MovieChat Forums > Billy Jack (1971) Discussion > billy jack was a great movie for its tim...

billy jack was a great movie for its time

posted 19 years ago by kirbsmum
55 replies | jump to latest

I just wanted to make a few comments,having seen Billy Jack,Born Losers,and Trial of Billy Jack.....I was about 12 at the time,,impressed by the movie and Tom Laughlin....I must say though,,it was a movie of the times,I had heard somewhere back then,the actors were mostly college students,hence the lack of talent and stiffness in some of the lines,it was crudely made,low budget and even though watching it now I really can see the terrible acting for the most part,,the message was a sign of the times....the turmoil in the country was addressed and young idealistic people were influenced. I can remember how I felt watching it all those years ago,,the hate,violence,discrimination...all things going on during that time.......now looking back though,,it really was corny,but it was still a good movie....as for some peoples comments on doing a remake and who should star in it........1.A remake would be terrible...2.Most of the actors mentioned are way too old for the part..Tom was only in his mid 30s then and no one mentioned anyone that young....but the whole idea is bad anyway......Im really sick of all the remakes being made these days.....cant anyone come up with new ideas? 99 out of 100 remakes are awful.....

Judy

[–] I_am_the_Chosen_One 18 years ago

I think it was made on a low budget & Tom didn't plan on making the film as an Oscar winner. I'm from Australia & the same sort of thing happened with the Aborigines, and yes I think the film was made right for the times. http://www.billyjack.com

Come & make love to me

[–] 18 years ago

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[–] tabbycat 12 years ago

Not that low of a budget. Filmed in 35mm by Fred Koenekamp (a huge big-budget name in the 70's), with name character actors in many roles, and released by a major studio (Warner's). Half of the acting is amateur, but the rest is solid. Very well edited and recorded -- especially evident in the new stereo mixes on DVD and cable HD. Cheapest element is the fake bright blood, a common flaw in even the best 70's flicks.

[–] lizabb1202 18 years ago

Definitely an accurate assessment of the film, and the era. I was 14 when it came out. Back then, it seemed goofy and full of bad acting to me (I wasn't even willing to admit I liked it, lol) yet I watched it many times. Now, I can appreciate the ideals it embraced. Enjoyed your perspective.

[–] F_Gump 18 years ago

It was the perfect movie for a 12 year old boy at the time. It was PG so we could get in. There was a bathing scene (almost a nude scene, or close enough for a kid in 1971). There was a lot of kung fu fighting where the rich guys got their comeuppance (Bernard?). Plus all the teenage girls at the commune. It was perfect.

I watched it 15 years later in the mid 1980's and what a God-awful film this was. I hope Laughlin & his wife didn't waste all the money they made off of us kids in 1971 (it was a huge hit that ran for two years continuously), because they won't be seeing another dime.

[–] 18 years ago

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[–] AlbertTheFlasher 18 years ago

Billy Jack was definitely an appropriate film for the troubled era it was made in, but now it is just hopelessly dated. That especially goes for its sequel, The Trial Of Billy Jack. I rented that one on DVD not too long ago and found it too excruciating. As Eric Cartman would say, this is just a bunch of tree-hugging hippie crap.

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[–] sunburnn 15 years ago

Great Movie

[–] 15 years ago

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[–] amazon423 15 years ago

They definitely do. They also have trouble separating the part and character from the actor and what he or she is like in real life. Some actors are attacked verbally and physically because the character they portray is a jerk.

[–] 15 years ago

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[–] kennywolf 14 years ago

Sorry to correct, Marcus, but in 1972 I watched the film at a walk-in. I had seen marquees 'Held Over' for months before I actually saw it.

"Eye of the Beholder"

[–] jejozi 13 years ago

I was 13 in '71 and it was god awful. It was rated GP, not PG. As for whether they needed to make another one, Born Losers was made for $36,000 and made $36,000,000. Billy Jack was made for $800,000 and made over $72,000,000. The Trial of Billy Jack grossed $24,000,000. He was doin' OK.

This will be the high point of my day; it's all downhill from here.

[–] mstanley-1 14 years ago

Good comments, to which I will add; I believe the movie is just as relevant now as it was in 1971, particularly in the U.S., where hatred and bigotry seem to be on the rise again, as if the intervening years between then and now didn't happen. Also, in regard to the acting in the film by the students; it was 100% completely believable in that it was beyond method acting. Watching it now I get the feeling of being there - at the student meetings, in the courtroom, etc. This is the way kids talk and act and feel; passionate, unscripted, spontaneous, and sometimes even silly to an adult. Watch it again with that in mind and see. Independent films will never again be that daring and experimental and brilliant.

[–] ExGreenBeret 14 years ago

Right on man, like, all of us minorities are still being held down by "the MAN". That's why you'll NEVER see a black man in the White House in this bigoted, racist country, I'm absolutely SURE of that!

"An armed man is a citizen; An unarmed man is a subject.".

[–] mstanley-1 14 years ago

Pay a little closer attention to what's going on around you my friend, and see how our freedoms are being marginalized more and more by those who control all the wealth. And the black man in the white house has brought all the bigots and loons out from under rocks. The polarization now makes the 60's look like a boy scout jamboree.

[–] ExGreenBeret 14 years ago

Oh, I see, no matter what happens, the "bigots & loons" are to blame.

Go take another bong hit "my friend", watch Billy Jack, and crank up your Joan Baez albums.

"An armed man is a citizen; An unarmed man is a subject.".

[–] mstanley-1 14 years ago

LOL! Nothing like trying to pigeon hole someone, eh? Personally I never cared for Joan Baez. Lynn Baker (from Billy Jack) could sing her under the table.

If you don't think there are any bigots and loons left in the country, you need to watch Fox. They run that station. ;-)

[–] ExGreenBeret 14 years ago

It depends on your definition of bigots and loons, I suppose. I would say they reside on MSNBC.

Lynn Baker huh? Now THERE'S a household name.

Check your watch, it's nearly 4:20.

"An armed man is a citizen; An unarmed man is a subject.".

[–] mstanley-1 14 years ago

I'm not exactly surpised, sir.

I don't rate talent by mainstream commercial success. So I take it you are a huge Britney Spears fan? ;-)

Uh, okay....

[–] Jefbecco-1 14 years ago

It's a movie. Probably takes it's self too seriously, but once again it's a movie. It's pretty creaky in 2011, but I like it for that whole counter-culture vs. the establishment vibe. Like Easy Rider. Long hair good, short hair bad. Great song at the beginning.

[–] mstanley-1 14 years ago

LOL! excellent review! ;-)

[–] Jefbecco-1 14 years ago

Thanks. I was just a kid in the early seventies, but I do remember aspects of the time period. In particular I remember my aunt Vicky.

She was in her late teens and early twenties in the early/mid seventies. She fit that time period perfectly. She was slender, had long straight brown hair and wore ponchos and flared jeans and those shapeless floppy brimmed hats. Wore lots of jewlery and really cool BIG sunglasses. She also drove a Volkswagen bug convertible. Remember those? She listened to Pink Floyd, Ozark Mountain Daredevils, the Eagles, Country Joe and the Fish, Frank Zappa, Crosby,Stills,Nash & Young and other hot groups at the time. She was also known to take the occassional hit on a joint, liked to swear and dated guys with long hair who rode motorcycles. My grandparents loved Vicky, but they were from Tennessee and Southern Baptists. I think they despaired for her soul.

As I got older she would take me to the local horse track and just let me hang out with her. She would even smoke a joint now and in again in my presence after making me swear that I wouldn't tell my dad (her older brother and a state trooper). Naturally I promised. It was our secret.She bought an old farm house and spent several years working on it. Yep she was into the counter-culture thing. But she always held down a job, paid her bills, told me to behave whne I got out of line and loved her parents. She wasn't a saint, but she was a good person. Even if she was a registered Democrat. Can you see just how much she was part of the time period? I thought she was great.

Unfortunately Vicky was killed in a motorcycle accident in 1979. We were just starting to interact as more mature people, but it wasn't meant to be. Vicky will always be frozen in my memories as the pretty young woman with the really cool early seventies hippie fashion sense (even though that had changed by the time of her death) and a killer record collection.Not to mention that VW convertible bug.

I'm in my forties now. Army veteran and now a police officer for the past eleven years. I'm conservative. No denying it. But ,because of Vicky, I'll always have something of a soft spot for the hippie/counter-culture movement of the late sixties and early seventies. Also because of Vicky I realize that not all of those folks who were part of that lifestyle were irresponsible. Heck there are a few old hippies here in my area. They own businesses and employ locals and get along with the local cops. Meaning me.

Guess I'm just a sentimental idiot. Okay I'm done now. Sorry.

Oh one last thing. After her death I told dad about the marijuana. He just laughed and said that sounded like vicky.

[–] mstanley-1 14 years ago

Great story!

Growing up I knew people, both kids and adults, from a spectrum of different beliefs, races, and politics. I knew hippies as well as friend's older brothers who went to Vietnam or served in the peacetime military later on. I even had a couple of friends who served in Iraq. I'm pretty left, and think the counter culture is always interesting, but people are people, and I don't judge a book by its cover - that way leads to disappointment, and it would be a pretty narrow world to function in. Some do, and that's too bad, because they are cutting themselves off from knowing some very cool people, whether they wear a uniform, a suit, or a tie-dyed shirt. I think when someone has to function in many aspects of society, they learn to respect individuals from all those aspects.

Sorry about Vicky, but it sounds like it was great to have known her, and she left her mark on you and helped shape the person you are. Maybe that was part of her purpose...

[–] Jefbecco-1 14 years ago

Thanks. Just finished watching Ang Lee's Taking Woodstock . Guess this thread put me in the mood.

And she was neat.

[–] mstanley-1 14 years ago

Good movie. ;-)

[–] 14 years ago

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[–] Jefbecco-1 12 years ago

Glad you enjoyed it. She was pretty special.

You know I try to be honest. I'm a student of history and I can't deny that some of the changes that were brought about by various movements in the sixties (counter-culture, womens Liberation, civil rights)directly benefited me. For while I am a white male I am a short white male (5,6"). It wasn't that long ago that police departments wouldn't look at you if you weren't at least 5'8" or 5'9". Cops had to be big tall men. But with the opening up of American society to females and different ethnic groups heighth requirements went away for the most part.

I told this to one of those old hippies I mentioned in my earlier posts. I told her that it was ironic that her and others like her brought about changes that even effected "The Man" and the people they hire to be their Facist Cops. I said this with a grin on my face.

She was ready for me though. She pointed out that as a shorter man I don't have my size to push around. As a result I'm a police officer who is more willing to talk and outmanuever people and resort to forcer later rather than first. She told me that she never thought that Human society could function as some type of utopia even when she was a young twenty-something Hippie Chick. She aknowledged that there will probably always be a need for "Rough People" (paraphrased from a essay by George Orwell) who are willing to stand between her and the truly evil S.O.B.'s in this world. But it doesn't hurt for the Cops to have men like me in the ranks. In her opinion it makes us more flexible and efficent.

It was a nice compliment. I thanked her and bought a skinny latte with foam from her. Which I do at least twice a week anyway.

Anyway glad you enjoyed my post about Vicky. I wish she was still around. She would have made a terrific Great Aunt for our kids.

[–] 12 years ago

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[–] Jefbecco-1 12 years ago

Yes she is realistic. She believes in the ideals of the Hippie movement, but she also believes in eating and she said that she found herself becoming more grounded when her first kid was born. Suddenly she found herself having to be focused on someone else - who was totally dependent on her. She also has a sense of pride and didn't want to live on welfare. So she went back to school, got her degree and went into the job market. But she held onto some things. Such as wearing Birkenstock sandals to work at a time when that wasn't done. About twelve years ago she retired from her state job and opened up her coffee shop/used bookstore. I like her.

[–] 12 years ago

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[–] Jefbecco-1 12 years ago

Yes Birkenstock sandals are still around.

http://www.birkenstockusa.com/

My wife has a pair that she purchased in 1994 when we were stationed in Germany. She still has them. Those are some well made sandals.

[–] 12 years ago

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[–] yatzo376 12 years ago

Couldn't have said it better.

Btw, the blu ray looks amazing,

[–] helpfulmrfixitman 13 years ago

Personally i would love to see them make a movie called son of billy jack....I think the idea is awsome, and perhaps they could pick up on modern times and issues within our culture today::::mexicans, indians, chinese,and afro americans and the freedom school, drugs, porn, and corruption....and naturally the son of billy jack gets drafted into the gulf war....and becomes a highly decorated soldier in the war with an honorable discharge, comes home to find things very different....I am sorry but i think this would be a most awsome idea for a movie....needs to be done like the remake of walking tall>>>>a modern take on an old story.....which i must say was an awsome remake that i liked more than the original.....
I do agree though with you that remaking billy jack is a very tough gig, and one which i am not sure would work out to well....but jean and billy's son>>>>>>>now thats someting to work with.....

[–] mstanley-1 13 years ago

Actually, I think his Laughlin's daughter is making a film called "Charlie East," about a woman soldier in Arizona, I assume come home from Iraq. Looks intruiging, but not much info. Hope it gets made. Here's the link:

http://www.wix.com/zone9films/charlie-east

[–] helpfulmrfixitman 13 years ago

hey sounds pretty good, and a female too.....maybe thats the twist it would need....

[–] chas437 13 years ago

Sounds hilarious. We need really funny comedies nowadays, the Billy Jack trilogy was all time great comedy.

[–] lee1888 13 years ago

LOL, you are reading way to much into a very poor film and films about Billy Jack. People didn’t go see his movies for the S0-Called social message it had, because their message was to corny anyway, it was laughable. People went to see the karate fight scenes or the nude scenes.
Tom Laughlin was a joke when it came to writing or directing a film, and even acting. They just hit the right theme at the right time with Billy Jack, and that was helped by the Bruce Lee Movies. Born Looser had come out before Billy Jack and did very poor at the Box office, but by 71-72 Kung Fu was in. No matter how bad the films were.

[–] yatzo376 13 years ago

I dunno, it definitely connected back in the day...

Just finished watching the Blu-ray of Billy Jack.

Looks amazing....if your a fan.

[–] mstanley-1 13 years ago

The theater fll of kids back in the day certainly got it. I'm sure many today would too. When you get old your soul dies, as the line goes.....

[–] roger-395 13 years ago

Laughlin was 40 when he made Billy Jack. He was born in 1931. Otherwise I agree with your comments!

[–] Gloede_The_Saint 13 years ago

For it's time? If anything that would make it worse! The 70s was the golden age of cinema!

But this wasn't bad, it had it's heart in the right place, had a decent message and was relatively entertaining. Also, some of the performance sketches made me laugh. Could have been a good movie if it had better actors, budget and a bit more work on the screenplay.

My 1000 favorite films - http://www.imdb.com/list/PkAV7BgvMJg

[–] mstanley-1 12 years ago

I'll take it over 90% of what Hollywood turns out these days.