by Hal Erickson
synopsis
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.
characteristics
- Battle Of The Sexes
- First Love
- Track-and-field
- Politician
- Political
- Racing
- Sports
- Teen
- Mayor
- High-school
- Chauvinism
- Boyfriend
- Chauvinist
- Coming-of-age
- Ambition
