nice movie . billy dee a heartthrob while no doubt about it . richard pryor a joy to see . diana do a fine act job . even play the teenage part in the beginning and she essay it quite well . she bring forth the young girl skip on the sidewalk and all the time the audience knowing that the would be rapist be look for her . this be quite chilling and and only we know or figure what be about to happen . the mary jane shoe and follow by the camera and would lead u to the dastardly deed that would soon take place . i do think diana do a great job move through the different age range . she also go from innocent look young girl to well dressed cabaret singer . she go from shy begin singer to confident entertainer . i think diana overall presentation be superlative . scatman be a hoot . i have see him in old codger part and but a big ben he be quite a character . i realize that this be to shatter his stereotype of the nice old man . a big ben and he be outrageously funny . billie finally decide she have have enough of these trick . scatman play the john remind me of shirley jones play the prostitute in elmer gantry . shatter the nice character stereotype be always good for the acting resume . i think that billie with her mother be good . her mother really love her and plus the fancy red hat and too . the mother be kind and and very sweet . she want billie to have success a an entertainer . best of all and billie begin breakdown in the prison be quite believable and scary . this prove she be an actress who can act in a lot of different emotion . the straitjacket scene be heartbreaking . positive .