|
|
12-15-2013, 08:31 PM
|
|
US Veteran
|
|
|
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: SE Mich - O/S Detroit
Posts: 3,159
Likes: 2,026
Liked 2,801 Times in 1,017 Posts
|
|
Tom Laughlin (AKA Billy Jack) Passed Away
While doing some reading about the late Peter O'Toole, there was a story on IMDB headlining the death of Tom Laughlin, who starred as "Billy Jack".
Rest in peace, Mr. Laughlin.
|
The Following 6 Users Like Post:
|
|
12-15-2013, 08:35 PM
|
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Texas Panhandle
Posts: 7,214
Likes: 5,643
Liked 3,459 Times in 1,728 Posts
|
|
I was just watching him on The Master Gunfighter last night.
__________________
James
On the Llano Estacado
|
12-15-2013, 08:41 PM
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 5,831
Likes: 3,902
Liked 5,902 Times in 2,543 Posts
|
|
One tin soldier rides away...
|
The Following 4 Users Like Post:
|
|
12-15-2013, 08:44 PM
|
|
US Veteran
|
|
|
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Colorado
Posts: 5,484
Likes: 3,219
Liked 7,880 Times in 2,833 Posts
|
|
I've seen a couple interviews with him after Billy Jack and his politics seemed very odd to me. He was trying to run for President ant one point. Having said that I'm sorry to hear of his passing
|
12-15-2013, 08:50 PM
|
US Veteran Absent Comrade
|
|
|
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: San Diego, PRK
Posts: 9,237
Likes: 11,531
Liked 11,249 Times in 3,916 Posts
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hapworth
One tin soldier rides away...
|
One Tin Soldier - The Legend of Billy Jack - YouTube
Great movie...
|
12-15-2013, 09:29 PM
|
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Rocky River, OH, USA
Posts: 9,451
Likes: 1,271
Liked 9,184 Times in 3,621 Posts
|
|
I don't know if he's credited, but I'm almost certain that he played a PBY pilot in "South Pacific".
|
12-15-2013, 10:03 PM
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 5,831
Likes: 3,902
Liked 5,902 Times in 2,543 Posts
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by cmort666
I don't know if he's credited, but I'm almost certain that he played a PBY pilot in "South Pacific".
|
He did and he is credited; just noticed it myself watching "South Pacific" a few weeks ago...
|
12-15-2013, 10:08 PM
|
Banned
|
|
|
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 20,895
Likes: 85,108
Liked 22,838 Times in 10,553 Posts
|
|
May he Rest in Peace. Go slow Tom..................
|
12-15-2013, 11:37 PM
|
Banned
|
|
|
Join Date: May 2013
Location: NC
Posts: 1,425
Likes: 2,198
Liked 1,841 Times in 657 Posts
|
|
That's a shame, RIP.
|
12-16-2013, 12:26 AM
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Illinois
Posts: 500
Likes: 54
Liked 59 Times in 42 Posts
|
|
Peace on Earth was all it said, Seems quite right for the times doesn't it?
|
12-16-2013, 12:33 AM
|
|
SWCA Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Orange County, CA
Posts: 13,995
Likes: 5,005
Liked 7,701 Times in 2,623 Posts
|
|
I am sorry to learn of his passing. He wasn't the best actor ever, and not the best director. But he had a message and a vision, and I respect the sincerity of his film making focus,
Thank you, Tom. Good efforts and serious intent are always recognized. Always.
__________________
David Wilson
|
The Following User Likes This Post:
|
|
12-16-2013, 12:50 AM
|
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Jacksonville, FL
Posts: 791
Likes: 1,487
Liked 699 Times in 176 Posts
|
|
One of my first movie heroes when I was 15.
I know that it is just a movie, but "Billy Jack" taught me to try to protect those who cannot protect themselves. Always hated bullies...
RIP Tom Laughlin
|
The Following 5 Users Like Post:
|
|
12-16-2013, 01:43 AM
|
|
SWCA Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Front range
Posts: 2,182
Likes: 2,344
Liked 965 Times in 571 Posts
|
|
The first action hero with liberal values!
My mother was an extra for Barbara Carrera for her riding scene at the end when they ride off on Pfeiffer Beach in Big Sur. My mother had to wear a black wig. She had to ride side saddle and Laughlin wanted the horse to keep walking through the water, but it was hard for her to keep the horse in it, as the surf is quite rough usually at Pfeiffer Beach.
Mom said Carrera had her own chair with her name on it. Some hippies were there, saw the chair and told her "you must be in fat city, man." She was then walking around and asking people on the set, "what does fat city mean?
__________________
Cheers, Charles
SWCA #2442
|
The Following 2 Users Like Post:
|
|
12-16-2013, 02:24 AM
|
US Veteran Absent Comrade
|
|
|
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: San Diego, PRK
Posts: 9,237
Likes: 11,531
Liked 11,249 Times in 3,916 Posts
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Malpasowildlifer
The first action hero with liberal values!
|
Not all of those values are bad. I've tried to hang on to a few of the better ones from my hippie days.
|
The Following 2 Users Like Post:
|
|
12-16-2013, 10:02 AM
|
|
US Veteran
|
|
|
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 3,254
Likes: 1,210
Liked 2,481 Times in 714 Posts
|
|
I was surprised that him and Peter O'toole were almost the same age. I agree that the movie brought out the same theme as the westerns, good guy protects others that can't protect themselves!! I
|
12-16-2013, 10:25 AM
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Northern California
Posts: 6,657
Likes: 3,301
Liked 17,165 Times in 2,909 Posts
|
|
You would never find a movie as self indulgent as a Billy Jack movie. But better to indulge yourself than snooty movie critics who create nothing. Especially if you self produce the whole thing. I saw The Born Losers as a kid and was totally shocked when "Billy Jack" shot that guy in the forehead with that M1 Gerand by the count of three like he said he would do.The silliest was where evil cops were terrorizing this hippie communal school run by B.J.'s real life wife. It was weird seeing them take that movie serious doing it. This guy was multi faceted, quite different, and very independent and self sufficient. But he took himself way too seriously. RIP.
|
12-16-2013, 11:06 AM
|
SWCA Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: S/W Indiana
Posts: 1,500
Likes: 1,923
Liked 2,458 Times in 876 Posts
|
|
Billy Jack
The biggest impact those movies had on me was to interest me in learning/studying/ instructing Hap Ki Do, which I did for decades...Bong Soo Han was the martial arts director for those movies,if memory serves me, and he was a bad whammer jammer.
|
12-16-2013, 11:12 AM
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Jefferson City Mo.
Posts: 2,422
Likes: 1,388
Liked 1,473 Times in 755 Posts
|
|
While on a fugitive detail to the big island in 78 Laughlin was on our flight over. I heard from Hilo coppers he had a place on the Island...Boy had he put on the pounds.....I was a little shocked as he was in such good shape in the movies, and I thought he was a work out nut...Guess not...I always liked him, but I wasn't a fan of the female that stared with him...I later heard that was his wife.....Another movie icon gone......RIP Billie Jack
|
12-16-2013, 12:32 PM
|
US Veteran
|
|
|
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Middle Tennessee
Posts: 677
Likes: 490
Liked 363 Times in 199 Posts
|
|
Don't remember him in much other than Billy Jack, but that was enough. Great movie and great theme song. RIP
|
12-16-2013, 12:35 PM
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Northern California
Posts: 6,657
Likes: 3,301
Liked 17,165 Times in 2,909 Posts
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hodgin
Don't remember him in much other than Billy Jack, but that was enough. Great movie and great theme song. RIP
|
I must have been really bored one day because I watched the original Gidget with Sandra Dee. There was Billy Jack as one of the beach guys getting flirty with Gidget. The movie wasn't bad.
|
The Following User Likes This Post:
|
|
12-16-2013, 12:53 PM
|
US Veteran
|
|
|
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Middle Tennessee
Posts: 677
Likes: 490
Liked 363 Times in 199 Posts
|
|
Apparently there were a few sequels to Billy Jack. I remember just one, The Return of Billy Jack, and it was no where near as good as the original in my opinion.
|
12-16-2013, 01:04 PM
|
US Veteran
|
|
|
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: California
Posts: 1,015
Likes: 611
Liked 1,384 Times in 537 Posts
|
|
For me also, one of the memorable movie heroes of my childhood. Not sure I'd consider him a 'liberal hero,' but I absolutely don't want to get into the politics of the times.
That character portrayed "The Reluctant Warrior" extraordinarily clearly; the kids in my neighborhood were all in full-on Billy Jack emulation mode for weeks after the film came out. Bead-banded hats and denim jackets everywhere. Powerful archetype, well played, even if the film was extremely melodramatic.
RIP to him.
|
The Following 2 Users Like Post:
|
|
12-16-2013, 03:33 PM
|
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: (outside) Charleston, SC
Posts: 31,000
Likes: 41,665
Liked 29,249 Times in 13,829 Posts
|
|
He was independent...
Quote:
Originally Posted by Smoke
I've seen a couple interviews with him after Billy Jack and his politics seemed very odd to me. He was trying to run for President ant one point. Having said that I'm sorry to hear of his passing
|
Independent. I guess that word describes him pretty well. He was always against whatever 'system' he was involved with at the time. I had no idea that he was 82. And he ran for President three times, many years apart. One election he was a democrat and the next he was a Republican.
Well, R.I.P. Billy Jack
|
12-16-2013, 05:18 PM
|
US Veteran
|
|
|
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Central Texas
Posts: 2,601
Likes: 8,743
Liked 1,813 Times in 797 Posts
|
|
I liked his movies. Not great, but not bad either.
|
12-16-2013, 05:27 PM
|
US Veteran
|
|
|
Join Date: May 2010
Location: North Central Florida
Posts: 5,947
Likes: 24,644
Liked 6,195 Times in 2,575 Posts
|
|
Billy Jack was where I first heard the expression, "This sucks," for what that's worth.
|
The Following User Likes This Post:
|
|
12-17-2013, 11:17 AM
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: indiana
Posts: 481
Likes: 0
Liked 189 Times in 79 Posts
|
|
well ....
its just too bad.
always enjoyed watching his movies , the first billy jack & born losers being the best in my opinion .
sorta like clint or bronson , liked the idea of one invincible person able to stand alone & fight the bad guys..... even with un-real odds !!
hard to believe he was 82
will miss him
|
12-24-2013, 12:51 AM
|
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: (outside) Charleston, SC
Posts: 31,000
Likes: 41,665
Liked 29,249 Times in 13,829 Posts
|
|
Billy Jack kicked......
Quote:
Originally Posted by rock n roll kid
its just too bad.
always enjoyed watching his movies , the first billy jack & born losers being the best in my opinion .
sorta like clint or bronson , liked the idea of one invincible person able to stand alone & fight the bad guys..... even with un-real odds !!
hard to believe he was 82
will miss him
|
Billy Jack kicked butt.....literally.
|
12-24-2013, 01:08 AM
|
Banned
|
|
|
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 20,895
Likes: 85,108
Liked 22,838 Times in 10,553 Posts
|
|
I remember watching only one of his movies-which was one of those Billy Jack movies. Being it was so long ago, all I remember from the movie was to see him throw away his rifle which *issed me off.
|
12-24-2013, 01:18 AM
|
US Veteran Absent Comrade
|
|
|
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Missouri
Posts: 3,941
Likes: 4,106
Liked 2,582 Times in 1,106 Posts
|
|
I watched part of Billy Jack several years ago.
To paraphrase, he said something about a country that won't even put the same licenses on guns as they do on cars. That is a rough approximation of what he said. Anyway I lost interest in him and his movies at that point.
__________________
Regards, Ron
USASA 1965/69
|
The Following User Likes This Post:
|
|
12-24-2013, 01:33 AM
|
Banned
|
|
|
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 20,895
Likes: 85,108
Liked 22,838 Times in 10,553 Posts
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by RonJ
I watched part of Billy Jack several years ago.
To paraphrase, he said something about a country that won't even put the same licenses on guns as they do on cars. That is a rough approximation of what he said. Anyway I lost interest in him and his movies at that point.
|
Same for me when he swung that rifle away and they kept repeating that: "give peace a chance" line. I never did like Americans doing any anti-American stuff.
|
The Following 2 Users Like Post:
|
|
12-24-2013, 01:43 AM
|
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Twin Cites, Minnesota
Posts: 5,154
Likes: 10,997
Liked 10,883 Times in 3,281 Posts
|
|
^^^ The guy was no one to admire, IMHO.
|
The Following 2 Users Like Post:
|
|
12-24-2013, 01:52 AM
|
Banned
|
|
|
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 20,895
Likes: 85,108
Liked 22,838 Times in 10,553 Posts
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Warren Sear
^^^ The guy was no one to admire, IMHO.
|
Im glad they played more Duke, Clint and Heston movies on local stations than any others.
Ill need to look up his movies and maybe try another title?? Anyway, it is sad to see them pass into history.
BTW, Ike's son--just passed away. He graduated from West Point on D-Day. Patton and Bradley would not let him see combat. He got his wish in Korea though.
|
|
Posting Rules
|
|
|
|
|