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If You Give a Dance, You Gotta Pay the Band

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."

TV Movie
Drama
Comedy
December 19, 1972 (54 years ago)
1h 13m
5.0/10

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.

Donna M. Bryan
DM

Donna M. Bryan

Billie Jean Sims

James Broderick
James Broderick

James Broderick

Trick

Age 45 (died at 55)

Laurence Fishburne
Laurence Fishburne

Laurence Fishburne

Fish

Age 11 (now 64)

Sonny Jim Gaines
SJ

Sonny Jim Gaines

Mr. Sims

Age 45 (died at 78)

Arthur French
Arthur French

Arthur French

Customer

Age 41 (died at 89)

Moses Gunn
Moses Gunn

Moses Gunn

Mr. Miller

Age 43 (died at 64)

Albert Hall
Albert Hall

Albert Hall

T-Bone Sims

Age 35 (now 88)

Dots Johnson
Dots Johnson

Dots Johnson

Jim

Age 59 (died at 73)

George Miles
GM

George Miles

Shake-a-Hand

Haywood Nelson
Haywood Nelson

Haywood Nelson

Ronnie

Age 12 (now 66)

Joseph Ray
JR

Joseph Ray

Walkin' Willie

Dick Sabol
DS

Dick Sabol

Prison Guard