Posted on 06/21/2005 3:42:52 AM PDT by prisoner6
By SHARON WAXMAN
Published: June 20, 2005
SANTA ROSA VALLEY, Calif. - It has been more than 30 years, but Billy Jack is still plenty ticked off.
Back then, it was bigotry against Native Americans, trouble with the nuclear power industry and big bad government that made this screen hero explode in karate-fueled rage. At the time, the unlikely combination of rugged-loner heroics - all in defense of society's downtrodden and forgotten - and rough-edged filmmaking sparked a pop culture and box-office phenomenon.
Tom Laughlin, "Billy Jack" in 1971, fought for the downtrodden.
Now the man who created and personified Billy Jack, Tom Laughlin - the writer, director, producer and actor - is determined to take on the establishment again, and his concerns are not so terribly different. Mr. Laughlin (and therefore Billy Jack) is angry about the war in Iraq and about the influence of big business in politics. And he still has a thing for the nuclear power industry.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
In any case make SURE to check out the official BILLY JACK WEBSITE
And the Tom Laughlin Blog...I'm laughing so hard I'm crying!
prisoner6
Book mark
Gee, thanks. I followed the link and lost 10 IQ points and I haven't even had breakfast yet.
(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)
Whe I saw "Billy Jack" as a teenager, the attraction wasn't the politics. It was Tom Laughlin's martial arts and Delores Taylor's naked tits. Somehow I don't think that they will be able to recreate that attraction in their new movie.
Where's that "Aw Geez" pic when you need it.
He's smoking that sh*t again.
You're a bad man. Got me to laugh out loud.
LOL - I'm ashamed to admit that I loved (past tense!) the original Billy Jack movie when it first came out (I was a teenager myself and so idealistic!)...
I'd hot link the pic here but I'm not sure what the policy with the Times is regarding pics.
If she puts her b00bies on display in the new movie...well let's just say it will have to be rated "GR" for GRanny.
prisoner6
How long does your acting career have to be flatlined before people stop calling you an actor?
LMAO! Same here. That and those Howard Hessman "street theater" scenes were the only redeeming parts of the movie. The rest of it is unwatchable trash.
I wasn't all that idealistic. I just wanted to fight like Billy Jack so I could jump all the hippy chicks at that school. "Billy Jack" should also be recognized for foisting Howard Hessman on an unsuspecting world. He was much better 7 years later as Doctor Johnny Feaver in "WKRP in Cincinnati". (I also had a thing for Jan Smithers)
***the original Billy Jack movie ***
If I remember, the origional Billy Jack movie was a piece of dreck called BORN LOOSERS.
Then BILLY JACK,
THE TRIAL OF BILLY JACK,
BILLY JACK GOES TO WASHINGTON (A film so bad it never got wide release.)
I had no idea Howard Hessman was in that movie... what part did he play? I only remember Billy Jack, his wife and the oh-so-bad young actors...
One of my all time favorite movies (until now that is).
Geez, I hope no one finds out I once spent good money to watch Billy Jack movies.
Billy Jack’s Crusade to End the War ...
He must have missed the continuing education seminar on diversity.
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