Billy Jack (1971)

User Rating:

5.7/10   

Director:

Tom Laughlin

Writers:

Tom Laughlin (writer) and
Delores Taylor (writer)

Release Date:

2 August 1971 (Sweden)

Genre:

Action | Drama

Tagline:

Just a person who protects children and other living things.

Plot:

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

Plot Keywords:

School | Rape | Hapkido | Chevrolet Corvette | Cannabis

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe.

Cast

Tom Laughlin	...	Billy Jack
Delores Taylor	...	Jean Roberts
Clark Howat	...	Sheriff Cole
Victor Izay	...	Doctor
Julie Webb	...	Barbara
Debbie Schock	...	Kit
Teresa Kelly	...	Carol
Lynn Baker	...	Sarah
Stan Rice	...	Martin
David Roya	...	Bernard Posner
John McClure	...	Dinosaur
Susan Foster	...	Cindy
Susan Sosa	...	Sunshine
Katy Moffatt	...	Maria
Gwen Smith	...	Angela
Richard Stahl	...	Council chairman
Alan Myerson	...	O.K. Corrales (as Allan Meyerson)
Ed Greenberg	...	Drama teacher
Howard Hesseman	...	Howard Johnson (drama teacher) (as Don Sturdy)
Dan Barrows	...	Student
Herb Kohl	...	Other Ways Demolition Squad co-director
Phillip Crowder	...	Other Ways Demolition Squad student
David Conley	...	Other Ways Demolition Squad student
Jenny Bellah	...	Other Ways Demolition Squad student
Becky Voight	...	Other Ways Demolition Squad student
Mark Baum	...	Other Ways Demolition Squad student
Johnny Otis	...	Other Ways Demolition Squad student
Nora Bendich	...	Other Ways Demolition Squad student
Lenny Pickett	...	Other Ways Demolition Squad student
Robert Wilson	...	Other Ways Demolition Squad student
Meg Partridge	...	Other Ways Demolition Squad student
James French	...	Other Ways Demolition Squad student
Laurie Mayeno	...	Other Ways Demolition Squad student
Alva Thompson	...	Other Ways Demolition Squad student
Melissa Stocking	...	Other Ways Demolition Squad student
Sira Aarons	...	Other Ways Demolition Squad student
Phillip Salvarry	...	Other Ways Demolition Squad student
Bert Freed	...	Mr. Stuart Posner
Kenneth Tobey	...	Deputy Mike (as Ken Tobey)
Paul Bruce	...	Councilman
Cisse Cameron	...	Miss False Eyelashes (as Cissie Colpitts)
Jessica Myerson		(as Jessica Meyerson)

Directed by
Tom Laughlin		(as T.C. Frank)

Writing credits
Tom Laughlin		(writer) (as Frank Christina) and
Delores Taylor		(writer) (as Teresa Christina)

Produced by
Earl D. Elliott	....	associate producer
Edward Haldeman	....	associate producer (as Ed Haldeman)
Tom Laughlin	....	producer (as Mary Rose Solti)

Original Music by
Mundell Lowe

Cinematography by
Fred J. Koenekamp		(as Fred Koenekamp)
John M. Stephens		(as John Stephens)

Film Editing by
Larry Heath
Marion Rothman

Production Management
Wesley J. McAfee	....	production manager
Linda Morrow	....	production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Michael J. Dmytryk	....	assistant director
Joseph E. Rickards	....	assistant director

Stunts
Bong Soo Han	....	stunt double: Tom Laughlin
Lightning Bear	....	stunts (uncredited)
Steven Burnett	....	stunts (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Bill Smith	....	wardrobe

Editorial Department
Larry Merrill	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Else Blangsted	....	music editor
Mundell Lowe	....	conductor (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Billy Kaundart	....	driver (uncredited)

Other crew
Holly Dyer	....	production assistant
Jack Gannon	....	script supervisor
Bong Soo Han	....	fight choreographer
Don Prince	....	publicist
Clyde Houston	....	assistant to producers (uncredited)

Production Companies

• National Student Film Corporation
• Warner Bros. Pictures (presents)

Distributors

• Warner Bros. Pictures (1971) (USA) (theatrical)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1976) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• Warner Home Video (video)

Other Companies

• Edit International Ltd.  sound effects
• Pacific Title  titles and opticals

Runtime:

114 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

UK:18 (video rating) | UK:AA (original rating) (cut) | USA:GP | Australia:M | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15 | West Germany:16 | South Africa:(Banned) | Canada:A (Ontario)

Filming Locations:

Eaves Movie Ranch - 105 Rancho Alegre Road, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA

Company:

National Student Film Corporation

Trivia:

Elizabeth James was originally cast in the film but was later fired and replaced by Delores Taylor.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: Billy Jack tells Bernard to drive into the lake and he does so. However, although partially visible, scenes with Bernard at the wheel show that the emergency brake is up.

Quotes:

Billy Jack: [giggling] I can't believe it. I really can't believe this guy. Can you believe it?
Jean: Not really, no.
Billy Jack: You know what he reminds me of?
Jean: What?
Billy Jack: A little monkey. Posner's little monkey, runnin' around tryin' to get in all the bananas. Get your blouse and get outa' here.
Girl: Will you look?
Billy Jack: [scoffs] Probably. Get your blouse.

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in Loose Shoes (1980)

Soundtrack:

Shed A Tear

Opening Champ

Without a doubt the BEST opening sequence in movie history (with the possible exception of Barbed Wire; spectacularly beautiful, tremendous aerial shots, and subject matter...whew! And from a non-Hollywood operation, no less!!! Hurrah! The horses seem almost moving on script. And the pure rawness and glory of nature is at its most striking. And, lastly, and far from least, the incredible song by Coven (who says one-hit wonders leave little legacy). The song perfectly frames the powerful/powerless relationship that is central to the movie, and the simple truth that spiritual power will always, ultimately, trump the material. A raw film it is, and that is its glory.