If You Give a Dance, You Gotta Pay the Band

If You Give a Dance, You Gotta Pay the Band

73 mins | Drama, Comedy, TV Movie | Dec. 19, 1972

Life in a black ghetto isn't easy for 14-year-old Billie Jean Sims, who has a father in jail, a blind grandmother, and a brother with a drug habit. Growing up among drug pushers, prostitutes, and pimps, Billie Jean still has some things going for her: fierce pride, a loyal friend named Fish, and, at last, enough savings to visit her father 1200 miles away in prison.

If You Give a Dance, You Gotta Pay the Band

73 mins | Drama, Comedy, TV Movie | Dec. 19, 1972

If You Give a Dance, You Gotta Pay the Band
Life in a black ghetto isn't easy for 14-year-old Billie Jean Sims, who has a father in jail, a blind grandmother, and a brother with a drug habit. Growing up among drug pushers, prostitutes, and pimps, Billie Jean still has some things going for her: fierce pride, a loyal friend named Fish, and, at last, enough savings to visit her father 1200 miles away in prison.
Producers
Original title If You Give a Dance, You Gotta Pay the Band
Directors B.J. Bachman, Fred Coe
Writers Stanley L. Gray

Cast

Donna M. Bryan

as Billie Jean Sims

James Broderick

as Trick

Georgia Burke

as Grannie

Sonny Jim Gaines

as Mr. Sims

Arthur French

as Customer

Moses Gunn

as Mr. Miller

Albert Hall

as T-Bone Sims

Dots Johnson

as Jim

John Marriott

as Jessie

George Miles

as Shake-a-Hand

Haywood Nelson

as Ronnie

Jim Pelham

as Eddie

Joseph Ray

as Walkin' Willie

Dick Sabol

as Prison Guard