Billie (United Artists) (1965)

a ee Funnyman Backus Patty Duke's Pop in Romantic Comedy, ‘Billie’ op in Komantic Comedy, billie Contrary to the popular image, it’s not necessary for one’s folks to be dead broke in order to make a name for one’s self. Take the case of Jim Backus the veteran screen player, for example. Jim’s family was in the heavy machinery business and wasn’t exactly broke. Military Institute and University and a country day school in Cleveland, but it didn’t take. He was asked to—well, anyway, he left without a diploma from each. But you’ve got to have something in order to get a co-star rating in a motion picture as big as Chrislaw’s gay presentation “Billie,” starring Patty Duke, the United Artists release in Technicolor which opens ............ at the Theatre, and Jim had it. And that was an overwhelming desire to become an actor and a willingness to pay for it in sweat and tears, Jim was only fourteen when he appeared as a gunbearer for the late Clark Gable in a production of “White Cargo” by a local stock company. He’s been a_ performer ever since, appearing on the stage, the screen and, for many years in its salad days, the radio. He’s been in over a hundred pictures, and has also achieved a fame as the creator of the two-time Academy Award winning “Mr. Magoo.” Jim plays the role of Patty’s father in “Billie,” which also costars Jane Greer, Warren Berlinger, Billy De Wolfe and Dick Sargent, and, as such, has an excellent opportunity to exhibit the light touch for which he is famous. Those who remember him in the recent comedy hit “It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World” will have no difficulty in recalling this touch. They sent him to the Kentucky Still B-45 Mat 1€ Jim Backus, who is co-starred with Jane Greer, Warren Berlinger, Billy De Wolfe and Dick Sargent in Chrislaw’s gay “Billie,” with Patty Duke starring in the title role. The picture opens at the Theatre in Technicolor and under United Artists release. "Ginger" to ‘Billie’ Ronald Alexander’s successful Broadway hit “Time Out for Ginger” arrives on the screen here Peabo ty ye at the: 2.20.5 Theatre: under the title “Billie,” starring Patty Duke. The Chrislaw production is being released by United Artists. It is in Technicolor. Peter Lawford Exec-Producer Of Patty Duke Starrer, ‘Billie’ One of the busiest men in Hollywood these days is handsome Peter Lawford who is not only a major motion picture star but an important television and picture producer as well. His latest effort in the latter field was his stint as executive producer for the Chrislaw Patty Duke starrer “Billie,” in Technicolor which opens ............ at the Theatre, under United Artists release. He is also the producer of Patty’s television show, working with Don Weis who also directed and produced “Billie,” which is from the hilarious Broadway success “Time Out For Ginger” by Ronald Alexander who is also responsible for the motion picture script. Jim Backus, Jane Greer, Warren Berlinger, Billy De Wolfe and Dick Sargent round out “Billie’s” cast. As an actor, Lawford recently scored in the Joseph E. Levine production of “Harlow,” and previous to that he triumphed in “Sylvia,” “Dead Ringer,” “Advise and Con production of the gay, romantic Consent” and “The Longest Day.” London born and the only son of the late Lieut. General Sir Sidney and Lady Lawford, Peter received a taste of acting while still a child, and liked it. His first job in Hollywood however, was as an usher at a movie house. But he got into pictures, appearing in “Thunderbirds” and “Eagle Squadron.” His big break came with “Mrs. Miniver” and he’s been a star of the first magnitude ever since, Lawford is married to the former Patricia Kennedy, sister of the late President John F. Kennedy and they have three children—two boys and a girl. Still B-15 | Jim Backus is Patty Duke’s pop and Jane Greer is her mom in Patty’s starrer “Billie,” Chrislaw presentation in Technicolor, opening .............. ab he Goss Mat 2B ... Theatre under United Artists release. Famed TV producer-director Don Weis produced and directed. Patty as ‘Billie’ Far Different Gal Than Helen Keller It’s quite a different role which Patty Duke essays in her latest motion picture venture from the one which catapulted her to worldwide fame and won her an Oscar in her first. In the latter, she portrayed the blind and deaf Helen Keller as a child in the tensely dramatic “The Miracle Worker.” In the former, she’s gay, romantic, she sings and she dances and she’s about as endearing a teen-ager as one could hope to meet. This is in Chrislaw Production’s “Billie,”’ in Technicolor and a United Artists release, which opens eS at the ............ Theatre. The film was produced and directed by Don Weis and Peter Lawford acted as its executive producer, both of which stints both also perform for Patty in her highly popular “Patty Duke Show” on television. She is supported in the film by Jim Backus, Jane Greer, Warren Berlinger, Billy De Wolfe and Dick Sargent, and the music for her dancing and singing was provided by the celebrated Dominic Frontiere. Roland Alexander, who wrote the Broadway hit “Time Out for Ginger,” from which “Billie” was made, wrote the script, and Milton Ebbins was in charge of the production. Stull B-50 Charles portant comedy role in Chrislaw’s gay, romantic “Billie,” starring Patty Duke, which Mat 1D Lane plays an im opens at the Theatre under United Artists release. The film is in Technicolor. Dick Sargent Dug Way Into Films Handsome Dick Sargent, who plays an important supporting role to Patty Duke’s “Billie” in Chrislaw Production’s gay comedy with music in Technicolor of that name, the United Artists release opening Si eae a at the<.5 co. Theatre, wanted to become an actor so badly that he dug ditches to make it possible. Son of a theatrical father and mother, he left school and went to Hollywood to show ’em how things should be done. But Hollywood was unimpressed, So unimpressed that Dick had to take the job as a ditch digger to keep body and soul together. When the gates were finally flung open, Dick got a role in “Prisoners of War,” but it was back to the ditches again when he failed to impress for a second time. He didn’t hit it until he got a part in “Bernadine,” but it was a bull’s eye. “Mardi Gras” followed, and then “Operation Petticoat” and Dick was in solid. He has since appeared in many films in a wide variety of roles and he is also a frequent visitor to the living room via the small screen. Still B-19 Mat 2D Patty Duke has boy friend Warren Berlinger puzzled in “Billie,” Chrislaw presentation in Technicolor, which opens ................ at the Theatre through United Artists release. Director of Patty 's TV Show In Same Chore for Movie, ‘Billie’ The association of Peter Lawford, Patty Duke and Don Weis in Chrislaw Production’s “Billie,” the gay, romantic Technicolor United Artists release, which opens eters at the ............ Theatre, is a reunion of long time friends as well as a combination of top-flight Hollywood talent. Weis is producer-director of this, Miss Duke’s first Hollywood starrer, and Lawford is its executive producer. At Metro a few years ago, Weis directed two television pilots in which Lawford starred — “Dear Phoebe” and “The Thin Man” — and went on to direct additional episodes of each. Currently he is fulfilling a contract to direct a number of episodes of television’s “The Patty Duke Show” which Lawford produces for the Chrislaw company and which is distributed by United Artists Television. With two Directors Guild Awards and an additional Guild award nomination to his credit, Weis’ It Was ‘Male’ Day For the Mail Girls When a Hollywood makeup man is faced with the chore of “planting” a lipstick kiss mark on a male actor’s cheek, the standard procedure is to request the services of the nearest actress available and have her buss the actor to leave the imprint. But nary a female performer was available on the set one day when a United Artists makeup man was called upon to plant three varied type smooches on the cheeks of rising young actor Warren Berlinger for a comedy closeup in the new Patty Duke starrer “Billie,” the Chrislaw Production in Technicolor opening ............ at these Theatre through United Artists release. Refusing to allow the lack of distaff talent on the set to throw him, (leading lady Patty Duke wasn’t scheduled to work that day) the makeup man put in a rush phone call to the studio mail room and had them send over a trio of messenger girls. As the makeup man had anticipated, he had no trouble at all in talking the gals into bussing Berlinger fondly on the cheeks. As one of the girls summed it up: “Our job is delivering the male. And I guess we did it!” motion picture and television accomplishments lead one to believe that he hasn’t had a day off since coming to Hollywood and such, indeed, is pretty nearly the case. Born in Milwaukee in 1922, Weis went to school there and arrived in Hollywood in 1939 to attend USC, an attendance which was interrupted by World War II in which he served for three-and-ahalf years in the air force. After working as a script clerk and dialogue director for, among others Stanley Kramer, he went to MGM where he directed such films as “Bannerline,” “A Slight Case of Larceny” and “The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis.” He left MGM for television where his name appeared in the credits for many big shows. Ditto for ‘Billie’ Don Weis, who produces ‘and directs Patty Duke in her TV program “The Patty Duke Show,” performs the same honors for Patty’s first Hollywood starrer, Chrislaw Production’s gay “Billie,” United Artists Technicolor release which opens ............ atthe Theatre. Supporting Miss Duke are Jim Backus, Jane Greer, Warren Berlinger, Billy De Wolfe and Dick Sargent. Still B-43 Mat 1A Academy Award Winner and TV personality Patty Duke stars in the title role of Chrislaw’s gay comedy with music “Billie,” opening .......... at the Seer, Theatre, in Technicolor and under United Artists release. In the film with her are such prominent players as Jim Backus, Jane Greer, Warren Berlinger and Billy De Wolfe. PAGE 9