Billy’s not kidding… Born Losers (1967)

Billy Jack is one of those films I vividly recall watching late night on HTV somewhere in my teenage Merseyside… it caused much debate at school the next day when, impressed by the character’s courage and willingness to take on all opposition, he was a man who took on the oldsters and won. We were scally teen-hippies though and had yet to be politicised by Punk.

Tom Laughlin who played Billy here and in all the films to follow, had been trying to get his idea published since 1954… He was a truly extraordinary character in himself who stood for American individualism and indeed the presidency (although he never got that far).

Laughlin was a man as determined as he was principled and finally the time came when the World was ready to see cinematic incarnation of Billy Jack, a half-native American who also happens to be a Vietnam veteran Green Beret…  As the summer of love faded and harsh reality kicked in Laughlin re-wrote the story to take account of the new craze for motorcycle films and the New American Violence. The concept was based on an actual incident when a group of five girls were raped by members of the Hell’s Angels in 1964.

Man with a vision: Tom Laughlin

There’s something rough and ready about Tom’s philosophy but his film was rooted in the same intrinsic belief in fairness as any classic western. It’s also very interesting that the script was co-written by his co-star Elizabeth James who plays Vicky Barrington a disaffected rich kid with plenty of spunk who spends a gratifying portion of the film riding around on her motorcycle in a white bikini. James later went on to pursue a career as a writer but her performance here is very good as she projects an almost innocent bravery in spite of the brutal threats she faces.

Elizabeth James

James and Laughlin clearly shared a world-view and it’s fascinating to see the sixties sensibilities: a belief in decency and the importance of individual actions against a youth set all too free by motorcycles and liberty become licence. It’s a libertarian viewpoint out of step with European left-wing thinking but so very rooted in the free-thinking that enabled America to become so dynamic and powerful. The mistrust of authority – an ineffective police-force and a judicial system hog-tied by legal process – contributes to the flourishing of the motorcycle gang: men who know no limits other than the equal force that eventually pushes back their way.

It’s a story that rings as vaguely true now as it did in 1968… America is broken unless good men (and women) take a stance. I have to say that’s a pretty depressing thought given the constitution of this great nation but, in 2017, more than any year since Nixon, this is very much the case. Bad men can take advantage of freedom as much as good and any system is only as strong as those who get involved make it.

Billy confronts the bikers

Billy Jack is one such man, he can’t walk away and whilst he never loses his dignity he never lets others down. The motorcycle gang, The Born Losers, are truly horrendous and led by a wonderfully charismatic performance from experienced actor Jeremy Slate who oozes menacing complacency from behind his white-rimmed sunglasses as Danny Carmody. His troop are a mix of the disturbed and the deviant all intent on doing just as they like with no respect for the law or fellow human beings.

They’re prevented from cartoon characterisation by some fine performances and the bottom line that they believe they have the right to act as they want. Do as thy wilt shall be the whole of the law… it’s the doctrine of hippy freedom taken too far. Their presence is constantly agitating throughout and ultimately the only thing that can stop them is being met with the same force of will. After parents, police and lawyers fail only Billy stands in their way: a very American Resolution.

Jeremy Slate and Tom Laughlin

Story-wise Billy has returned from Vietnam to his home town of Beach Rock almost broke and with the bikers becoming increasingly untouchable. We see the bikers parading up and down the main drag intimidating the locals and attracting the interest of some local girls. A young man gets beaten up after an altercation with the gang and Billy ends up intervening with his rifle earning himself some jail time while the gang walks free…

Miss rule continues and when Billy is out he’s on his uppers as the bank refuses to extend his credit. Meanwhile Vicky arrives in distracting white bikini and is immediately surrounded by the gang in an impressive scene in which the bikes arrive one by one on the horizon as she turns her bike around. She’s forced to go to their hideout, a rather immaculate house that in reality was once owned by Seal Beach was once owned by silent film star Rudolph Valentino.

Girl on a motorcycle

She manages to escape but as her bike runs out of gas two of the gang catch up with her and she’s raped… Most films would back away from such explicit degradation but not this one, Laughlin’s intent on showing us the dark side.

Moving on, we learn that Vicky is not the only one and the two gang members are being held pending trial for the rape of a number of girls. Surely it’s a clear cut case… but the gang aims to intimidate the witnesses and win by default.

After Billy saves Vicky from further attack the two become close and as he starts to help her you hope for a resolution but it won’t be anything like the usual Hollywood ending.

Dusty Verdict: Born Losers is a strangely-fascinating experience… Laughlin has a distinct charisma that makes Billy calmly compelling and you can understand how the character subsequently had legs. It feels slightly muddled and down-beat because of the failure of the authorities to bring order to the situation and, whilst it may well have been true, you’d hope that justice was more readily available for such a clear-cut crime.

Then again… given 2017, maybe not.

In addition to standouts from the lovely Elizabeth James and grisly Jeremy Slate, there’s also a stellar cameo from Hollywood royalty Jane Russell who gives it everything she’s got as the mother of one of the abused girls (Janice Miller, who was in the next Billy Jack film): she was hired for a day apparently to give the film impact.

Jane Russell gives it some

The film also features William Wellman Jr., son of the legendary film director, who gives a good account of himself as the gang’s second in command.

Born Losers was one of the most successful independent films of the sixties and gave rise to three more Billy Jack films in the seventies. It is available on pricey import DVD from Amazon and others and features an entertaining commentary from Laughlin and his wife who is also featured briefly in the film. He was a man who walked the talk and what stands out through all the years is his intesity of spirit and determination to do the right thing by getting involved!

What’s Going On…? Trouble Man (1972)

I have to admit that my main motivation for watching this film is the rare score from Mr Marvin Gaye but the film itself has a mixed reputation. The film was featured in Harry Medved’s classic book, The Fifty Worst Films of All Time in 1978 whilst Complex included it on its 2009 list of "The 50 Best Blaxploitation Movies of All Time" (although that’s quite a long list…).

For me it’s OK, a professional job that’s just a bit too by-the-numbers to genuinely convince the audience that there’s peril for the main character, Mr T. Most of the moves are telegraphed and whilst there are good moments there’s very little surprise… That’s not enough to prevent it being an enjoyable watch and then there’s that score which gives the whole enterprise a touch of class the narrative doesn’t necessarily deserve.

Ivan Dixon’s direction is clinical if not anti-septic and Robert Hooks definitely has star presence as the unflappable Mr. T with his thousand dollar suits, fast cars and even faster women. He plays a private detective in South Central Los Angeles who is seemingly at ease with delivering out-sourced justice and who earns enough from his game and the odd pool hustle to keep himself in top quality cars, clothes and condominium. Then there’s the women, our story starts as T says “thanks and maybe later” to one pretty woman and it ends with an “how you doin’?” to another… all part of the charm and very 1972.

Clothes, car and stride maketh the man...

But there are plenty looking to knock T down a peg or three including LAPD captain Joe Marx (Bill Smithers) and the local mobsters looking to frame him for a hit with both Marx and the dominant gang boss, Big (Julius Harris) … the clue is in the name, brother (probably).

T is approached by Chalky (Paul Winfield) and his partner, Pete (Ralph Waite), who run dice games which they allege keep on getting robbed by a gang of four men. They persuade a reluctant T to sit ion and help protect their “club” but, what the PI doesn’t know is that they have one of Big’s main men who they plan to kill and place the blame on T… Their plan goes like clockwork and T witnesses the killing thinking the man was one of the robbers.

Paul Winfield and Ralph Waite try to influence Mr T

Almost immediately he’s the man in the frame as Chalky and Pete get the word out that T killed Big’s man a story that gains quick traction with Marx and Big’s men. T’s in a tough spot and while he’s able to more than match the policeman’s attempts to rattle him knows he has to be heard by Big. Using his cool – probably he’s had training at some point – T gains access to big man Big and convinces him enough of his innocence to gain the time to arrange a parley with Chalky and Pete.

The men are due to meet at the pool hall of his pal Jimmy (Bill Henderson) and yet as Big waits they are hit by a group of men dressed as policemen who shoot Big and knock T out. Firmly in the frame for the challenge on Big T needs to dig deep and work his way out with all sides heading in his direction.

Julius Harris is Big

Amongst all of this he, of course, makes time for his main lady love, Cleo (Paula Kelly with a stunning close-cropped hair-do!) who seems mostly there to give him some vulnerability as he’s clearly used to playing away.

There are plenty of tough-talking hombres surrounding Chalky and Pete but T begins to push back and soon Chalkie’s getting nervy and Pete is coming to the fore as the nastiest bad guy… The odds are stacked high but… you just have a feeling he might find a way…

Paula Kelly

Dusty verdict: Trouble Man ticks many boxes but necessarily in a way that causes the audience undue stress. It feels like a slick job well done, not a disaster – not at all – but not a surprise either.

It’s as fluent an exposition of the contemporary black cinema lingua Franca as you’ll find and there are the cars, the clothes and the women to admire. Mr T himself is an amalgam of stock character traits but he wears them as well as the suits, never taking things for anything other than what they actually are.

Mr Robert Hooks

Then there’s Marvin’s score adding crucial cool making this still a film any fan of the period and classy music must check out! It’s available from Amazon and several worthy stores both off and online.The soundtrack is also a must-have of course… a jazzier approach from Gaye but still with the rich textures of What's Going On? flowing throughout.

Jean Bell who was Playboy's second black centerfold