
If You Give a Dance, You Gotta Pay the Band 1972
"The story of ghetto boy and girl trying to raise money for the girl to visit her father in prison."
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.
Director: Fred Coe
Cast
Donna M. Bryan
Billie Jean Sims

James Broderick
Trick
Georgia Burke
Grannie

Laurence Fishburne
Fish
Sonny Jim Gaines
Mr. Sims

Arthur French
Customer

Moses Gunn
Mr. Miller

Albert Hall
T-Bone Sims

Dots Johnson
Jim
John Marriott
Jessie