The Billy Jack films were a series of lowbrow Western movies featuring Tom Laughlin as Billy Jack, an American Indian Green Beret Vietnam War vetern, hapkido master, and gunslinger. One can only imagine the action in this series of four films that were made from 1967-1977. In fact I can only imagine, because to date I have not seen any of the films. Laughlin also directed these films under the name T.C. Frank. The films in the series were The Born Losers, Billy Jack, The Trial of Billy Jack, and Billy Jack Goes to Washington.
Laughlin, along with his wife Dolores Taylor, who played the female lead Jean Roberts in the films, have twice attempted to revive the series, the first an effort entitled The Return of Billy Jack in 1986, and the most recent current effort Billy Jack for President. When I was at the Hollywood Collectors Show on October 4, 2008, Laughlin and Taylor were both present attempting to raise money by selling photos and autographs to raise money to fund this effort.
My friend Bob, being a victim of the 1960’s and early 70’s, was a fan of the series, so he shelled out some big bucks to get a signed photo and a picture with the pair. I being the one who took the photo weasled my way in and asked the duo if I might get a picture with them as well. They kindly agreed, so – for one ridiculous picture only – I donned the nearby cowboy hat that was sitting behind their table, and Bob snapped my picture with Billy Jack and his bride.
Celebrity encounters of the 2008 Hollywood Collectors Show will continue…
Come on Brad, now that you’ve met them, you definitely owe it to yourself to see some of the movies! Personally, my favorite is the one simply titled, “Billy Jack.” And come to think of it, how can you call them “low brow” if you haven’t seen them yourself?! The Billy Jack films are pure class as far as I’m concerned! They may not be “high brow,” but to call them “low brow” I think is really short changing them. See one of them at least!
Peter
January 28th, 2009
Okay, okay, I’ll check them out…one day. How about ‘mid-brow’?
Brad
January 28th, 2009
“Mid-Brow” might work, but see one of them soon (ideally, “Billy Jack”) and then you can pick a brow to classify them!
Peter
January 28th, 2009
Well, I have to offer a dissenting opinion here. I had to sit through “The Born Losers” and “Billy Jack,” having been dumped at a cinder-block/plastic seats neighborhood movie house for a Saturday way back when, and both of those films were dreadful. I felt sorry for Jane Russell being in “The Born Losers,” and I thought “Billy Jack” was ludicrous, because he was preaching non-violence while beating the living daylights out of anyone who crossed his path. I haven’t seen “Billy Jack Goes to Washington,” but it’s likely an even bigger desecration of a Frank Capra movie than Adam Sandler’s “Mr. Deeds.” Now, there’s a double bill that only that numbskull “biographer” Joseph McBride could love.
Randy Skretvedt
January 28th, 2009
To each their own. One person’s “dreadful” may be another’s “ecstasy.”
Personally, I think that Tom Laughlin and Delores Taylor are class acts who had a great “personal empowerment” message to offer during the turbulent political times of the late 60’s/early 70’s. Not for everyone’s taste to be sure, though I certainly got more out of “Billy Jack” than I ever did “Atoll K.”
I just hope that Brad, who has met the primary creative forces behind the Billy Jack films and is now posting about them, is able to watch the movies as close to “tabula rasa” as possible.
It would be a shame to watch them with any “low brow” or “bottom rung” preconceptions.
Peter
January 28th, 2009
I’m middle-of-the-road on this one. I’ve seen only “Billy Jack”, and while it was neither a great nor poor movie, it was very enjoyable.
Bill
January 28th, 2009
Don’t worry, I’ll be one mind without a single thought.
Brad
January 28th, 2009
Great attitude Bill & Brad! And while we’re waiting for Brad’s review one of the movies, check out this awesome site: http://billyjack.com
Make sure to scroll down and watch the YouTube video where Tom Laughlin lays out his agenda for the “Billy Jack for President” effort!
Peter
January 28th, 2009
I don’t know about being “a victim of the 60’s and 70’s” but a bunch of the guys would enjoy a day at the movies watching Billy Jack and then karate chopping each other on the way home…
Just one Tin Soldier’s memory
Bob
February 3rd, 2009
I saw ” BORN LOSERS” and “BILLY JACK”. They are neither of them particularly good films, but two things about the latter is notable: It was right on the zeitgeist of the times and Laughlin had a certain kind of charisma that might have crossed over quite well had he pursued a mainstream acting career in Hollywood.
Winston Marcelle
November 16th, 2009
HELL YEAH!
When that redneck dumps flower on the little girl and BJ tells the guy exactly how he’s gonna knock him out?
Classic American cinema.
I think it’s what Steven Seagal was going for, post-Executive Decision.
Eric Hubble
December 17th, 2009
I very much enjoyed the Billy Jack movies. At the time they didn’t seem so cheezy. But either way I wanted Billy Jack to be my Dad…he was cool. Still gotta love ’em.
Sky
February 1st, 2013