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If You Give a Dance, You Gotta Pay the Band

MOVIE • 1972

If You Give a Dance, You Gotta Pay the Band

The story of ghetto boy and girl trying to raise money for the girl to visit her father in prison.

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.

TMDB ★ 2.5/5Votes: 2
Favorite off • Watchlist off • Not rated
TV MovieDramaComedy

Top Cast

—

Donna M. Bryan

Billie Jean Sims

James Broderick

James Broderick

Trick

—

Georgia Burke

Grannie

Laurence Fishburne

Laurence Fishburne

Fish

—

Sonny Jim Gaines

Mr. Sims

Arthur French

Arthur French

Customer

Moses Gunn

Moses Gunn

Mr. Miller

Albert Hall

Albert Hall

T-Bone Sims

Dots Johnson

Dots Johnson

Jim

John Marriott

John Marriott

Jessie

—

George Miles

Shake-a-Hand

Haywood Nelson

Haywood Nelson

Ronnie

—

Jim Pelham

Eddie

—

Joseph Ray

Walkin' Willie

Where to watch

No OTT providers listed for this region yet.

Theatrical release date: December 19, 1972

Meta Snapshot

Film

Status

Released

Release

December 19, 1972

Runtime

73 min

Language

English

Origin

United States of America

Budget

N/A

Revenue

N/A

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