The Born Losers (1967): Tom Laughlin, Elizabeth James, Jane Russell, Jeremy Slate, Robert Tessier, Paul Prokop, Jeff Cooper, William Wellman Jr, Jack Starrett, Robert Cleaves, Paul Bruce, Anne Bellamy, Stuart Lancaster, Janice Miller, Gordon Hoban, Susan Foster, Julie Cahn,Paul Napier, Art Eisner, Edwin Cook, Susan Bauman, Robin Corum, James Smith, Robert Apollo, Clegg Hoyt, Mike LeSage...Director Tom Laughlin, Screenplay Elizabeth James.
From 1967, Director Tom Laughlin's "Born Losers" was evidently made for a target audience in the late 1960's, a young adult audience who was probably more than familiar with the Hell's Angels, with California and with pop culture of the time. The motorcycle gangs that were sprouting everywhere in the US in the 60's, later organized as the Hell's Angels, were fueling the imaginations of writers and film makers alike. They were to cause the "end" of the flower-power 60's when during a Rolling Stones concert in Altamont, they were hired for bodyguard protection but what resulted was death and mayhem. This film does not take itself seriously nor does it attempt to present itself as reality. This is one of several films made at the time that dealt with motorcycle gangs terrorizing small northern California towns outside San Francisco, lawless rebels on wheels turning people's worlds upside down. These films were popular after wild rumors and myths concerning the Hell's Angels after incidents like the one in Monterey, California in which reports of various girls being raped by the motorcycle gang came to public attention. The exploits of these motorcycle gangs is the subject of this intense, shocking film.
Actor and Director Tom Laughlin stars as Billy Jack, a half-white, half-Indian hero who saves the day at the end of the film. In a sedate north California town, a motorcycle group stirs up trouble when a series of rapes occur and violence ensues. The police and authorities do nothing to stop them, out of fear and due to one of the members' connections with the authorities. When innocent but brazen Vicky (Elizabeth James) flirts with the gang leader Danny (Jeremy Slate) even trying to become a "mamma" that is a gang member's girl, she does not realize what she is getting herself into. When she learns that her "initiation" involves being raped by all the members, she tries to escape them but is not able to and is consequently another rape victim. When the evil deeds of the gang go to far, it's up to Billy Jack to come to the rescue, when no one else would. The film is inappropriate for younger audiences as it contains some violence, foul language and some nudity. This film was made for "shock" appeal, being a sort of early exploitation film, many of which would become numerous and popular in the '70's. The showdown between Billy Jack and the gang is straight out of a Western, except this time it's set in late 60's California. The screenplay, written by actress Elizabeth James (a female screenwriter in those days was rare) is excellent, full of 60's slang, sarcasm, humor and dark edginess. The film is a combination of dark humor and serious drama. Jane Russell, a veteran Hollywood actress, makes a surprising cameo appearance as one of the victim's mothers. Her scenes are over-the-top but she is still a terrific actress even at her older age. For a dark film, the music by Mike Curb and Davie Allan is beautiful, nostalgic of old Western dramas and melancholy. The cinematography by Gregory Sandor and production design by Richard Beck-Meyer as well as the costumes by Katherine Free are very "pop" 60's in style. Everything has the photogenic quality of a 60's magazine and evokes a "dirty" dime novel full of violence and catering to men's revenge fantasies. This film is for men, though it's interestingly written by a woman, obviously friends with Director Tom Laughlin who stars as Billy Jack. This is one of many films they'd make, but this one did very well at the box-office, primarily because of its bold new content. While I don't much care for the story, it's a film that has some value due to that very content itself, a look at the attitudes of the wild late 60's.
From 1967, Director Tom Laughlin's "Born Losers" was evidently made for a target audience in the late 1960's, a young adult audience who was probably more than familiar with the Hell's Angels, with California and with pop culture of the time. The motorcycle gangs that were sprouting everywhere in the US in the 60's, later organized as the Hell's Angels, were fueling the imaginations of writers and film makers alike. They were to cause the "end" of the flower-power 60's when during a Rolling Stones concert in Altamont, they were hired for bodyguard protection but what resulted was death and mayhem. This film does not take itself seriously nor does it attempt to present itself as reality. This is one of several films made at the time that dealt with motorcycle gangs terrorizing small northern California towns outside San Francisco, lawless rebels on wheels turning people's worlds upside down. These films were popular after wild rumors and myths concerning the Hell's Angels after incidents like the one in Monterey, California in which reports of various girls being raped by the motorcycle gang came to public attention. The exploits of these motorcycle gangs is the subject of this intense, shocking film.
Actor and Director Tom Laughlin stars as Billy Jack, a half-white, half-Indian hero who saves the day at the end of the film. In a sedate north California town, a motorcycle group stirs up trouble when a series of rapes occur and violence ensues. The police and authorities do nothing to stop them, out of fear and due to one of the members' connections with the authorities. When innocent but brazen Vicky (Elizabeth James) flirts with the gang leader Danny (Jeremy Slate) even trying to become a "mamma" that is a gang member's girl, she does not realize what she is getting herself into. When she learns that her "initiation" involves being raped by all the members, she tries to escape them but is not able to and is consequently another rape victim. When the evil deeds of the gang go to far, it's up to Billy Jack to come to the rescue, when no one else would. The film is inappropriate for younger audiences as it contains some violence, foul language and some nudity. This film was made for "shock" appeal, being a sort of early exploitation film, many of which would become numerous and popular in the '70's. The showdown between Billy Jack and the gang is straight out of a Western, except this time it's set in late 60's California. The screenplay, written by actress Elizabeth James (a female screenwriter in those days was rare) is excellent, full of 60's slang, sarcasm, humor and dark edginess. The film is a combination of dark humor and serious drama. Jane Russell, a veteran Hollywood actress, makes a surprising cameo appearance as one of the victim's mothers. Her scenes are over-the-top but she is still a terrific actress even at her older age. For a dark film, the music by Mike Curb and Davie Allan is beautiful, nostalgic of old Western dramas and melancholy. The cinematography by Gregory Sandor and production design by Richard Beck-Meyer as well as the costumes by Katherine Free are very "pop" 60's in style. Everything has the photogenic quality of a 60's magazine and evokes a "dirty" dime novel full of violence and catering to men's revenge fantasies. This film is for men, though it's interestingly written by a woman, obviously friends with Director Tom Laughlin who stars as Billy Jack. This is one of many films they'd make, but this one did very well at the box-office, primarily because of its bold new content. While I don't much care for the story, it's a film that has some value due to that very content itself, a look at the attitudes of the wild late 60's.