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The Ballad of Billie Blue

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Wikipedia article




'The Ballad of Billie Blue' aka '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.'The Terre Haute Tribune', Saturday, July 10, 1976 - [https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/84285833/ Page 16]

Marty Allen in a serious role plays a reporter for a scandal newspaper who reports on the singer.'The Journal Gazette', Thursday, July 15, 1971 - [https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/82261456/ Page 20]

Background



Screenings

The film premiered in Grand Rapids, Michigan in February, 1972.Turner Classic Movies - [http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/739624/The-Ballad-of-Billie-Blue/ The Ballad of Billie Blue(1972)]

The film opened Thursday April 20, 1972 at the Holland Theatre and was showing for a week.'The Holland Evening Sentinel', Friday, April 21, 1972 - [https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/15934078/ Page 15 'Billie Blue' in Holland]

It was scheduled for screening at the Peoria Christian Center on Saturday, July 19, 1975.'The Pantagraph', Wednesday, July 16, 1975 - [https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/72411097/ Page 12 Peoria center to show film] The film was showing at the Grand Theatre in July 1976.'The Terre Haute Tribune', Saturday, July 10, 1976 - [https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/84285833/ Page 16]

An organization called Christian Young People had the film showing at the Ottawa Technical High School at 8PM, April 26, 1979.'The Ottawa Journal', April 26, 1979 - [https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/50033708/ THE WEEK AHEAD, TONIGHT, FILMS]

Awards

The film was nominated for two Image Awards.'The Holland Evening Sentinel', Friday, April 21, 1972 - [https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/15934078/ Page 15 'Billie Blue' in Holland]

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.American Film Institute - [https://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/moviedetails/54437 The Ballad of Billie Blue (1972)]

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.'The Reformed Free Publishing Association', Volume 48/, Issue: 11, 3/1/1972 - [https://standardbearer.rfpa.org/articles/christian-and-movies The Christian And Movies By Hanko Herman]

Cast



Johnny Green of Johnny Green and the Greenmen appears in the film. He band also contributed to the music.'Beloit Daily News', February 15, 2007 - [http://www.beloitdailynews.com/archive/article-bf1e4e5b-26ac-526b-a540-57988111ac72.html Famous band to play for Crime Stoppers fund-raiser in Beloit By Holly Myers]

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




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