IMDb > When Billie Beat Bobby (2001) (TV)

When Billie Beat Bobby (2001) (TV) More at IMDbPro »

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Overview

User Rating:
6.0/10   323 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 11% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writer (WGA):
Jane Anderson (written by)
Contact:
View company contact information for When Billie Beat Bobby on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
16 April 2001 (USA) more
Genre:
Tagline:
It's not just the size of your racquet. It's The Way You Swing it.
Plot:
The historic 1973 tennis match between middle-aged champion Bobby Riggs and young feminist Billie Jean King. | add synopsis
Awards:
Nominated for 2 Primetime Emmys. Another 4 nominations more
User Comments:
ABC got a bargain. more (13 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Holly Hunter ... Billie Jean King

Ron Silver ... Bobby Riggs

Matt Letscher ... Larry King

Bob Gunton ... Jerry Perenchio
Jacqueline McKenzie ... Margaret Court
Elizabeth Berridge ... Rosie Casals

Vincent Van Patten ... Lornie Kuhle

Caitlin Martin ... Chris Evert

Gerry Becker ... Ted Tinling

Kathleen Gati ... Debbie the hairdresser

Michael Mantell ... Sidney Schlenker

Kali Rocha ... Connie
Maureen Mueller ... Judith
Patrick Kerr ... Rheo
Caroline Aaron
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Additional Details

Also Known As:
Battle of the Sexes (USA) (working title)
Billie contre Bobby: La bataille des sexes (Canada: French title)
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MPAA:
Rated PG for language and thematic elements.
Runtime:
90 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
1.78 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Certification:

Fun Stuff

Goofs:
Anachronisms: The customized "Astrobus" that Bobby Riggs was chauffeured in was a 1979 or 1980 Dodge Van, which was manufactured over six years after the King-Riggs tournament in the Houston Astrodome. more
Quotes:
Bobby Riggs: I'm like a tiger gettin' ready to spring! more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
4 out of 4 people found the following comment useful.
ABC got a bargain., 17 April 2001
Author: (jacketeer2@aol.com) from pittsburgh pa

This is one of the best TV movies to come along in years, maybe longer. As usual, Holly Hunter turns in a wonderful performance as Billie Jean King (both as the person and the tennis player). But the real shocker here is the writing and directing. "When Billie beat Bobby" has a wonderful sense of style that rarely, if ever, is available for free in the comfort of your home. It makes use of visual grain, hand held camera work, jump cuts (when was the last time you saw a jump cut on TV), and non-diagetic visuals. This does not deserve to be on TV and it does not deserve to be called a movie. I would have loved to see this film in a theater and ABC got their luckiest break since "Millionaire." From an artistic standpoint, seeing this in a theatrical release would have taken a great TV movie and turned it into one of the year's best films. From a business standpoint, someone would have made a lot more money if this was on the big screen. I don't know if this will be availiable on video one day (or in theaters) but if you ever get a chance to see it then do. It really harkens back to the TV movies

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