Billy Jack (1971)

Director:

Tom Laughlin

Writers:

Tom Laughlin (screenplay) and
Delores Taylor (screenplay)

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 | Violence | Hapkido | Rape | War Hero

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 1 win

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	...	Drama Teacher (as Don Sturdy)
Beans Morocco	...	Student (as Dan Barrows)
Herb Kohl	...	Other Ways Demolition Squad Co-Director
Phillip Crowder	...	Other Ways Demolition Squad Student
Robert Wilson	...	Other Ways Demolition Squad Student
David Conley	...	Other Ways Demolition Squad Student
Meg Partridge	...	Other Ways Demolition Squad Student
Jenny Bellah	...	Other Ways Demolition Squad Student
James French	...	Other Ways Demolition Squad Student
Becky Voight	...	Other Ways Demolition Squad Student
Laurie Mayeno	...	Other Ways Demolition Squad Student
Mark Baum	...	Other Ways Demolition Squad Student
Alva Thompson	...	Other Ways Demolition Squad Student
Johnny Otis	...	Other Ways Demolition Squad Student
Melissa Stocking	...	Other Ways Demolition Squad Student
Nora Bendich	...	Other Ways Demolition Squad Student
Sira Aarons	...	Other Ways Demolition Squad Student
Lenny Pickett	...	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		(screenplay) (as Frank Christina) and
Delores Taylor		(screenplay) (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		(director of photography) (as Fred Koenekamp)
John M. Stephens		(director of photography) (as John Stephens)

Film Editing by
Larry Heath
Marion Rothman

Production Management
Wesley J. McAfee	....	production manager (as Wes McAfee)
Linda Morrow	....	production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Michael J. Dmytryk	....	assistant director (as Mike Dmytryk)
Joseph E. Rickards	....	assistant director

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

Camera and Electrical Department
Calvin Maehl	....	electrician (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
Bong Soo Han	....	hapkido karate (as Bon Soo Han of Korea)
Don Prince	....	publicist
Rolling Thunder	....	indian snake ceremony (as Rolling Thunder of Shoshone Nation)
Andy Vidovich	....	wovoka friendship dance (as Andy Vidovich of Paiute Nation)
Clyde Houston	....	assistant to producers (uncredited)
Leon Roth	....	publicity director (uncredited)

Production Companies

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

Distributors

• Warner Bros. (1971) (USA) (theatrical)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1976) (USA) (TV)
• Warner Home Video (1984) (USA) (VHS) (pan and scan in clamshell case)
• Billy Jack Rights (2010) (worldwide) (all media)

Other Companies

• Edit International  sound effects
• Pacific Title  titles and opticals

Also Known As:

Runtime:

114 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

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

Filming Locations:

Bandelier National Monument - 15 Entrance Road, Los Alamos, New Mexico, USA

Company:

National Student Film Corporation

Trivia:

The unusual kick that Billy Jack uses in the fight in the park is known in Hapkido Karate as an "Outside Crescent Kick", a technique in which the leg is raised and swung outward striking with the outside edge of the foot.

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:

Bernard:Howdy! My name is Bernard Posner.
Cindy:Oh, really?
Bernard:Really.
Cindy:Is that supposed to mean something?
Bernard:Around these parts, you hear the name Posner quite a bit.
Cindy:That's very interesting. You know, you hear my name quite a bit, and not just around here either.
Bernard:No foolin'? What's your name?
Cindy:Up.
Bernard:Up? Huh-huh, that's an odd name. What's your last name?
Cindy:Yours. Up yours!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Warehouse 13: 13.1 (#2.5)" (2010)

Soundtrack:

A Rainbow Made of Children

One of the best

A movie I think almost everyone should see. Billy Jack epitomizes the senselessness of blind hatred and bigotry, and, it was one of the best "B" movies ever made. I myself, went to a type of "freedom school" when I was a kid, and the song, "One Tin Soldier" almost became our school anthem. I love this movie and always will, but a word of warning, the younger generation wont find any "star-wars" special effect's, it was produced on a rather small budget, and anyone can find a filming flaw, in any movie, but if you take it at face value, and just enjoy the "John Wayne cleaning up the town(only moved into the 1970's instead of the 1870's)" and the message it convey's. then I think you will like this film.