Billy Jack
Directed by	Tom Laughlin (as T. C. Frank)
Produced by	Tom Laughlin (as Mary Rose Solti)
Written by	Tom Laughlin (as Frank Christina) Delores Taylor (as Theresa Christina)
Starring	Tom Laughlin Delores Taylor Clark Howat Julie Webb David Roya Kenneth Tobey
Release date(s)	1971
Running time	114 min.
Language	English
Budget	$1 million
IMDb profile

Billy Jack is the second, and highest grossing, in a series of motion pictures centering on a fictional character of the same name, played by Tom Laughlin. The film was released in 1971. Image File history File links BJ_DVD_cover. ... Tom Laughlin as Billy Jack Tom Laughlin (born August 10, 1931) is an American actor and director. ... Tom Laughlin as Billy Jack Tom Laughlin (born August 10, 1931) is an American actor and director. ... Tom Laughlin as Billy Jack Tom Laughlin (born August 10, 1931) is an American actor and director. ... Tom Laughlin as Billy Jack Tom Laughlin (born August 10, 1931) is an American actor and director. ... Kenneth Tobey (Born March 23, 1917—December 22, 2002) was an American television and film actor. ... 1971 (MCMLXXI) was a common year starting on Friday. ... For other uses see film (disambiguation) Film refers to the celluliod media on which movies are printed Film — also called movies, the cinema, the silver screen, moving pictures, photoplays, picture shows, flicks, or motion pictures, — is a field that encompasses motion pictures as an art form or as... Alice, a fictional character from the work of Lewis Carroll. ... Tom Laughlin as Billy Jack Tom Laughlin (born August 10, 1931) is an American actor and director. ... 1971 (MCMLXXI) was a common year starting on Friday. ...

Plot

Billy Jack is a Native American Green Beret Vietnam War veteran, hapkido master, and gunslinger. The character made his début in The Born Losers (1967), a so-called "biker film" about a motorcycle gang terrorizing a California town; Billy Jack rises to the occasion to defeat the gang by defending from their wrath a college student who has evidence against them for gang rapes. The first film was considered the typical drive-in theater fare of the period, described by Entertainment Insiders reviewer Rusty White as "pure exploitation, but with something extra."^[1] Native Americans are the indigenous peoples from the regions of North America now encompassed by the continental United States, including parts of Alaska. ... The United States Army Special Forces —also known by the nickname Green Berets or simply Special Forces (capitalized)— is a Special Operations Force of the United States Army trained for unconventional warfare and special operations. ... Combatants Republic of Vietnam United States Republic of Korea Thailand Australia New Zealand The Philippines National Front for the Liberation of South Vietnam Democratic Republic of Vietnam People’s Republic of China Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea Strength US 1,000,000 South Korea 300,000 Australia 48,000... Former crewmembers of the battleship Missouri pose for photos shortly after the Anniversary of the End of World War II ceremony, held aboard the famous ship. ... Hapkido (also spelled hap ki do or hapki-do) is a dynamic and somewhat eclectic Korean martial art. ... Gunslinger from The Great Train Robbery Gunslinger, also gunfighter, is a name given to men in the American Old West who had gained a reputation as being dangerous with a gun. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... 1967 (MCMLXVII) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar (the link is to a full 1967 calendar). ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Outlaw motorcycle club. ... Hulls Drive In Theatre, outside Lexington, Virginia A drive-in theater is a form of cinema structure consisting of a large screen, a projection booth, a concession stand and a large parking area for automobiles. ...

This changes with the second film, Billy Jack, in which the hero must defend the hippie-themed Freedom School and its students from the machinations of racists. The school is organized by Jean Roberts, played by Laughlin's wife, Delores Taylor, who also appears in each subsequent film. Sir Galahad, a hero of Arthurian legend, detail of a painting by George Frederic Watts From the Greek , in mythology and folklore, a hero (male) or heroine (female) usually fulfills the definitions of what is considered good and noble in the originating culture. ... Singer at contemporary Russian Rainbow gathering Hippie, often spelled hippy outside the United States, refers to a subgroup of the 1960s and early 1970s counterculture that began in the United States, becoming an established social group by 1965 before declining during the mid-1970s. ... It has been suggested that Racial supremacy be merged into this article or section. ...

Billy Jack became one of the highest grossing cult films of its time, and remains among the top 100 when the list is adjusted for inflation.

In the second film, Billy Jack, in which the hero must defend the hippie-themed Freedom School and its students from the machinations of racists. The school is organized by Jean Roberts, played by Laughlin's wife, Delores Taylor, who also appears in each subsequent film. Sir Galahad, a hero of Arthurian legend, detail of a painting by George Frederic Watts From the Greek , in mythology and folklore, a hero (male) or heroine (female) usually fulfills the definitions of what is considered good and noble in the originating culture. ... Singer at contemporary Russian Rainbow gathering Hippie, often spelled hippy outside the United States, refers to a subgroup of the 1960s and early 1970s counterculture that began in the United States, becoming an established social group by 1965 before declining during the mid-1970s. ... It has been suggested that Racial supremacy be merged into this article or section. ...

Billy Jack focuses on the plight of Native Americans during the civil rights movement. It obtained a cult following, due in part to the popular theme song "One Tin Soldier." The film hit on a potent formula with this message in 1971, and went on to become one of the highest grossing of its time, and remains among the top 100 when the list is adjusted for inflation.

Billy Jack helped raised the level of awareness regarding the plight and discrimination against Native Americans at that time. Billy Jack, the character, attempts to protect the individuals living on a reservations. The discrimination is exemplified when some of the children go into town for ice cream and are driven out by their white neighbors. Later, Jean (Taylor), Billy's girlfriend and teacher at the Freedom School, is raped by Bernard (David Roya), the corrupt son of the county's most successful (and ruthless) businessman. Unable to protect his people or girlfriend, Billy turns himself into the authorities and is arrested.

Billy Jack's wardrobe (black T-shirt, blue denim jacket, blue jeans, and a black hat with a beadwork band) would become nearly as iconic as the character. The film's theme song, "One Tin Soldier" by Coven, became a Top 40 hit in 1971, and featured the chorus: Denim as used for blue jeans, with a copper rivet to strengthen the pocket. ... Blue Jeans Jeans are trousers traditionally made from denim, but may also be made from a variety of fabrics including cotton and corduroy. ... First verse: Listen Children, to a story, that was written long ago, of the kingdom on the mountain and the valley folk below. ... Coven is a pop/rock band, composed of vocalist Jinx Dawson, bassist Oz Osborne (not to be confused with) and drummer Steve Ross. ... Top 40 is a radio format based on frequent repetition of songs from a constantly-updated list of the forty best-selling singles. ... 1971 (MCMLXXI) was a common year starting on Friday. ...

Go ahead and hate your neighbor, go ahead and cheat a friend

Do it in the name of heaven, you can justify it in the end

There won't be any trumpets blowin' come the judgment day

On the bloody morning after, one tin soldier rides away

Billy Jack's wardrobe (black T-shirt, blue denim jacket, blue jeans, and a black hat with a beadwork band) would become nearly as iconic as the character. The film's theme song, "One Tin Soldier" by Coven, became a Top 40 hit in 1971, and featured the chorus: Denim as used for blue jeans, with a copper rivet to strengthen the pocket. ... Blue Jeans Jeans are trousers traditionally made from denim, but may also be made from a variety of fabrics including cotton and corduroy. ... First verse: Listen Children, to a story, that was written long ago, of the kingdom on the mountain and the valley folk below. ... Coven is a pop/rock band, composed of vocalist Jinx Dawson, bassist Oz Osborne (not to be confused with) and drummer Steve Ross. ... Top 40 is a radio format based on frequent repetition of songs from a constantly-updated list of the forty best-selling singles. ... 1971 (MCMLXXI) was a common year starting on Friday. ...

Go ahead and hate your neighbor, go ahead and cheat a friend

Do it in the name of heaven, you can justify it in the end

There won't be any trumpets blowin' come the judgment day

On the bloody morning after, one tin soldier rides away

Later films in the series featured increasingly political plots and tended to rely less on the martial arts and more on the message, which quickly lost its resonance with increasingly apolitical audiences of the 1970s (the fourth film never made it into theatres).

Films in the series

• The Born Losers (1967)
• Billy Jack (1971)
• The Trial of Billy Jack (1974)
• Billy Jack Goes to Washington (1977)

Billy Jack was the first movie to be marketed with the "BlockBuster" technique: To release a movie at a great many theaters on the same day in the same market. Before Billy Jack, movies would test the market at a few theaters and blossom to more if the reaction proved positive. BlockBusters would get a much stronger reaction and result in a more popular acceptance. This marketing got Billy Jack its top grossing credit. Today, virtually all major releases open in thousands of theaters at the same time. To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... 1967 (MCMLXVII) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar (the link is to a full 1967 calendar). ... The Trial of Billy Jack is a 1974 film starring Delores Taylor and Tom Laughlin. ... 1974 (MCMLXXIV) was a common year starting on Tuesday. ... Billy Jack Goes to Washington is a 1977 film starring Tom Laughlin. ... For the album by Ash, see 1977 (album). ...

Laughlin's website mentions plans to make another sequel, entitled Billy Jack's Moral Revolution which, according to the film's synopsis, hopes to "lead a nationwide protest march to force Bush and Cheney to give up Iraq as an oil colony and stop the endless flow of blood by getting the hated Americans out of Iraq immediately. In Billy Jack’s Moral Revolution, Billy Jack and Jean are recruited by mainstream Americans, Moderate Republicans, Democrats and Independents who hate both Parties and believe Congress has become so systemically corrupt it can’t possibly represent the people any more, to form a new mainstream – not fringe – 3rd Party, with exciting reforms to give real power back to the people (see 3rd Party enclosure). Throughout the film Billy Jack and Jean are under a horrendous siege in their struggle to try to save the heart and soul of America–and Its Constitution--before it’s too late. The movie is set to be released sometime in 2007."^[2]

See also

• List of counterculture films

This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

References

Footnotes

March 26 is the 85th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (86th in leap years). ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... March 26 is the 85th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (86th in leap years). ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ...

External links

• Official site
• Review of Billy Jack at badmovies.org
• Review of Billy Jack at Invasion of The B-movies.com
• Entry for Billy Jack at the IMDB.
• Review of The Trial of Billy Jack at jabootu.com