Jean Matthews (as Susan Seaforth)
Ted Bessell	...	Robert 'Bob' Matthews
Richard Deacon	...	Principal Arnold Wilson
Bobby Diamond	...	Eddie Davis
Michael Fox	...	Ray Case, Reporter
Clive Clerk	...	Ted Chekas
Harlan Warde	...	Doctor Hall
Jean MacRae	...	Nurse Webb

Runtime:

87 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Finland:S

Filming Locations:

University High School - 11800 Texas Avenue, West Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Chrislaw Productions

Trivia:

Donna McKechnie's movie debut.

Quotes:

Howard G. Carol: In dealing with women, a man must shun reason and logic.

Movie Connections:

Version of "The Comedy Spot: Time Out for Ginger" (1962)

Soundtrack:

She is a Girl is a Girl

Old-Fashioned Equal Rights Coming-of-Age Tale

Bit of fluff about teenage Billie Carol (Patty Duke), tomboy (if in any doubt of that, the short-cropped boyish haircut tells you that fact) who joins the boys track team at her high school and faces the mild wrath of her father (Jim Backus) who is running for mayor (Billie wishes she were a boy - and so does dad - uh oh). Billie "hears the beat" when she runs and even helps the other boys on the team (none of whom can run as fast as spirited little Billie) learn the beat in a fun dance number. New boy in school, Mike, wants to become a track star so recruits Billie as his "teacher" - but can't keep his eyes off her when she dances. And meanwhile issues about "women's rights" are loosely brought into the film as Billie gets upset 'cause the boys treat her "like a girl and not an equal". A subplot involves big sister Jeannie who returns from college with a secret she only reveals to sis Billie.

This film is pretty light fare, nostalgic fun that reminded me so much of the 60s teenage films I liked as a kid - it's also a semi-musical with one good dance number, plus a few sort of catchy, a few not so catchy songs thrown in. As a fan of Patty Duke (one of my favorite old TV shows since childhood is the rarely seen "Patty Duke Show") it was great to see her in this fun, teenage role - she's very energetic, likable and cute in this (even though forced into appearing on screen in this rather ugly powder blue short set as well as a pretty hideous powder blue dress, amongst other things - and what's with that bleached blonde hairdo?!). 60s TV is also well-represented as this film is jam-packed with numerous familiar stars and character actors from popular 60s sitcoms - Bewitched, That Girl, Gilligan's Island, Leave it to Beaver - all represented here. Even well-loved character actor Charles Lane appears briefly in a few scenes as the track coach, and there's even a big "Shaggy Dog" in this. Nothing great- but enjoyable, light fun.