BORN LOSERS
US, 1967, 113 minutes, Colour.
Tom Laughlin, Elizabeth James, Jeremy Slate, William Wellman Jr, Jack Starrett.
Directed by Tom Laughlin.
The Born Losers has had a very strange history of release and distribution. It was one of the earliest of the bikie films and appeared in America in 1966. It was held up in an overseas release because of the crude brutality and censorship problems. However it was released in some countries in a cut version in 1970 after the success of Easy Rider.
However, it was more of a film related to American International bikie pictures like The Wild Angels or Hells Angels and the very many films made in the late 60's along these lines. It was rejected by most critics.
However in 1971 Billy Jack was released and received great praise and popular acclaim. It was then discovered that
the Billy Jack character was introduced in The Born Losers, and the film was produced by Delores Taylor who played Jean in the Billy Jack films and starred and was directed by Tom Laughlin who also made these films. This meant a reappraisal of the Born Losers and linking it with the Billy Jack films rather than merely with the bikie films. The Born Losers then had rehabilitation. It was not released in England until 1975.
Perhaps there are more redeeming features in the Born Losers than was first considered. It certainly must be seen in the light of the Billy Jack films.
1. The overall impact of this film? As belonging to the motorcycle films of the sixties? Its impact now? The appeal of the ‘bikie’ films, their violence? The bikie way of life and freedom and individuality? How well did the film portray this, exploit it? The film as a cultural mirror of the mid-sixties?
2. The impact of the character of Billy Jack and the later development of this character? How were the origins of his cult seen here? The values that Billy Jack stood for? How well and strongly?
3. The quality of the film-making, the acting? The aims and motivations of the film-makers? How noble, how moralizing? How successful in the moralizing aims?
4. The significance of the title and the indication of themes? Billy lack ultimately as a winner?
5. The portrayal of Billy Jack as a hero? The Vietnam background, the half-breed background? The complications of America and race? Racism? Billy Jack and his stands on law and order? The individual, isolated,
yet standing for justice? The use of violence and the preaching of non violence? How strong a personality, the protector and saviour? The reason for his wide appeal?
6. The portrayal of the 'Hell's Angels' bikies? Their strengths and weaknesses? The values, the cynicism? The ugliness In the world of these bikies? What values in modern society were they exploiting, reacting against? Danny and his mindless violence? The brutality and its illustration? The characters and personalities of the other members of the gang?
7. The contrast of Billy Jack defending the innocent and the fearful townspeople? The message about appeasement and non-violence? A symbol of American society?
8. The ugliness of the rape, the pressures on people, the terrorizing by the gang? The girl's reactions and its portrayal?
9. The sequence of Jodell and her mother, the testifying and then the backing down?
10. Vicki as the heroine of the film? Her strengths, fear? Her being saved by Billy Jack? Her compromising with Danny in order to be safe?
11. Billy Jack's shooting Danny? The impact of the violence? What right had he to kill? His motivations? Audience reaction to this test of law and justice?
12. How satisfying was the resolution? How does this film stand now In comparison with other bikie films of the time, in the light of the other Billy Jack films?
