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.
| The Ballad of Billie Blue | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Ken Osborne |
| Screenplay by | Robert Dix William Kerwin Ralph Luce |
| Story by | Robert Dix William Kerwin Ralph Luce |
| Produced by | Robert Plekker |
| Starring | Jason Ledger Renny Roker Sherry Bain Ray Danton Sherry Miles Bob Plekker Erik Estrada Johnny Green Bruce Kimball |
| Cinematography | Ralph Waldo |
| Edited by | Renn Reynolds |
| Music by | Richard Wess |
Release date |
|
Running time | 107 mins |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Story
editA 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
editScreenings
editThe 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
editThe film was nominated for two Image Awards.[8]
Releases
editThe 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
editHanko 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
editJohnny Green of Johnny Green and the Greenmen appears in the film. He band also contributed to the music.[11]
Cast list (listed alphabetically)
edit- 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
edit- ^ The Terre Haute Tribune, Saturday, July 10, 1976 - Page 16
- ^ The Journal Gazette, Thursday, July 15, 1971 - Page 20
- ^ Turner Classic Movies - The Ballad of Billie Blue(1972)
- ^ The Holland Evening Sentinel, Friday, April 21, 1972 - Page 15 'Billie Blue' in Holland
- ^ The Pantagraph, Wednesday, July 16, 1975 - Page 12 Peoria center to show film
- ^ The Terre Haute Tribune, Saturday, July 10, 1976 - Page 16
- ^ The Ottawa Journal, April 26, 1979 - THE WEEK AHEAD, TONIGHT, FILMS
- ^ The Holland Evening Sentinel, Friday, April 21, 1972 - Page 15 'Billie Blue' in Holland
- ^ American Film Institute - The Ballad of Billie Blue (1972)
- ^ The Reformed Free Publishing Association, Volume 48/, Issue: 11, 3/1/1972 - The Christian And Movies By Hanko Herman
- ^ Beloit Daily News, February 15, 2007 - Famous band to play for Crime Stoppers fund-raiser in Beloit By Holly Myers