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Billy Jack (1971)

GP  -  Action | Drama  -  2 August 1971 (Sweden)
5.8
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Ratings: 5.8/10 from 3,255 users  
Reviews: 104 user | 43 critic

Ex-Green Beret hapkido expert saves wild horses from being slaughtered for dog food and helps protect a desert "freedom school" for runaway.

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Title: Billy Jack (1971)

Billy Jack (1971) on IMDb 5.8/10

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Nominated for 1 Golden Globe. Another 1 win. See more awards »

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Edit

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
...
...
Clark Howat ...
Sheriff Cole
...
Doctor
Julie Webb ...
Barbara
Debbie Schock ...
Kit
Teresa Kelly ...
Carol
Lynn Baker ...
Sarah
Stan Rice ...
Martin
David Roya ...
John McClure ...
Dinosaur
Susan Foster ...
Cindy
Susan Sosa ...
Sunshine
Katy Moffatt ...
Maria
Gwen Smith ...
Angela
Edit

Storyline

Billy Jack is a half-Indian/half-white ex-Green Beret who is being drawn more and more toward his Indian side. He hates violence, but can't get away from it in the white man's world. Pitting the good guys, the students of the peace-loving free-arts school in the desert vs. the conservative bad guys in the near-by town, the movie plays definitive late-60s themes/messages: anti-establishment, make love not war, the senseless slaughter of God's creatures, the rape of society (figuratively and literally), two-sided justice, racial segregation and prejudices, and basic socialist ideals. Written by Nic Cage <2cool@zebra.net>

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis

Plot Keywords:

school | violence | hapkido | rape | war hero | See more »

Taglines:

Just a person who protects children and other living things. See more »

Genres:

Action | Drama

Certificate:

GP | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

 »
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Details

Official Sites:

Country:

Language:

Release Date:

2 August 1971 (Sweden)  »

Also Known As:

Billy, el defensor  »

Box Office

Budget:

$800,000 (estimated)
 »

Company Credits

Show detailed on  »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

Color:

(Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1
See  »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

Contract disputes between Laughlin and various producers caused the film to change hands between three different film studios, and delaying its release for three years. In 1973, Laughlin filed a fifty-one million dollar lawsuit against Warner studios for "improperly publicizing" Billy Jack. See more »

Goofs

Microphone clearly visible on ground as Bernard and Dinosaur sit discussing Bernard's upcoming rape of Jean. See more »

Quotes

Billy Jack: It's funny, isn't it? Only the white man wants everything put in writing. And only then so he can use it against you in court. You know, among the Indians a promise is good enough.
See more »

Crazy Credits

Special Improvised Material by The Cast and The Committee See more »


Soundtracks

"Look, Look to the Mountain"
Written and Performed by Teresa Kelly
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User Reviews

Good movie with strong messages for its time.
21 July 1999 | by (Houston, Texas) – See all my reviews

Generation Xters will not have a chance at understanding this to the magnitude planned. Keeping things in proper perspective requires consideration of the time frame of this movie. In the real world we were still "in country"/Nam and getting very fed up with the associated atrocities both there and here. The differences between liberals and conservatives were at an all-time-high. This movie definitely leans to the left on many issues but only really to point out how important it is to not lose our humanity. It was really about a man who, disillusioned by what he saw his own country do overseas, came home to find the same thing. The fighting scenes were excellent for their time. The use of a hard style of martial arts was different and very impressive. Tom's execution of moves were both well done and in most cases reasonably realistic (maybe a few too many karate chops). The acting was anywhere between good to just adequate,,, which in some cases gave it a more realistic feel (less hollywoodlike).


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