282:
to flee on foot results in her being caught and raped to the point where she is put in hospital. The second time, the bikers steal a cop car and try to steal her from the hideout after she agrees to testify for the trial. Her attempted escape has her run into Billy, who takes a swing at the bikers and takes Vicky to his location on her bike; she is spooked enough to not testify. The gang comes back to his place when the two are out for lunch and steal his money. Little by little, the other victims are spooked out by the bikers and ineffective sheriffs. In the night, Billy drives out to see the bikers to talk to their leader about his stolen money. He gives them until tomorrow to get it back before leaving. The next day, the bikers confront the two at a gas station. Billy fights
Gangrene and beats him before getting some of the money back and taking one of their bikes. Danny offers Vicky to serve as the sexually compliant "biker mama" the easy way rather than being there by force, which she declines. The gang comes to the hideout to ask them to see Danny by their hideout, which reveals they have kidnapped one of the rape victims. The dad tries to intervene, but he fails. Billy is hit from behind with a tire iron and beaten after trying to distract long enough for Vicky to escape, but each fail. It is then that Vicky agrees to be a biker mama to get them to let go of Billy.
278:
rape four teenage girls, and threaten anyone slated to testify against them, with the kid brother of the leader being fingered as part of the rape. One of the girls later recants, saying she willingly gave herself to the biker gang after the gang goes to her house and turns the power off before breaking into the house to spook her. Despite the efforts of the police to get her to not recant, her mother (Jane
Russell) defends her decision to not testify.
293:
The anti-authority sentiment continues up to the end when a police deputy accidentally shoots Billy in the back, mistaking him for a fleeing gang member. He is later found, nearly dead, lying by the shore of a lake. He is placed on a stretcher and is flown to the hospital in a helicopter as Vicky and
281:
Vicky
Barrington, a bikini-clad damsel-in-distress, is twice abducted and abused by the gang. The first time, she goes along with the idea of being a biker mama if she can get drugs from her bike to take as a way to sneak up on a biker to knock him out and flee. Her supposed plan of ditching her bike
273:
who shuns society, taking refuge in the peaceful solitude of the
California Central Coast mountains. His troubles begin when he descends from this unspoiled setting and drives into a small beach town named Big Rock. A minor traffic accident in which a motorist hits a motorcyclist results in a savage
277:
The police throw Billy in jail and the judge fines him $ 1,000 for discharging a rifle in public (the assaulters get a $ 150 fine or thirty days in jail), which leads him to sell his jeep. He is treated with suspicion and hostility by the police. Meanwhile, the marauding bikers terrorize the town,
274:
beating by members of the Born Losers
Motorcycle Club, led by Danny. The horrified bystanders are too afraid to help or be involved in any way. Billy Jack jumps into the fray and rescues the man by himself. At this point the police arrive and arrest Billy for using a rifle to stop the fight.
285:
At the police station, Billy is unable to get help from the police or the local residents and must return to the gang's lair to rescue Vicky by himself, particularly when the last victim recants. Billy, armed with a bolt-action rifle, captures the gang, shoots the leader
889:(1977) - about a half-breed vet who struggles against social evil and political corruption, is a more polished Vetsploitation venture. (...) The Billy Jack character (played by Tom Laughlin) had been introduced in one of the Vetsploitation motorcycle epics,
453:
with the taglines "The film that introduced Billy Jack" and "Back By
Popular Demand: "Born Losers" The Original Screen Appearance of Tom Laughlin as Billy Jack". The film was the highest grossing American International release until 1979, when
422:
According to
Laughlin's DVD audio commentary, filming was completed in just three weeks on an operating budget of $ 160,000. To cut costs, a stunt scene of a biker crashing into a pond was taken from American International's 1966 comedy
36:
290:) between the eyes in cold blood, and forces some of the others to take Vicky, who's been badly beaten, to the hospital. As the police finally arrive, Billy abruptly rides away on one of the gang's motorcycles.
248:
1258:
569:
and at other cinemas in capital city. A month later the film was banned in
Hungary. Forty years later, the film has become very popular among Hungarian Internet circles and on
678:
1233:
503:. AIP issued ads which proclaimed 'THE ORIGINAL BILLY JACK IS BACK!' which led to a lawsuit from Laughlin; following this, the advertising for the re-release of
239:. In the 1960s, he decided to introduce the character of Billy Jack in a quickly written script designed to capitalize on the then-popular trend in
1253:
1108:
1278:
1248:
396:
218:
1263:
507:
was changed. All newspaper advertising had to include the disclaimer 'This is a Re-Release' to make viewers aware that the film was not
236:
1273:
1238:
1140:
967:
870:
791:
456:
425:
221:
861:
Kern, Louis J. (1988). "MIAs, Myth, and Macho Magic: Post-Apocalyptic
Cinematic Visions of Vietnam". In Searle, William J. (ed.).
1268:
652:
446:
433:
392:
131:
582:
542:
1283:
1180:
77:
388:
1243:
1101:
408:
439:
The film was commercially successful, and resulted in
Laughlin being able to raise the funds to make its sequel,
1188:
352:
1164:
523:
384:
240:
957:
1172:
1094:
1070:
404:
835:
1000:
550:
252:
1228:
733:"Born Losers (1967): Tom Laughlin's Exploitative Biker Movie, Introducing the Billy Jack Character"
346:
319:
986:
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907:
703:
783:
776:
562:
554:
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963:
924:
866:
787:
707:
485:
210:
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in the United States and Canada. It was re-released by AIP in 1974, following the success of
807:
565:. The film caused a sensation in Hungary, registering a full house at the Pushkin Cinema in
527:
1132:
1081:
270:
863:
Search and Clear: Critical Responses to Selected Literature and Films of the Vietnam War
482:
Search and Clear: Critical Responses to Selected Literature and Films of the Vietnam War
1206:
771:
759:
Faster and Furiouser: The Revised and Fattened Fable of American International Pictures
558:
469:
340:
73:
261:(1971), which saw AIP pull out of production midway through before others stepped in.
1222:
325:
44:
1117:
617:
370:
313:
304:
287:
244:
214:
95:
89:
55:
602:
Clifford, Terry. (Aug 20, 1967). "Hollywood's Only Woman Producer a Born Winner".
411:, and other coastal locales. The bikers' lair in Playa del Rey was once owned by
519:
436:
who bought out the original investors and gave Laughlin $ 300,000 to finish it.
412:
224:
40:
20:
1075:
1156:
1022:
812:
496:
477:
441:
416:
257:
243:
movies. The story was based on a real incident from 1964 where members of the
228:
1064:
732:
121:
518:
had earned $ 12.5 million in U.S. and Canadian rentals. It set a record in
35:
1059:
566:
432:
Laughlin ran out of money during post production, but showed the film to
1042:
1053:
570:
400:
865:. Bowling Green State University Popular Press. pp. 43, 51, 52.
1011:
1090:
1086:
836:"Category. Vetsploitation. From The Grindhouse Cinema Database"
269:
Billy Jack is introduced as an enigmatic, half-Native American
1037:
922:
Murphy, Mary (28 June 1974). "'Losers' Ad Results in Suit".
445:. In 1974, after the sequel proved financially successful,
959:
American film distribution : the changing marketplace
549:("Death's-heads"), dubbed by cult Hungarian actors like
468:
Critical response was generally negative. Film critic
231:. Since 1954, Laughlin had been trying to produce his
974:
Please note figures are for rentals in US and Canada
679:"Yesterday's Crimes: Hunter S. Thompson Gets Beaten"
1199:
1124:
472:criticized Laughlin's films for "using violence as
194:
186:
178:
170:
160:
137:
127:
117:
109:
101:
85:
69:
61:
51:
28:
775:
383:The movie was filmed on location in California at
355:as Sheriff Harvey (credited as Stewart Lancaster)
640:The American International Pictures Video Guide
526:for more than 26 weeks, the longest run for a
1259:Films about United States Army Special Forces
1102:
984:"'Losers' 26 Week Run Though Kids Shut Out".
778:Leonard Maltin's Movie & Video Guide 2004
8:
331:Paul Bruce as District Attorney George Davis
1109:
1095:
1087:
343:as Cueball (credited as Robert W. Tessier)
34:
25:
893:(1967), which Laughlin had also directed.
653:"Motorcycle Gangs: Losers and Outsiders"
480:, The Grindhouse Database, and the book
594:
1234:American International Pictures films
618:"Born Losers, Box Office Information"
397:University of California, Los Angeles
249:arrested for raping two teenage girls
7:
530:film, selling over 500,000 tickets.
484:list this movie as belonging to the
962:. UMI Research Press. p. 300.
677:Joseph, Channing (3 October 2016).
495:earned an estimated $ 2,225,000 in
310:Elizabeth James as Vicky Barrington
235:script about discrimination toward
14:
808:"Vetsploitation. List by Jarrett"
426:The Ghost in the Invisible Bikini
1001:The Born Losers akas (imdb.com)
990:. January 15, 1969. p. 42.
939:"All-time Film Rental Champs".
447:American International Pictures
434:American International Pictures
294:the sheriff give him a salute.
132:American International Pictures
1254:Films directed by Tom Laughlin
956:Donahue, Suzanne Mary (1987).
945:. January 4, 1978. p. 82.
911:. January 3, 1968. p. 25.
840:The Grindhouse Cinema Database
583:List of American films of 1967
334:Robert Cleaves as Mr. Crawford
1:
1181:Billy Jack Goes to Washington
887:Billy Jack Goes to Washington
367:Janice Miller as Jodell Shorn
361:Gordon Hoban as Jerry Carmody
1279:1960s English-language films
1249:Films about Native Americans
905:"Big Rental Films of 1967".
255:. The movie was followed by
1264:American exploitation films
364:Susan Foster as Linda Prang
1300:
1023:Halálfejesek (youtube.com)
358:Anne Bellamy as Mrs. Prang
18:
337:Paul Prokop as Speechless
316:as Daniel 'Danny' Carmody
33:
16:1967 film by Tom Laughlin
1274:American vigilante films
1239:1960s exploitation films
1189:The Return of Billy Jack
1038:Official Billy Jack site
534:Banned Hungarian version
476:violence'. The websites
1269:American thriller films
1165:The Trial of Billy Jack
1012:Halálfejesek (iszdb.hu)
883:The Trial of Billy Jack
877:The Billy Jack cycle -
146:July 12, 1967
761:, McFarland, 1996 p252
708:"The Motorcycle Gangs"
213:. The film introduced
1173:The Master Gunfighter
1141:Like Father, Like Son
642:, McFarland 2009 p 32
457:The Amityville Horror
1284:1960s American films
253:Monterey, California
704:Thompson, Hunter S.
524:Teatro MetropĂłlitan
393:Rancho Palos Verdes
320:William Wellman Jr.
209:is a 1967 American
1244:Outlaw biker films
1192:(1986; unreleased)
1071:TCM Movie Database
842:. February 4, 2024
497:theatrical rentals
19:For the song, see
1216:
1215:
925:Los Angeles Times
782:. Plume. p.
551:Zoltán Latinovits
211:outlaw biker film
202:
201:
1291:
1111:
1104:
1097:
1088:
1025:
1020:
1014:
1009:
1003:
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991:
981:
975:
973:
953:
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936:
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929:
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849:
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832:
826:
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781:
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755:
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748:
746:
744:
729:
723:
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706:(May 17, 1965).
700:
694:
693:
691:
689:
674:
668:
667:
665:
663:
657:Encyclopedia.com
649:
643:
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630:
629:
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625:
614:
608:
607:
599:
541:was released in
474:an indictment of
389:Huntington Beach
353:Stuart Lancaster
237:American Indians
153:
151:
38:
26:
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1212:
1195:
1149:The Born Losers
1133:The Proper Time
1120:
1115:
1082:Rotten Tomatoes
1077:The Born Losers
1066:The Born Losers
1055:The Born Losers
1044:The Born Losers
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983:
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938:
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921:
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916:
904:
903:
899:
891:The Born Losers
873:
860:
859:
855:
845:
843:
834:
833:
829:
819:
817:
806:
805:
801:
794:
772:Maltin, Leonard
770:
769:
765:
756:
752:
742:
740:
737:emanuellevy.com
731:
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714:
702:
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661:
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638:Gary A. Smith,
637:
633:
623:
621:
616:
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611:
604:Chicago Tribune
601:
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579:
539:The Born Losers
536:
522:playing at the
516:The Born Losers
505:The Born Losers
493:The Born Losers
466:
381:
376:
300:
271:Vietnam veteran
267:
241:motorcycle gang
206:The Born Losers
163:
156:
149:
147:
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94:
93:Elizabeth James
92:
80:
76:
65:Elizabeth James
47:
24:
17:
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1207:Delores Taylor
1203:
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1197:
1196:
1194:
1193:
1185:
1177:
1169:
1161:
1153:
1145:
1137:
1128:
1126:
1125:Films directed
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1116:
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1113:
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1084:
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1032:External links
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928:. p. f24.
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739:. 12 July 2011
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609:
606:. p. g13.
593:
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587:
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578:
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486:vetsploitation
470:Leonard Maltin
465:
462:
460:was released.
380:
377:
375:
374:
368:
365:
362:
359:
356:
350:
344:
341:Robert Tessier
338:
335:
332:
329:
328:as Deputy Fred
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128:Distributed by
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124:
119:
115:
114:
111:
107:
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105:Gregory Sandor
103:
102:Cinematography
99:
98:
87:
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74:Delores Taylor
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1002:
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989:
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977:
971:
969:9780835717762
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872:0-87972-429-3
868:
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831:
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820:February 17,
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793:0-452-28478-3
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712:thenation.com
709:
705:
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684:
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673:
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658:
654:
648:
645:
641:
635:
632:
620:. The Numbers
619:
613:
610:
605:
598:
595:
588:
584:
581:
580:
576:
574:
572:
568:
564:
560:
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521:
517:
512:
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498:
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489:
487:
483:
479:
475:
471:
463:
461:
459:
458:
452:
448:
444:
443:
437:
435:
430:
428:
427:
420:
418:
414:
410:
409:Playa del Rey
406:
402:
398:
394:
390:
386:
378:
373:as Mrs. Shorn
372:
369:
366:
363:
360:
357:
354:
351:
348:
345:
342:
339:
336:
333:
330:
327:
326:Jack Starrett
324:
321:
318:
315:
312:
309:
307:as Billy Jack
306:
303:
302:
297:
295:
291:
289:
283:
279:
275:
272:
264:
262:
260:
259:
254:
250:
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234:
230:
226:
223:
220:
216:
212:
208:
207:
197:
193:
189:
185:
181:
177:
174:United States
173:
169:
165:
159:
145:
144:
142:
136:
133:
130:
126:
123:
120:
116:
113:John Winfield
112:
108:
104:
100:
97:
91:
88:
84:
79:
78:Don Henderson
75:
72:
68:
64:
60:
57:
54:
50:
46:
45:Reynold Brown
42:
37:
32:
27:
22:
1187:
1179:
1171:
1163:
1155:
1148:
1147:
1139:
1131:
1118:Tom Laughlin
1076:
1065:
1054:
1043:
1018:
1007:
996:
985:
979:
958:
951:
940:
934:
923:
917:
906:
900:
890:
886:
885:(1974), and
882:
878:
876:
862:
856:
844:. Retrieved
839:
830:
818:. Retrieved
811:
802:
777:
766:
758:
757:Mark McGee,
753:
741:. Retrieved
736:
727:
715:. Retrieved
711:
698:
686:. Retrieved
682:
672:
660:. Retrieved
656:
647:
639:
634:
622:. Retrieved
612:
603:
597:
555:Gábor Agárdy
547:Halálfejesek
546:
538:
537:
515:
513:
508:
504:
500:
492:
490:
481:
473:
467:
455:
450:
449:re-released
440:
438:
431:
424:
421:
382:
371:Jane Russell
314:Jeremy Slate
305:Tom Laughlin
292:
288:Jeremy Slate
284:
280:
276:
268:
256:
245:Hells Angels
232:
217:as the half-
215:Tom Laughlin
205:
204:
203:
198:$ 36 million
162:Running time
139:Release date
96:Jeremy Slate
90:Tom Laughlin
81:Tom Laughlin
846:February 5,
743:27 November
559:Gyula SzabĂł
520:Mexico City
451:Born Losers
413:silent film
349:as Gangrene
347:Jeff Cooper
222:Green Beret
166:113 minutes
70:Produced by
56:T. C. Frank
52:Directed by
41:Film poster
29:Born Losers
21:Born Losers
1229:1967 films
1223:Categories
1157:Billy Jack
879:Billy Jack
813:Letterboxd
589:References
563:Éva Almási
509:Billy Jack
501:Billy Jack
488:subgenre.
478:Letterboxd
442:Billy Jack
417:Mae Murray
385:Seal Beach
379:Production
258:Billy Jack
233:Billy Jack
229:Billy Jack
195:Box office
150:1967-07-12
62:Written by
514:By 1977,
491:In 1967,
464:Reception
405:Morro Bay
190:$ 400,000
122:Mike Curb
110:Edited by
1060:AllMovie
881:(1971),
774:(2003).
683:SFWeekly
624:March 8,
577:See also
567:Budapest
322:as Child
227:veteran
179:Language
118:Music by
86:Starring
1200:Related
1069:at the
987:Variety
942:Variety
908:Variety
717:18 June
688:18 June
662:18 June
571:YouTube
543:Hungary
401:Big Sur
225:Vietnam
182:English
171:Country
148: (
1209:(wife)
1184:(1977)
1176:(1975)
1168:(1974)
1160:(1971)
1152:(1967)
1144:(1961)
1136:(1960)
966:
869:
816:. 2018
790:
561:, and
219:Indian
187:Budget
415:star
247:were
1049:IMDb
964:ISBN
867:ISBN
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