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During the 1950s, actor Tom Laughlin and screenwriter Delores Taylor created a movie hero, that the industry has never seen before. The hero was a roughened veteran who had his own code of living. He used his skills to defend progressive young people from the corrupt system. However, the wholesome 1950s did not sit well with the Hollywood elite making it impossible for them to accept this idea. Around the late 1960s, things began changing in the history of cinema, so Laughlin and Taylor decided to resurrect their character. But this time, they decided to ease in. Instead of the originally planned story, Laughlin wished for a far more commercial story. Luckily, this caught the attention of the AIP studio and they liked the concept. Ultimately, in the year 1967, the world was introduced to the aikido expert, Billy Jack. He was painted as a loner, half-Native American, Vietnam veteran who made his movie debut in The Born Losers.
Having served as a Green Beret in Vietnam, Billy Jack sets out to look for ranching work in a small California town. The town makes it clear that work is scarce but more concerning is what else he learns. The town is under the rule of the Born Losers a Biker gang, with a reputation of molesting young women that frightens the entire female population. The law enforcement in the area is simply waiting for one of their subjects to come forward, so they can lock the criminals up forever. To ensure silence, the gang intimidates the locals why would any victim speak up? While on her way Vicky, a persistent traveler, is targeted by the bikers. Vicky is eager to volunteer after learning that the bikers are wreaking havoc. She finds out the grim truth that the local law enforcement is unable to protect her against the Born Losers, but she does have options. The gang isn’t her only problem; there’s a mysterious loner. Vicky Billy does what he does best, keeps the remaining helpless girls safe. He uses his own style of tough talk to get rid of the Born Losers all while protecting Vicky in the process.
Step by step, the group intensifies their confrontational tactics against Billy Jack, who remains unbothered and poised to handle any challenge.
Delores Taylor did not participate in writing Born Losers and only agreed to co-write sequels and serve as producer. Still, she had a major role in crafting the character of Billy Jack. When the peak of biker films occurred, it made perfect sense in the debut film of Billy Jack to have him take on a gang of violent bikers. Outnumbered, Billy Jack was forced to rely on his deceiving skills to mentally battle his enemies. But make no mistake, as Mr. Jack is no egg-head, and when he sees the chance, he has no problem l laying his enemies out with his swift and decisive physical attacks. We cheer his battle against the Born Losers gang because we can never get tired of watching him inflict violence on them.
By self–directing the film using the pseudonym TC Frank, Laughlin became a frontrunner for independent cinema while working on this flick.
The difference between Tom Laughlin’s interpretation of Billy Jack and other “take matters into their own hands” movies of that era is the exceptional excess of restraint he demonstrates. In other words, Billy Jack is an antihero who doesn’t actively seek out violence; he reacts to it. In every frame of this worn-out, grizzly antihero, there flows an intensity that feels more ferocious than anything the audience has ever experienced. Even when it comes to being physically embarrassed, such as allowing Losers to fill his hat with gasoline which he willfully puts on in order to entertain them, he maintains his stone-cold demeanor, refusing to be broken. The moment Billy Jack is ready to put in the work, he puts it in with a lot of thrust and violence which makes for some unforgettable scenes while at the same time reminding you that he is no joke.
Vicky has the choice of joining him to dismantle the organization on her own, which revels in the fact that he does not force her willfully into that role, and he is there to support her decision. That role is perfectly warming by young actress Elizabeth James as Vicky, who is equally undaunted in front of the Born Losers as he is, but does exhibit a fair degree of vocal bluster combined with a gung-ho attitude which is in contrast to Billy Jack’s stoic assertiveness. Her Loughlin’s on-screen counterpart certainly would have made a good pairing, and it’s unfortunate she did not ever appear in any subsequent Billy Jack films. Completing the rest of the cast are Hollywood Icon Jane Russell in what is basically a glorified cameo and biker movie fixture Jeremy Slate as the biker gang’s leader.
As anticipated, The Born Losers and its several sequels have become fan favorites for cult cinema enthusiasts. The image of an antihero who violently retaliates against the villains in an otherwise hopeless world is always a sure hit among audiences. As for the next film called Billy Jack, the story developed further and set the groundwork for all the films with the character’s name on it.
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