Billy Jack: The Complete Collection (1967-1977)

[Akijama]

Source: Amazon

[kidglov3s]

Ha ha, a karmic gift to me personally for loaning a coworker my copy of Billy Jack yesterday.

Trial of Billy Jack will be ****ing awesome on Blu-ray.

[jvonl]

I just looked this morning to see if Billy Jack was on blu, and now this! Thanks, Shout! Factory....

[baheidstu]

I've never been a huge Billy Jack fan but this release is welcome nonetheless. I actually liked Born Losers better than Billy Jack. I never bothered with the other two films. I remember at one point (probably around the time of On Deadly Ground) that Steven Seagal would be perfect for a Billy Jack remake.

[Akijama]

It's January 31, btw. Just noticed the mistake.

[Zillamon51]

I've only seen Billy Jack, never got around to the others. So I'm definitely interested in this.

[Akijama]

New date: February 7



Extras. TBA

Synopsis

Experience the legend like never before!

These four groundbreaking, action-packed classics from '70s pop culture icon Billy Jack feature all of the fast-kicking, politically aware stories that had audiences cheering. Influencing action films for decades, the Billy Jack films broke the mold with their unique hero, a half-American Indian/half white ex-Green Beret bent on correcting injustice and hypocrisy to help America reach its full potential.

BORN LOSERS
1080p High-Definition Widescreen (1.85:1)/DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and Mono/1967/Color/PG/113 minutes

BILLY JACK
1080p High-Definition Widescreen (1.85:1)/DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and Mono/1971/Color/PG/114 minutes

THE TRIAL OF BILLY JACK
1080p High-Definition Widescreen (2.35:1)/DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and 2.0 Stereo/1974/Color/PG/170 minutes

BILLY JACK GOES TO WASHINGTON
1080p High-Definition Widescreen (2.35:1)/DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and 2.0 Stereo/1977/Color/Not Rated/155 minutes

[Thomas Irwin]

Still the best crescent kick in cinema.



I already own the original Image release of the first film, but will very gladly upgrade my DVD's of the entire set.

[SinistarPro]

Originally Posted by Thomas Irwin

I already own the original Image release of the first film, but will very gladly upgrade my DVD's of the entire set.

Same here. I'm definitely looking forward to this release, and what a great way to start off the new year.

[filmczy]

All that's missing is "loaded with hours of bonus features."

[Crimson King]

Billy Jack has Howard Hesseman in an early role, he is billed as Don Sturdy.
He was a member of The Committee back then.
Some trivia, in the scene below, both Hesseman and Clark Howat (the sheriff) both appeared on Dragnet.

https://youtu.be/lkoWOosMt6k

[Crimson King]

Maybe SF will include this is an extra.

[reason108]

I wonder if this will include the television edit of The Trial of Billy Jack? Maybe my memory is all messed up at this point but it seems that I remember that the movie was edited into Billy Jack Goes to Washington. At least, I think it was those two films edited together as one shorter film. Or, was it that Billy Jack was edited with The Trial of Billy Jack? I remember when those films came out in the theater/drive-in and being so excited seeing the commercials on TV. Not sure if my parents let me go see these on the big screen but sure did watch them a lot on the TV (edited for content, of course).

[Crimson King]

Will be interesting if the full 155 minute cut of BJGTW will be on this set, the one on the old dvd sets run 114 min.
Suzanne Somers was in the 155 min cut but not in the 114 min one, yet her name is still in the credits.

[Movieman66]

Originally Posted by Crimson King

Will be interesting if the full 155 minute cut of BJGTW will be on this set

Yes, it will be the 155 minute uncut version.

Originally Posted by filmczy

All that's missing is "loaded with hours of bonus features."

Shout hasn't announced the list of bonus features yet. I expect the commentary tracks for the first three films from the DVD set to be on there. The Commentary for the fourth film sounds iffy since they used the shorter cut of the film for the DVD.

The release date has been moved to March 28, 2017. Orders from ShoutFactory.com will still have two weeks early shipping.

[Crimson King]

Pretty sure son Frank Laughlin is gonna be in charge of this release, as he was involved with the Ventura and Image releases in the past.

A feature length documentary of the franchise would be awesome, as would be some new interviews with surviving cast members.
Maybe they will unearth some deleted scenes and outatkes.
Pretty sure a Tom Laughlin tribute will on this.

[thatguamguy]

Originally Posted by baheidstu

I've never been a huge Billy Jack fan but this release is welcome nonetheless. I actually liked Born Losers better than Billy Jack. I never bothered with the other two films. I remember at one point (probably around the time of On Deadly Ground) that Steven Seagal would be perfect for a Billy Jack remake.

"Trial" is basically a big budget remake of "Billy Jack", but that allows for a sense of scope and scale that the other one lacked. "Billy Jack Goes to Washington" shouldn't be a Billy Jack movie, it should just be "Tom Laughlin Goes to Washington".

[Visitor2014]

Well, since Tom died in 2013 (in his 80's), it will be left to his heirs to figure out how to add another 10-20 minutes to the unfinished 1986 film of RETURN OF BILLY JACK.


Wikipedia has a great bio on Tom and his wife (married over 50 years, and who starred in the film).

For the recent video interview, go here:

Billy Jack (Tom Laughlin and Delores Taylor interview on his 80th Birthday Warriors Part 1) - YouTube

[DionJits]

Heads up to anyone who pre-ordered or planned to purchase this collection: Shout! Factory has "postponed" the release indefinitely. They said they are "experiencing significant delays and do not know when" it will be available.

Hopefully, it will still get a release in 2017 -- with exceptional extras.

[tomricci]

I received a cancellation notice for my order