The Ballad of Billie Blue

1972 American film
  • 1972 (1972)
Running time
107 minsCountryUnited StatesLanguageEnglish

The Ballad of Billie Blue (Jailbreakin') is a Christian-themed film that stars Jason Ledger, Renny Roker, Ray Danton, and Sherry Bain. It also features Erik Estrada. A country singer who has a problem with alcohol is sent to prison for a crime he didn't commit.

Story

A country music singer played by Jason Ledger is wrongly convicted of a crime and as a result ends up being on a Southern chain gang.[1] Marty Allen in a serious role plays a reporter for a scandal newspaper who reports on the singer.[2]

Background

Screenings

The film premiered in Grand Rapids, Michigan in February, 1972.[3] The film opened Thursday April 20, 1972 at the Holland Theatre and was showing for a week.[4] It was scheduled for screening at the Peoria Christian Center on Saturday, July 19, 1975.[5] The film was showing at the Grand Theatre in July 1976.[6] An organization called Christian Young People had the film showing at the Ottawa Technical High School at 8PM, April 26, 1979.[7]

Awards

The film was nominated for two Image Awards.[8]

Releases

The film was released on video with the title Jailbreakin'. It has also been released as Star-Crossed Roads. The video release is 78 minutes. A review by HR in 1972 running time as 107 minutes. Another source noted that a release of the film through Gateway Films had it 90 minutes.[9]

Reviews

Hanko Herman of The Reformed Free Publishing Association referred to it as "a filthy piece of pornography" in his article "The Christian And Movies" that appeared in Issue: 11, 3/1/1972. This was due to some of the content in the film.[10]

Cast

Johnny Green of Johnny Green and the Greenmen appears in the film. He band also contributed to the music.[11]

Cast list (listed alphabetically)

  • Marty Allen ... Harvey Trip
  • Sherry Bain ... Reba Stone
  • Ray Danton ... Carlton Jacobs
  • Erik Estrada ... Justin
  • Jason Ledger ... Billie Blue
  • Sherry Miles ... May Blue
  • Bob Plekker ...Preacher Bob
  • Renny Roker ... Al

References

  1. ^ The Terre Haute Tribune, Saturday, July 10, 1976 - Page 16
  2. ^ The Journal Gazette, Thursday, July 15, 1971 - Page 20
  3. ^ Turner Classic Movies - The Ballad of Billie Blue(1972)
  4. ^ The Holland Evening Sentinel, Friday, April 21, 1972 - Page 15 'Billie Blue' in Holland
  5. ^ The Pantagraph, Wednesday, July 16, 1975 - Page 12 Peoria center to show film
  6. ^ The Terre Haute Tribune, Saturday, July 10, 1976 - Page 16
  7. ^ The Ottawa Journal, April 26, 1979 - THE WEEK AHEAD, TONIGHT, FILMS
  8. ^ The Holland Evening Sentinel, Friday, April 21, 1972 - Page 15 'Billie Blue' in Holland
  9. ^ American Film Institute - The Ballad of Billie Blue (1972)
  10. ^ The Reformed Free Publishing Association, Volume 48/, Issue: 11, 3/1/1972 - The Christian And Movies By Hanko Herman
  11. ^ Beloit Daily News, February 15, 2007 - Famous band to play for Crime Stoppers fund-raiser in Beloit By Holly Myers
  • Imdb: The Ballad of Billie Blue
  • TCM: The Ballad of Billie Blue