The real reason billie jean king beat bobby riggs has nothing to do with tennis. The famous tennis match was held at the houston astrodome between the 29yearold womens world champion billie jean king and the 55yearold mens former world champion bobby riggs. Emma stone stars as king in a breezy new film that carries us back to 73, and. The film covers the tennis stars lesbian awakening. Jan, 2018 the 1973 tennis match between billie jean king and bobby riggs became the most watched televised sports event of all time. Emma stone and steve carell play billie jean king and. How billie jean king won the battle of the sexes, as told in 1973. A s a tennis champion and social activist, billie jean king lives her life according to the principles of equality, empowerment, and access. King beat 55yearold former wimbledon champion bobby riggs. The landmark 1973 match has remained a cultural touchstone into the new millennium, with ron silver taking on the role of riggs for the 2001 tv movie when billie beat bobby. The true story behind the battle of the sexes movie by eliana dockterman september 22, 2017 t he 1973 tennis match between billie jean king and bobby riggs was a spectacle made for hollywood. Source for information on king, billie jean moffit.
With holly hunter, ron silver, matt letscher, bob gunton. But does the film get the details right about their tennis. Battle of the sexes, starring emma stone as billie jean king and steve carell as bobby riggs, will debut across. Emma stone and steve carell play billie jean king and bobby. Steve carell, sporting lamb chop sideburns, plays bobby riggs in the movie, battle of the sexes. The match was something of a spectacle as the inherprime king defeated the 55yearold riggs in three straight sets, but the event nevertheless was a significant moment in the second. The new photo shows emma, 27, as billie jean and steve, 53. How billie jean king made womens sports history during. Fortyfour years ago this month, billie jean king and bobby riggs faced off in what may be the most famous tennis match ever televised. Billie jean king and emma stone on battle of the sexes and.
The real reason billie jean king beat bobby riggs has. These were bobby riggs last words to billie jean king youtube. Bobby riggs and womens tennis trailblazer billie jean king. The term is most famously used for an internationally televised match in 1973 held at the houston astrodome between 55 yearold bobby riggs and 29 yearold billie jean king, which king won in three sets. But different tales are told about just how he came to lose.
The film focuses on the nationally televised1973 battle of the sexestennis match in which 29yearold billie jean king emma stone beat 55yearold former champion bobby riggs steve carell in. Trapped in the media glare, king and riggs were on opposites sides of a. No, the biggest sporting event that year was the battle of the sexes, a tennis match that pitted the top player in the womens game, billie jean king. Sep 18, 2017 billie jean kings nickname for emma stone is peahead. A new movie starring emma stone as billie jean king and steve carell as bobby riggs to begin filming soon. Review of the movie about the billie jean king bobby riggs tennis match, starring emma stone and steve carell. The match took place at the san diego country estates, 38 miles northeast of san. A new film charting billie jean kings victory over chauvinist bobby riggs is heavily romanticised, according to kings husband. The 1973 battle of the sexes match between billie jean king and bobby riggs was played in three sets, and now it seems the film adaptation. Bobby riggs net worth, bio, wife, death, battle of the sexes. Bobby riggs son reveals his dads last words to billie jean king. What happened to bobby riggs after battle of the sexes. Billie jean kings nickname for emma stone is peahead.
In exploring the battle of the sexes true story, we learned that a madefortelevision movie titled when billie beat bobby aired on abc in 2001. Did billy jean king legitimately defeat bobby riggs in the. Emma stone and steve carell faithfully capture billie jean king and bobby riggs. In 1973, 90 million people worldwide watched billie jean king defeat bobby riggs in the battle of the sexes, 64, 63, 63. In 2001, abc aired a television film about the match between king and riggs titled when billie beat bobby, starring holly hunter and ron silver as king and riggs respectively. Battle of the sexes, exhibition tennis match between billie jean king and bobby riggs that took place on september 20, 1973, inside the astrodome in houston.
It was pimped on america as some sort of proof that women were not only equal to men, but better than them physically. In a 60 minutes interview, bobby riggs said that in the weeks leading up to the match he was taking roughly 5 pills three times a day. On september 20, 1973, womens tennis champ and feminist activist billie jean king played former mens tennis pro bobby riggs and beat him. The 1973 tennis match between billie jean king and bobby riggs became the most watched televised sports event of all time. Sep 21, 2017 emma stone wasnt yet born when billie jean king, whom she plays in a new movie, and bobby riggs went head to head in a nationally televised match called the battle of the sexes. They brought up the name of bobby riggs, and riggs assured him that he would go in the tank, and hell make it look and appear that hes trying his best but billie jean king was just overwhelming. The movie reunites the crazy, stupid, love costars as billie jean king and bobby riggs who faced off in a legendary 1973 tennis match. Battle of the sexes poised to be a crowdpleaser all over again battle of the sexes tells the story of the 1973 tennis match between bobby riggs and. Battle of the sexes i official trailer fox searchlight youtube. The series first profile of a sports figure commemorates the 40th anniversaries of the famous billie jean king bobby riggs battle of the sexes tennis match and the launch of the womens tennis association. It starred holly hunter as billie jean king and ron silver as bobby riggs. Bobby riggs birth name robert larrimore riggs was an american tennis champion best known for facing womens star billie jean king in the 1973 battle of the sexes, a match which made tennis history as the mostwatched match ever, with more than 90 million worldwide watching on television as well as over 30,000 inside the houston astrodome. Battle of the sexes, a film about the famed 1973 tennis match between billie jean king and bobby riggs, premieres in theaters friday. Billie jean kings battle of the sexes win reportedly.
Take a look back at billie jean kings straightsets victory over selfproclaimed male chauvinist bobby riggs. Sep 25, 2017 battle of the sexes, valerie faris and jonathan daytons new movie about the 1973 tennis match between billie jean king, then a 29yearold wimbledon champion, and bobby riggs, a 55yearold. The people i know who knew bobby riggs and had played tennis with him in that era and afterward all swear up and down that under normal circumstances he would not have lost to billy jean. Bobby riggs rides in a carriage pulled by women in his grand entrance to the match. The match maker bobby riggs, the mafia and the battle of the sexes. Apr 14, 2016 the movie reunites the crazy, stupid, love costars as billie jean king and bobby riggs who faced off in a legendary 1973 tennis match. Billie jean king and bobby riggs smile during a news conference in new york to publicize their upcoming match at the houston astrodome, in this july 11, 1973 photo. In doing so, she launched her fight for parity into the worldwide limelight.
Oct, 2017 while battle of the sexes portrays the fierce competition between tennis greats bobby riggs and billie jean king, riggs son says his dads chauvinistic persona was all an act speaking to inside. American masters billie jean king is a production of new black films, media squared films plc, and thirteens american masters in association. Sep 21, 2017 no, the biggest sporting event that year was the battle of the sexes, a tennis match that pitted the top player in the womens game, billie jean king, against former mens number one bobby riggs. Did bobby riggs take on margaret court before playing billie jean king. The film focuses on the nationally televised 1973 battle of the sexes tennis match in which 29yearold billie jean king emma stone beat 55.
They brought up the name of bobby riggs, and riggs assured him that he would go in the tank, and hell make it look and appear that hes trying his. Battle of the sexes, valerie faris and jonathan dayton s new movie about the 1973 tennis match between billie jean king, then a 29yearold wimbledon champion, and bobby riggs, a 55yearold. Battle of the sexes 2017 scene comparisons youtube. Sep 10, 20 american masters billie jean king is a production of new black films, media squared films plc, and thirteens american masters in association with goldcrest films international and wnet.
Emma stone plays billie jean king and steve carell plays bobby riggs in a movie about the 1973 tennis match that became a referendum on equality. Comparisons between scenes from the movie battle of the sexes 2017 with the real scenes from the life of billie jean king and bobby riggs. In the wake of the sexual revolution and the rise of the womens movement, the 1973 tennis match between womens world champion billie jean king and exmenschamp and serial hustler bobby riggs steve carell was billed as the battle of the sexes and became one of the most watched televised sports events of all time, reaching 90 million viewers around the world. Trapped in the media glare, king and riggs were on opposite sides of a. Heres what the filmmakers, emma stone and steve carrell got rightand wrongabout the match between billie jean king and bobby riggs. While battle of the sexes portrays the fierce competition between tennis greats bobby riggs and billie jean king, riggs son says his dads chauvinistic persona was all. If the films treatment of that essential conflict is a little cartoonish then that. Billie jean king, bobby riggs, and the tennis match that leveled the game by selena roberts aug 16, 2005 4. Bobby riggs son reveals his dads last words to billie. Scribner encyclopedia of american lives, thematic series. The historic 1973 tennis match between middleaged champion bobby riggs ron silver and young feminist billie jean king holly hunter. Battle of the sexes movie vs the true story of billie jean king. Emma stone plays billie jean king and steve carell plays bobby riggs in a movie about the 1973 tennis match that became a referendum on.
The title refers to the tennis match that took place in 1973, at the astrodome, in houston, where billie jean king beat bobby riggs, twentysix years her senior. Billie jean king and bobby riggs squared off in the battle of the sexes round 2. Oct 15, 2019 bobby riggs was an american tennis champion best known for facing womens star billie jean king in the 1973 battle of the sexes. Wanda laura dern is a dirtpoor louisiana mother pregnant with her fifth child who answers a wealthy couples baby wanted ad. This week tennis takes a rare turn on the big screen, in a big hollywood production. Sep 19, 2017 how billie jean king won the battle of the sexes, as told in 1973. Battle of the sexes is a 2017 biographical sports film directed by valerie faris and jonathan dayton and written by simon beaufoy. As the rivalry between king and riggs kicked into high gear, offcourt each was fighting more personal and complex battles. In 1973, billie jean king and bobby riggs went head to head in a televised tennis match. Bobby riggs intentionally lost to billie jean king in a highly publicized 1973 tennis match in order to pay off gambling debts according to a television report. Billie jean king, the worlds no1 female player, and bobby riggs, the. Heres what the filmmakers, emma stone and steve carrell got rightand wrong about the match between billie jean king and bobby riggs. King presents her own story, with perspective from rosie casals, chris evert, venus williams, gloria steinem, riggs son larry and others. The plot is loosely based on the 1973 tennis match between billie jean king and bobby riggs.
Did bobby riggs really take more than 100 vitamin pills daily. In tennis, battle of the sexes describes various exhibition matches played between a man and a woman, or a doubles match between two men and two women in one case. New billie jean king film branded 90 per cent fiction. T he 1973 tennis match between billie jean king and bobby riggs was a spectacle made for hollywood. Apr 12, 2019 visit to learn more about american tennis great billie jean king, who broke down barriers in her push for equal prize money for women, and as one of the first wellknown openly gay. Bobby riggs flexes his biceps in an attempt to intimidate billie jean king. Tennis trailblazer billie jean king visits today to talk about the new film battle of the sexes, which dramatizes her headlinemaking 1973. Battle of the sexes movie vs the true story of billie jean. Advantage, bobby, but game, set, match, billie jean. Sep 22, 2017 t he 1973 tennis match between billie jean king and bobby riggs was a spectacle made for hollywood. Battle of the sexes a courageous advocate for gender equality for women from a young age, billie jean king accepted a challenge to play a match against former number 1ranked tennis player bobby riggs. Battle of the sexes poised to be a crowdpleaser all. A look at the events leading up to the 1973 tennis match between retired mens champ bobby riggs and the current womens wimbledon winner billie jean king. In 20, new black films released the documentary movie battle of the sexes in cinemas, with television broadcast following soon after.
Billiejean kings defeat of the 1939 mens wimbledon champion in 1973. How billie jean king won the battle of the sexes, as. Sep 22, 2017 in 1973, billie jean king and bobby riggs went head to head in a televised tennis match. Read up on the legendary tennis match before the movie battle of the sexes about billie jean king and bobby riggs hits theaters on september 22. King went on to win in three sets, ushering in a new era of recognition for women in tennis, sports, and other walks of life. Billie jean king and emma stone on battle of the sexes. Sep 21, 2017 emma stone plays billie jean king and steve carell plays bobby riggs in a movie about the 1973 tennis match that became a referendum on equality. Sep 29, 2017 fortyfour years ago this month, billie jean king and bobby riggs faced off in what may be the most famous tennis match ever televised. Billie jean king beat bobby riggs in tennis 44 years. The true story of the 1973 tennis match between world number one billie jean king and exchamp and serial hustler bobby riggs.
Advantage, bobby, but game, set, match, billie jean in. It stars emma stone as king, whose victory in the match. Together, billie and bobby served up a cultural spectacle that. No other sporting event has played a more significant role in developing. Battle of the sexes, valerie faris and jonathan daytons new movie about the 1973 tennis match between billie jean king, then a 29yearold wimbledon champion, and bobby riggs, a. Bobby riggs was an american tennis champion best known for facing womens star billie jean king in the 1973 battle of the sexes. The 1973 tennis match between billie jean king and bobby riggs was called the battle of the sexes. Aug 22, 2018 take a look back at billie jean kings straightsets victory over selfproclaimed male chauvinist bobby riggs. Sep 01, 2017 billie jean king and bobby riggs smile during a news conference in new york to publicize their upcoming match at the houston astrodome, in this july 11, 1973 photo. It was 1973, and riggs, a top mens player in the 1930s and 1940s, was now a 55yearold selfdescribed hustler and. Billie jean king on her sexuality and beating bobby riggs. Review of the movie about the billie jean king bobby riggs tennis match, starring. Sep 22, 2017 the reallife battle of the sexes was a major media event in 1973 a tennis match at the houston astrodome between bobby riggs, a 55yearold former champ, and billie jean king, who was. The two played against each other september 20, 1973.