Billie

"Billie" was filmed during the hiatus between the second and third seasons of "The Patty Duke Show." This "Tomboy" comedy was based on a play, "Time Out For Ginger" which was filmed as a 1962 pilot starring Candy Moore, who would play Lucy's daughter in the early seasons of "The Lucy Show." This film, with it's innocent storyline about a teenage girl who can outrun any boy in the school could never be made today. Our jaded sensibilities would cry out "lesbian subtext" at the scenes where Billie, at an awkward stage, would wish she were a boy. A sentiment shared by her chauvinist father, played by Jim Backus. The cast is peppered with many familiar faces from 1960s TV, including Ted Bessell, Richard Deacon, Charles Lane, Dick Sargent and Billy De Wolfe. At this stage in Miss Duke's career the powers that be decided that she was to be a singing teen idol. She had a high-ranking song hit with "Don't Just Stand There" a few months before this film was released. Ms. Duke can't really sing. However, listening to her, there is something compelling in hearing her TRY. She is really doing her best, giving her small all to the pleasant, if dated songs in the picture. One more thing to mention in this film is the appearance of the marvelous Jane Greer as Billie's mother. The famous film-noir actress has some really good lines in this film, and she plays well with old-pro Jim Backus as her husband. It must have been a great temptation for the producers, the same ones who produced "The Patty Duke Show" to utilize William Schallert and Jean Byron, from the series, to play her parents. As it stands, "Billie" comes off almost as a pilot for a new Duke series to supplant "The Patty Duke Show."

I remember my parents taking me to see BILLIE at the local drive-in when I was a kid. Patty Duke, pre-Valley of the Dolls, played this tomboyish teenage girl who could outrun all the boys in her school thanks to something in her head that she called "the beat", but boys don't like to go out with girls who run faster than they do, so Billie is pretty much alone until she compromises her feminist ideals, sings a corny song about becoming a woman, and purposely loses a race so that she can have the boy of her dreams, who I believe was played by Warren Berlinger. I think Jim Backus played her father, who was running for Mayor on a "Women belong in the home" platform while his daughter was out running track with the boys. This movie was kind of corny, but Patty played the role energetically and I liked her blonde, Mia Farrow haircut.

As an avid Patty Duke fan I have no idea what her agent had in mind when they made this film! Maye it was to be a vehical for her singing career? Patty does warble out a ew tunes in this musical? based on the Broadway show "Time Out For Ginger?" Somehow with bleached blonde hair and skimpy short shorts Patty tries to pull it off! It does not work! Next came "Valley Of The Dolls" and then the MUCH BETTER "ME Natalie"! What were people thinking off back then? She was such a talent that seemed misguided!

Patty Duke stars as young Billie Carol, the teenage gal who can outrun all of the guys on the school track team. She tells her track coach that the secret to her incredible running ability, is the rock music 'beat' that she hears in her head, whenever she runs. Billie's athletic talent, causes considerable controversy for her politician father, who's running for Mayor of their town. He admits that he wishes Billie had been a boy. Billie herself, also wishes that she was a boy. She doesn't like having to tone-down her athletic prowess, just because she's a girl.

Lots of folks think that Billie should behave more like a girl, and quit the boy's track team. But she's determined to stay on. Her father reluctantly supports her wish to be on the boy's track team. To further complicate matters, Billie falls for one of her teammates, who she had been tutoring to improve his track skills. He's surprised to find himself attracted to the tomboyish Billie, and wants her to start acting like a girl.

Billie likes him, but wants him to accept her as an equal. His male ego is threatened by the fact that Billie can outrun him, since she's 'just a girl'. Billie doesn't like this, but she also doesn't want to lose her first boyfriend. Bewildered by her blossoming romantic feelings for him, Billie knows that she needs to make some important decisions, regarding her relationship with him.

This movie belongs to Patty Duke, and she shines above the others in the supporting cast. Patty looks like a cute puppy-dog tomboy, and brings an intense energy to her role as Billie. After this film, Patty would never again appear so baby-faced and innocent, as she did in Billie. Patty also got to sing songs in the film, and she does have a nice voice.

This movie was a charming, fun comedy, about a girl's journey through adolescence. It was made before the women's rights movement got underway. But it's plot was supportive of Billie's determination, to compete on an equal level with the boys on the track team. It's a fun, 60s teen-angst movie, with a message about equal rights for girls.

Roll back the clocks for this one! A very fine movie for it's nostalgia. I enjoyed seeing what teenagers were like back in the 1960's.

This is a movie/musical rolled into one. It stars, Patty Duke who plays the character "Billie", a tomboy who causes a problem with her school when she is put on the all "boys" track team by the impressed school coach. You have to remember that this movie was released in 1965 when women's rights were not as prevalent as today.

If you have never heard Patty Duke sing, then you just have to see this movie... She sings as beautiful as a songbird! Bobby Diamond, who played on the TV series, "Fury" (1955-1960), is also in this movie and sang to my enjoyment as well!

Although not intended to be funny, some parts of this movie were very comical and had me in stitches! I enjoyed watching the way the people danced back then. It looked like they were having a great time!

In conclusion I'd like to say, that "Billie" is a very fine movie for it's time period. If only there was more of it. The ending left me with wanting more...more...more!