Product Details

• Actors: Patty Duke, Jim Backus, Jane Greer, Warren Berlinger, Billy De Wolfe
• Format: Color, NTSC
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: MGM (Video & DVD)
• VHS Release Date: April 1, 1992
• Run Time: 86 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6302241251
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #313,210 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars The Girl With the Beat, July 19, 2004

By 

L. M Young (Marietta, GA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Billie (DVD)

This is the story of a 15-year-old girl who can outrun all the boys on the track team because she uses "the Beat," the rhythm of rock music in her head to help her run faster. She's invited to be on the boys' track team, to the consternation of the school principal and her father (reliable character actors Richard Deacon and Jim Backus)-especially embarrassing her father, who's running for mayor on what today would be thought of as a "male chauvinist ticket." Dad changes his tune when Billie becomes a track star, but his mayoral opponent has another family secret up his sleeve.

Of course at the end Billie takes the 60s way out and decides she'd rather be a girl than a track star, which infuriates many people, but the film was actually very daring for 1965 with its "everyone should do what they like" theme: no one actually ever coerces Billie to leave the team, not her envious team-mates, or her father, or the boy who wants to be her boyfriend-it's Billie's decision to stop running, not anyone else's.

This is just a nice pleasant rainy Saturday afternoon film with some great character actors, including Jane Greer, who plays Billie's mom who takes her husband with a grain of salt, the aforementioned Jim Backus, who wishes his little girl had been a boy (this leads to a very heart-rending scene where Dad refers to Billie as "son"), Susan Seaforth before she did DAYS OF OUR LIVES, a pre-THAT GIRL Ted Bessell and pre-BEWITCHED Dick Sargent, and Patty Duke as Billie, who actually comes off very natural as a tomboyish girl who feels out of place with everyone. (Her dyed blond hair is a fright, though; how did two brown-haired parents manage to have a blonde daughter anyway?) And of course lots of cool 60s dance scenes and clothes.

One point taken off for the DVD, which uses widescreen for the titles and pan and scan for the rest. It's good quality DVD, but the framing ruins several scenes. Someone must have had the original widescreen print somewhere; why not just transfer that?

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars BILLIE NOW ON DVD, May 12, 2004

By 

Johnny G "Ain't it the Truth" (LAS VEGAS, NV) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Billie (DVD)

It's nice to see this wonderful flick on DVD. Starring Academy Award winner PATTY DUKE as Billie Carol, a young gal who scores on the Track Team but feels like a "Lonely Little In Between" in her private life. Ted Bessell plays her young brother in Law, and the wonderful Jim Backus plays her dad. Duke sings three songs in the film - "Funny Little Butterflies" "A Girl is a Girl" and the aforementioned "Lonely Little In Between". Her performance, including her dance routines, are totally enjoyable. She literally sparkles on the screen and it is easy to see how Patty Duke made the transition from child star to teen star to more mature roles. If you are looking for a DVDthe whole family can watch and enjoy,BILLIE would be an excellent choice.A MUST for Duke fans!

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars HAPPY TIMES!!, October 21, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Billie [VHS] (VHS Tape)

This has been a favorite of mine since I first saw it.It is a very happy,upbeat comedy that brings back the happier times in our country. It showcases some fine 60s actors such as Jim Backus and Ted Bessell.Patty Duke is great in this role.A must see.