The Born Losers [Blu-ray]

Overview

One of the first recognizable "vigilante" films in American cinema, The Born Losers tells the story of Billy Jack (writer-director Tom Laughlin), a half-breed ex-Green Beret and Vietnam veteran who makes it his business to rescue a cute mod girl from a crew of vicious bikers. Much to his chagrin, however, he finds his lethal training gets him in as much trouble with the racist cops as with the bikers, and he soon becomes embroiled in a violent struggle against all parties involved. There is blood-letting and bone-breaking to burn in The Born Losers, not to mention lots of preaching on the part of Laughlin. However, it still tops the more famous sequel, Billy Jack, and it qualifies writer-director-star Laughlin for the status of true auteur.

Product Details

Release Date:	07/10/2018
UPC:	0826663188608
Original Release:	1967
Rating:	PG
Source:	Shout Factory
Region Code:	A
Presentation:	[Wide Screen]
Sound:	[Dolby Digital Mono]
Language:	English
Time:	1:53:00
Sales rank:	18,917

Special Features

Audio commentary with Tom Laughlin and Delores Taylor; Audio commentary with Tom Laughlin, Delores Taylor, and Frank Laughlin; Theatrical trailer; Photo gallery; Radio spots

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Tom Laughlin	Billy Jack
Elizabeth James	Vicky
Jane Russell	Mrs. Shorn
Jeremy Slate	Danny
William Wellman Jr.	Child
Robert Tessier	Cue Ball
Jeff Cooper	Gangrene
Ed Cook	Crabs
Julie Cahn	LuAnn Crawford
Susan Foster	Linda Prang
Janice Miller	Jodell Shorn
Stuart Lancaster	Sheriff
Jack Starrett	Deputy
Paul Bruce	District Attorney
Robert Cleaves	Mr. Crawford
Ann Bellamy	Mrs. Prang
Gordon Hobel	Jerry Carmody
Paul Prokop	Speechless
Mike Curb	Composer

Technical Credits

Tom Laughlin

Tom Laughlin	Director,Screenwriter,Producer
Delores Taylor	Executive Producer,Producer
Donald Henderson	Producer
T.C. Frank	Director

Editorial Reviews

The little acorn that would grow into the legendary Billy Jack film series of the '70s begins with this fairly unassuming biker picture. Indeed, The Born Losers looks and feels like many a cycle epic of the late '60s: there's tough talk, brutal violence (both fights and sexual assaults), hairy guys speeding around on motorcycles, and a small town forced to make its stand against a horde of invading reprobates. However, The Born Losers distinguishes itself by its ambitious approach to this subgenre. The story gets a bit unwieldy at almost two hours (fare like this usually works best at around 90 minutes) and the dialogue can get a bit ripe, but the expansive storytelling allows for some unusually ambitious plotting. More interestingly, director/co-writer/star Tom Laughlin uses his premise to explore the ineffectiveness of law at dealing with career criminals, how the justice system fails to protect the public in criminal proceedings, and how ineffectual parenting breeds the very problems society would like to avoid. Keep in mind that all these points are dealt out with a very heavy hand and couched in all manner of exploitable violence and raciness, but it's unique and interesting that the time is taken to make such points. The Born Losers is also pretty entertaining on a B-movie level. Despite some slack pacing here and there, Laughlin knows how to build tension and stage action with skill. He also gets good performances from a colorful cast. Jeremy Slate makes a nicely underplayed villain, Jane Russell steals a few scenes as an overwrought mother, and familiar B-movie faces like Stuart Lancaster and Jack Starrett lend solid support. Best of all, Tom Laughlin makes a cool, charismatic hero and his performance here makes it easy to understand the long-lived popularity of his Billy Jack character. In short, The Born Losers might be a little too creaky and contrived for modern viewers, but it's worth a look to B-movie aficionados (especially those with a yen for biker movies).

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