If You Give a Dance, You Gotta Pay the Band

Overview

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.

Directed by Fred Coe

Top cast

D

Donna M. Bryan

Billie Jean Sims

James Broderick

Trick

G

Georgia Burke

Grannie

Laurence Fishburne

Fish

S

Sonny Jim Gaines

Mr. Sims

Arthur French

Customer

Moses Gunn

Mr. Miller

Albert Hall

T-Bone Sims

Dots Johnson

Jim

John Marriott

Jessie

G

George Miles

Shake-a-Hand

Haywood Nelson

Ronnie

J

Jim Pelham

Eddie

J

Joseph Ray

Walkin' Willie

D

Dick Sabol

Prison Guard

Details