Billie (1965)

The Worst Film Ever

Fantastic!

A film with more than the usual spoiler issues. Talking about it in any detail feels akin to handing you a gift-wrapped present and saying, "I hope you like it -- It's a thriller about a diabolical secret experiment."

This is a must-see and one of the best documentaries - and films - of this year.

Silly bit of fluff about a teenage tomboy named Billie (Patty Duke) who can run super fast due to music in her head she calls "the beat." She can run faster than all the boys, which causes the expected problems. This is an old but fun gender equality story. It's sincere in what it's trying to do even though it's pretty dated in how it's trying to do it. Patty Duke is fun and looks cute in track shorts. 28 year-old Warren Berlinger is her friend (and potential boyfriend). He's a poor fit to play a high schooler. He even has a bald spot! Jim Backus plays the dad and Jane Greer is the mom. Backus' character is one of the more interesting in the film, seeing as how he is a politician running on a traditionalist conservative platform yet his personal views are somewhat in conflict with this. He's a hypocrite, in other words. Other familiar faces like Dick Sargent, Charles Lane, and Richard Deacon also appear. It's likable stuff but not for everybody. The scenes of Patty Duke running with that big grin on her face and the '60s music playing is pretty cheesy stuff. Patty sings some corny songs, as well. The subplot about the older sister is positively stupid. You're not going to enjoy this movie much unless you are able to not take it that seriously.

This lighthearted comedy casts Patty Duke as a teenage girl who's really into athletics, much to the chagrin of her political office-bound father (Jim Backus). It's a little surprising that a pre-feminist movie was allowed to depict a girl who bests the boys at sports, but "Billie" does just that. The movie actually doesn't have much in the way of plain old comedy; it's more about how the daughter's ambition - coupled with the news about the older daughter (Susan Seaforth) - forces the family to reconsider their place in society. It's a fun romp, but nothing particularly special. Nonetheless, I really liked those scenes of Patty Duke dancing.As for the cast, one could describe it thusly: Helen Keller meets Thurston Howell meets the second Darrin (Dick Sargent) meets Mel Cooley (Richard Deacon) meets one of the primary character actors (Charles Lane). I don't know if Jane Greer had a most famous role.

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.

Scrappy theatrical comedy filmed on a television budget, with Patty Duke putting the high school jocks to shame with her athletic abilities (seems sneaky Pat has been running track to a secret "beat" in her head!). Nothing memorable, but worth-watching for the always-good Jim Backus as Patty's politician father--who can't seem to decide where he stands on women's issues--and Patty herself is also very lively. Her short platinum 'do is a bit odd (and occasionally looks like a wig or a blonde mop-head), but she seems happier here than on her self-named TV series and does very well with her two song numbers (her voice is shaky and without focus, but extremely bright and appealing). **1/2 from ****