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“Born Losers” (1967) directed by & starring Tom Laughlin / Z-View

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Born Losers (1967)

Director: T.C. Frank (Tom Laughlin)

Screenplay by: James Lloyd (Elizabeth James)

Starring: Tom Laughlin, Elizabeth James, Jeremy Slate, William Wellman Jr., Jack Starrett, Robert Tessier, Jeff Cooper, Stuart Lancaster, Delores Taylor and Jane Russell.

Tagline: KITTEN ON WHEELS WITH HER BIKE, HER BOOTS and HER BIKINI! Out for kicks… in for trouble! She’s going to Join the… BORN LOSERS

The Story:

The Born Losers motorcycle gang has begun to terrorize a small California town. Victims and witnesses alike are terrified to testify against them.

Billy Jack is a former Viet Nam vet who lives a quiet life in the mountains.  On a trip to town, Billy Jack sees gang members savagely beating a man.  Although no one else is willing to help, Billy Jack grabs his rifle.  He orders the gang to stop.  One gang member says he doesn’t have enough bullets to get them all and they begin to surround him.  Billy Jack shoots one in the leg.  The police arrive and arrest everyone including Billy Jack.  Billy Jack later learns that his fine for firing the gun was more than the gang members got for assault.

News spreads that gang members have raped some young women.  Only one is willing to testify.  She is being kept in protective custody at a hotel.  When gang members lure the cop guarding her away, others go to kidnap her.  Billy Jack intervenes.

Billy Jack plans to keep her safe until the trial.

What chance does one man have against an outlaw biker gang?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)

Tom Laughlin had the character Billy Jack in mind for years before he ever made it to the screen.  Born Losers was written to cash in on the biker craze and be a springboard for Billy Jack.  Elizabeth James, the movie’s co-star wrote the screenplay using the name James Lloyd.  The thought was who would want to see a biker movie written by a chick?

Tom Laughlin, who played Billy Jack, directed Born Losers. He used the pseudonym T.C. Frank. His three children are named Teresa, Christina and Frank. His wife Delores Taylor has a quick cameo as a mother with two children (played by Teresa and Frank).

Movie tough guy, Robert Tessier, makes his film debut in Born Losers!

Born Losers was successful enough for Laughlin to get financing to make Billy Jack.  When Billy Jack became a breakout hit, American International re-released Born Losers.  They advertised it with a new poster that focused on Billy Jack.  The box office of Born Losers ended up being American International’s highest grossing release until 1979.

Born Losers generated 3 more Billy Jack movies; Billy Jack (1971), The Trial of Billy Jack (1974) and Billy Jack Goes to Washington (1977).

Jack Starrett plays a deputy much like the deputy character he played in First Blood.

Most folks may be surprised my rating for Born Losers is so high.  The film resonates with me.  I saw Born Losers on a double feature with Billy Jack when I was in 9th grade.  (The perfect age for both those movies.)  My “date” was my girlfriend and future wife.  I love that Tom Laughlin had a vision and despite many, many obstacles (losing financing, losing distribution, etc.) was able to make his dream come true and create a legendary character.  Your mileage may vary.

The Losers, The Mystery, The Dead & More

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  • DC Comics has published a really well done comic called The Losers. The art is great and the story is intelligent. The first issue is on stands now. I guess you could say, The Losers is a winner!
  • SANTIAGO, Chile (Reuters) – Scientists said on Wednesday a huge mass of slimy flesh that washed up on a Chilean beach last week may be a rare type of giant octopus or just discarded whale blubber.
  • TOKYO – If it costs a lot to live in Japan, try dying: Cemetery plots on sale in Tokyo are priced at up to $86,800 each. The city government began taking applications Wednesday for the 50 newly opened spots at Aoyama Cemetery — the first such sale in 43 years. Talk about a high cost of, ahem, living.
  • DULUTH, Minn. – An exasperated resident turned the tables on a company that hounded him with telemarketing calls, calling it more than 100 times in two days. That’s good… not as good as what Big Beatty does to telemarketers but still.

“Chrome and Hot Leather” (1971) starring William Smith / Z-View

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Chrome and Hot Leather (1971)

Director: Lee Frost

Screenplay by: Michael Haynes & David Neibel and Don Tait from a story by Michael Haynes & David Neibel

Starring: William Smith, Tony Young, Michael Haynes, Peter Brown, Michael Stearns, Larry Bishop, Kathrine Baumann, Wes Bishop, Herb Jeffries, Bobby Pickett, Cheryl Ladd (aka Cherie Moor), Robert Ridgely, Erik Estrada, Dan Haggerty  and Marvin Gaye.

Tagline: A terrifying look at Motor Cycle Savagery – from the same studio that made “Born Losers”

The Story:

When a US Special Forces sergeant learns that his fiancé was killed by the member of a motorcycle gang, he recruits three of his service buddies to track down the murderer.  Four Viet Nam vets against an entire motorcycle gang?  Yeah, that sounds about right.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)

William Smith and Peter Brown co-starred in the television series Laredo before working on this film.

Chrome and Hot Leather features some interesting cast member trivia…

  • Cheryl Ladd made her feature film debut billed as Cherie Moor.
  • Marvin Gaye, best known as a multi-Grammy award-winning singer, made his feature film debut as well.
  • Bobby Pickett, best known as the writer/singer of the classic The Monster Mash appears.
  • Herb Jeffries, a popular jazz singer and actor in films made for African-American audiences in the 1930s/1940s, shows up.
  • Erik Estrada can be seen in an uncredited role in only his second feature film.
  • Dan Haggerty also has an uncredited role.  He plays a bearded member of the biker gang.

Chrome and Hot Leather (1971) was made to cash in on the biker craze of the era.  It’s a low-budget drive-in film.  William Smith was built for biker films.  If he was a bit younger, he’d have been an action movie star of the 80s.  Still playing Conan’s dad is quite a notch on your resume.

“Billy Jack” (1971) written and starring Tom & Delores Laughlin, directed by Tom Laughlin / Z-View

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Billy Jack (1971)

Director: Tom Laughlin as T.C. Frank

Screenplay: Tom Laughlin (as Frank Christina), Delores Taylor (as Theresa Christina)

Stars: Tom Laughlin, Delores Taylor, Clark Howat, Richard Stahl, Howard Hesseman, Bert Freed and Kenneth Tobey.

Tagline:  When you need him, he’s always there!

The Plot…

Jean Roberts (D. Taylor) runs Freedom School, an educational center for troubled youth outside a small southern town. Most of the town thinks that the school is full of Indians, liberal hippies and dangerous kids.  Jean is in love with Billy Jack (T. Laughlin).  Billy Jack is half white, half Navajo.  He’s a former Green Beret, Hapkido master who struggles to keep his temper in control.

When a busload of Freedom School students go into town, they attract the attention of Bernard Posner and his big, dumb friend, Dinosaur.  Posner and Dinosaur follow some of the kids into an ice cream shop.  The shop owner refuses to serve the kids because they aren’t all white.  When Posner is put in his place by one of the girls he was flirting with, he humiliates the kids.  Dinosaur knocks the wind out of one of the boys just as Billy Jack enters the shop.

Posner yells for someone to go get his dad who is one of the town’s corrupt bigshots.  Billy Jack makes sure the kids are okay… he then proceeds to teach Posner and Dinosaur a painful lesson.

This of course puts Billy Jack at odds with Posner Sr. and his corrupt cronies.  This will not end well.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)

Billy Jack is a success due to Tom and Delores Laughlin’s determination.  They wrote the screenplay, he directed it and supported the slow roll release that saw Billy Jack become a pop cultural phenomenon.  Many of the actors in Billy Jack had never acted before.  Billy Jack was made for approximately $800,000 and earned $32.5 million in the US and $98 million worldwide.

The Billy Jack character first appeared in Born Losers (1967) also starring and directed by Tom Laughlin.

Delores Taylor received a Golden Globe nomination as Most Promising New Actress.

Bong Soo Han was Tom Laughlin’s body double.  Han was a Hapkido master and choregraphed the fights.

Billy Jack features so many memorable scenes and dialogue…

I love to revisit Billy Jack and Born Losers to bring back a great period of my youth (and to enjoy a couple of fun films).

Billy Jack (1971) rates 5 of 5 stars.

“The Raven” (1963) starring Vincent Price, Peter Lorre, Boris Karloff and Jack Nicholson / Z-View

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The Raven (1963)

Director:  Roger Corman

Screenplay:  Richard Matheson based on “The Raven” by Edgar Allan Poe

Stars: Vincent Price, Peter Lorre, Boris Karloff, Hazel Court, Jack Nicholson and Leo Gordon (voice uncredited)

Tagline: Wits and wizardry run a-fowl!

The Plot…

A talking raven shows up at the castle of Dr. Erasmus Craven (Price).  It turns out the raven is actually Dr. Adolphus Bedlo (Lorre)!  Bedlo was transformed into a raven by Dr. Scarabus (Karloff) when the two had a duel of magic.  Craven is able to restore Bedlo to human form.  They decide to go to Scarabus’ castle for a confrontation.  Bedlo wants revenge for being turned into a bird.  Craven is on a mission to find his missing wife Lenore.

Before it is over Bedlo, Craven and Scarabus will be in a battle of magic with the losers facing certain death!

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

The Raven is very loosely based on Edgar Allan Poe’s poem.  Director, Roger Corman, and writer, Richard Matheson wanted more humor and less terror for this film.  It was shot in just 15 days and Corman allowed the actors to play loose with their dialogue.  This suited Peter Lorre, who improvised many of his lines.  Boris Karloff didn’t enjoy this method, while Vincent Price caught on quickly.  It’s interesting to note that Peter Lore and Jack Nicholson reportedly didn’t get along when the cameras weren’t rolling.

The highlight is the duel between Price and Karloff.  It’s an extended sequence that kids of all ages will enjoy.

The Raven earns 3 of 5 stars.

Neal Adams’ Rare “Billy Jack” Original Art!

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That’s the rarely seen Neal Adams original Billy Jack painting used for the cover of The Deadly Hands of Kung Fu #11.  If you click over to The Bristol Board you will see the art and magazine cover.  It’s interesting to note that for the magazine they did a close-up of the painting to make a more dynamic cover.

If you like action films, consider checking out Billy Jack and its prequel, Born Losers.  Both are fun.  Two additional sequels, The Trial of Billy Jack and Billy Jack Goes to Washington aren’t as good.  In 1985, Tom Laughlin began production on The Return of Billy Jack.  Sadly, it was never completed.

Disturbing the Peace (2020) Starring Guy Pearce / Z-View

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Disturbing the Peace (2020)

Director: Chuck Hustmyre

Screenplay by:  Jay Simms

Starring: Guy Pearce, Devon Sawa and Branscombe Richmond

Tagline: What Would You Give Up to Save Everything?

The Overview:  Beware of spoilers…

Jim Dillion (Pearce) was a Texas Ranger.  He stopped carrying a gun after accidentally shooting and paralyzing his partner in a hostage situation.  Now he’s Marshall Dillion. (I kid you not. If you’re old enough, you’ll recognize the name.) Like Andy Griffith, Dillion has one Deputy to assist him.  They are the law in a little Texas town.

A small motorcycle gang, barely large enough to be called a crowd, plans to rob an armored truck carrying 15 million dollars to be deposited in the town’s bank.  It will be up to Marshall Dillion and his deputy to stop them.

I wanted to like Disturbing the Peace.  Guy Pearce is a good actor.  The plot was perfect for a low budget film.  I was hoping for something along the lines of Tom Laughlin in The Born Losers.  What I got was a real mess.

The story goes off the rails.  For a lot of the film, Marshall Dillion and his deputy are running from place to place watching the bad guys take hostages or worse.  When Dillion finally decides to get a gun, he has to run home. He then stares at his pistol for an eternity before finally picking it up. Dillion captures one of the gang members and puts him in jail.  Dillion learns that the gangbanger was a former marine and tells him, “So was I.”  Dillion then opens the cell, hands him a rifle and turns his back on him!  Just like that the former gang member is now ready to go against his motorcycle brothers.

Then when Dillion and the gang member, both armed with rifles, come up against a guy with a handgun, they retreat!  It gets even worse.  The gang leader, Diablo (Sawa) fires a machine gun at Dillion as he walks down the center of an empty street.  Dillion isn’t even wounded.  We also get the classic: Dillon on a horse exchanging gunfire with Diablo on a motorcycle and then the horse catching the motorcycle!

With all that said, you’d probably think that Disturbing the Peace would earn one star.  It nearly did,  Still, I made it through the film so I’m barely rating it a two.

Disturbing the Peace earns 2 of 5 stars.

Dead Film Franchises Begging to Be Revived

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ComingSoon ran a piece called Dead Film Franchises Begging to Be Revived.  Of the films listed, here are the three I felt most deserving and a couple of more that didn’t make the list but should have…

Kill Bill – Tarantino has talked up a sequel for many years now.  The set-up was right there in Kill Bill, Volume 1:  Ambrosia Kelley (who played Vivica Fox’s daughter) is now grown and would return to take revenge on The Bride.

Blade – I didn’t care for Blade; loved Blade II and thought Blade: Trinity was good.  So, why not bring back Snipes for another outing?

Dirty Harry – My initial thought was, “No.”  But the idea of Scott Eastwood picking up his dad’s role as Harry Callahan got me thinking that it could work.  My biggest concern is that the social climate is much different now than it was when the original Dirty Harry was released.

Two movie franchises that didn’t make the list but should have…

Billy Jack – I’d love to see a remake of Born Losers, the film that introduced Billy Jack to the world.  Get someone like Kurt Sutter to take the reigns and you’d have a winner.

Escape from – Snake Plissken continues to be a popular character with fans.  Have Wyatt Russell (Kurt’s son) put on the eye patch and let’s go.

 

Step Brothers (2008) / Z-View

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Step Brothers (2008)

Director: Adam McKay

Screenplay: Will Ferrell & Adam McKay from a story created by Will Ferrell & Adam McKay & John C. Reilly.

Stars: Will Ferrell, John C. Reilly, Mary Steenburgen, Richard Jenkins, Adam Scott, and Kathryn Hahn.

The Pitch: “What if Ricky Bobby and Cal Naughton, Jr. were middle-aged losers who didn’t race and were forced to become stepbrothers?”

Tagline: “They grow up so fast.”

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

When Brennan Huff’s [Farrell] mom [Steenburgen] marries Dale Doback’s [Reilly] dad [Jenkins] the two boys become stepbrothers and are forced to share a room.  Of course the “boys” are actually middle-aged men who have never been forced to grow up.  That all is about to change…

Craig says:  Ferrell and Reilly are spot on.  If you go with the set-up and you don’t mind that it is Rated R for crude and sexual content, and pervasive language then you’re in for a fun ride.

Rating: