Skipping through the sat channels the other night I stumbled across this movie and thought I might give it a look. Having seen the original Billy Jack a few years back I figured it might be worth a few laughs if it was anything like the original. To my surprise it was much better then the first film. It had some decent scripting and Laughlin is not that bad an actor, especially when working with a seasoned veteran like E.G. Marshall. Despite a somewhat contrived plot the movie did get it's point across showing the corruption in Washington and how one man can make a difference. The movie is no Mr. Smith goes to Washington, but then Laughlin is no Jimmy Stewart and for that matter Jimmy is no Billy Jack.
24 Reviews
Not good, but nearly as terrible as I'd assumed.
planktonrules14 January 2009
Did I just wake up on some bizarro world?! How else could you explain anyone giving this film a 10 or even scores of 9 and 8? Other than to provide unintended laughs, I just can't see the Billy Jack films as capable of earning anything close to these very respectable scores--even this one, which is probably the best in the series.
This film starts on a very, very poor note. Instead of storytelling, there is a long exposition by Pat O'Brien as he explains much of the setting for the film--and it's way too much! This long diatribe about the evils of nuclear weapons and nuclear power just seemed like sloppy film making-- like a political speech instead of a proper prologue. In addition, why not have the characters talk about this in the film itself? Having this prologue just seemed like they forgot to film these scenes and instead chose to sum it all up this way!
As for the rest of the film, it sure showed a lot of hubris for director/actor Tom Laughlin to consider remaking the Jimmy Stewart-Frank Capra classic film (currently #101 on IMDb's top 250). In this version, however, instead of appointing Jefferson Smith to the Senate (a beloved icon of children across America), the powers that be decide to appoint a man with a long history of manslaughter and possibly justifiable homicides!! I certainly remember Mr. Jack dispensing a lot of mayhem in his previous films THE BORN LOSERS, BILLY JACK and THE TRIAL OF BILLY JACK! Apparently the grafters do not remember nor do they read the newspapers, and so they decided to appoint an ex-con who is famous for fighting "the man". That sure makes sense!! What's next--appointing a member of the Manson family or a rabid dog or a tomato?!
What was likable about this silly film? Well, it was finally nice to see Delores Taylor (Laughlin's wife and co-star in the Jack films) stop being the perennial victim. Finally, after three films, Billy apparently finally taught her martial arts and she, as well as Billy, deliver some well-earned butt-kickings in one scene! This actually was well done and helped the film tremendously. Also, while the film stuck VERY close to the original material (too close if you ask me), the basic story, no matter how bastardized, is still very good--so good that Laughlin couldn't help produce a reasonably entertaining film--provided you turn off your brain and don't think too much about putting Billy Jack in this locale. Plus you gotta admit that Laughlin sure seemed sincere--and infused the film with some nice energy late in the film--and not in the form of butt-kickings (I half expected him to do this on the Senate floor)! This section of the film was, at times, too intense, but at least it was NOT an exact copy of Jimmy Stewart.
However, despite some good intentions, the premise of Billy Jack taking on and winning against the evil special interest groups is silly--and also way too idealistic--and probably will result in a few laughs. While not a terrible film, it pales in comparison to the Capra film and occasionally sinks into ridiculousness. Apparently audiences felt pretty much the way I did, as this film never even made it past preview audiences and so it never received a normal theatrical release--though the film was definitely better than THE TRIAL OF BILLY JACK (which made "The Fifty Worst Movies of All Time" book). Luckily for lovers of the bizarre and bad films (like me), BILLY JACK GOES TO WASHINGTON was finally released on DVD some time back.
By the way, because the film was never released until recently, this might explain the poorly executed edits and choppy transitions. Too often, scenes VERY abruptly change and the cuts just aren't made well. In addition, the sound track was too loud and too often dominated the film. Otherwise, Laughlin's direction actually was a bit better than usual...which still isn't saying all that much.
This film starts on a very, very poor note. Instead of storytelling, there is a long exposition by Pat O'Brien as he explains much of the setting for the film--and it's way too much! This long diatribe about the evils of nuclear weapons and nuclear power just seemed like sloppy film making-- like a political speech instead of a proper prologue. In addition, why not have the characters talk about this in the film itself? Having this prologue just seemed like they forgot to film these scenes and instead chose to sum it all up this way!
As for the rest of the film, it sure showed a lot of hubris for director/actor Tom Laughlin to consider remaking the Jimmy Stewart-Frank Capra classic film (currently #101 on IMDb's top 250). In this version, however, instead of appointing Jefferson Smith to the Senate (a beloved icon of children across America), the powers that be decide to appoint a man with a long history of manslaughter and possibly justifiable homicides!! I certainly remember Mr. Jack dispensing a lot of mayhem in his previous films THE BORN LOSERS, BILLY JACK and THE TRIAL OF BILLY JACK! Apparently the grafters do not remember nor do they read the newspapers, and so they decided to appoint an ex-con who is famous for fighting "the man". That sure makes sense!! What's next--appointing a member of the Manson family or a rabid dog or a tomato?!
What was likable about this silly film? Well, it was finally nice to see Delores Taylor (Laughlin's wife and co-star in the Jack films) stop being the perennial victim. Finally, after three films, Billy apparently finally taught her martial arts and she, as well as Billy, deliver some well-earned butt-kickings in one scene! This actually was well done and helped the film tremendously. Also, while the film stuck VERY close to the original material (too close if you ask me), the basic story, no matter how bastardized, is still very good--so good that Laughlin couldn't help produce a reasonably entertaining film--provided you turn off your brain and don't think too much about putting Billy Jack in this locale. Plus you gotta admit that Laughlin sure seemed sincere--and infused the film with some nice energy late in the film--and not in the form of butt-kickings (I half expected him to do this on the Senate floor)! This section of the film was, at times, too intense, but at least it was NOT an exact copy of Jimmy Stewart.
However, despite some good intentions, the premise of Billy Jack taking on and winning against the evil special interest groups is silly--and also way too idealistic--and probably will result in a few laughs. While not a terrible film, it pales in comparison to the Capra film and occasionally sinks into ridiculousness. Apparently audiences felt pretty much the way I did, as this film never even made it past preview audiences and so it never received a normal theatrical release--though the film was definitely better than THE TRIAL OF BILLY JACK (which made "The Fifty Worst Movies of All Time" book). Luckily for lovers of the bizarre and bad films (like me), BILLY JACK GOES TO WASHINGTON was finally released on DVD some time back.
By the way, because the film was never released until recently, this might explain the poorly executed edits and choppy transitions. Too often, scenes VERY abruptly change and the cuts just aren't made well. In addition, the sound track was too loud and too often dominated the film. Otherwise, Laughlin's direction actually was a bit better than usual...which still isn't saying all that much.
Remake of the 1939 Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.
linlee15 February 2001
The only differences between this film and Mr. Smith Goes to Washington are to update it from 1939 to 1977 and to fit it into the context of the Billy Jack character. Even some of the names are the same. Jimmy Stewart's portrayal of Mr. Smith is a classic. This remake doesn't come close to living up to the original. If you're a Billy Jack fan it's worth a watch. If you're not a Billy Jack fan watch Jimmy Stewart in the original instead.
Interesting turn of events
rpniew15 June 2005
I saw this film in the late '70s at a preview in Oak Brook, Illinois. The movie was pretty well-received and even I was surprised that Billy Jack was a better fit in the old Jimmy Stewart role than I had expected. It wasn't great, but serviceable, and certainly better than THE TRIAL OF BILLY JACK. The film, as mentioned here, was never released, but has come out on DVD. Interested in seeing it again after all these years, I picked it up and was shocked. Normally DVDs have Director's Cut-type things -- more footage, deleted scenes, etc.. In this case Laughlin had cut the crap out of the film. Long scenes that helped the flow of the film and made it less --well, "Billy Jack-ish" had been cut. If Laughlin had used the cut I saw nearly thirty years ago, the film would still have worked. Instead it has become a mess. Come on, Tom, give us the original print.
Horrible Remake of A Classic
libraryguru12 April 2011
First, let me say I have always been a Billy Jack fan. I had seen the other movies several times, but never this one until now. The story followed Mr. Smith so closely that you can't help but make comparisons throughout. Tom Laughlin was an adequate actor, he and his wife were always the best actors in any of the other movies. But he is no Jimmy Stewart. And even the addition of other skilled actors (Pat O'Brien and E.G. Marshall most notably) could not save this movie. Add some sloppy editing and this movie was at times painful to watch. If you want to enjoy this story line, get Mr Smith goes to Washington. If you want to see a good Billy Jack movie get, The Trial of Billy Jack. But stay away from this trash.
watch the billy jack "franchise" crash and burn....
A_Different_Drummer4 November 2013
Warning: Spoilers
... which assumes there was a franchise to start with. Arguably, there was. In 1967, Laughlin produced Born Losers a film so obscure, even at the time, that if you wanted to see you had to -- not making this up -- find the nearest drive-in, and even at that date the drive-in was starting to fade into history. This was followed by his hit Billy Jack (sic) where the iconic tale of the soft-spoken ex-Vietnam vet who espouses peace, BUT WHOSE FEET BECOME DEADLY WEAPONS WHEN HIS SHOES ARE OFF, really caught fire. Actors? What actors? Laughlin cast his wife in the main supporting role (a performance so subdued that critics, who did not know the lady, could not tell if she was acting or simply running lines) and grabbed warm bodies off the street (so it seemed) for every other part. (Nonetheless the one scene in Billy Jack where Laughlin points to the bully's face and tells precisely where he is about to kick him, and how nothing can stop it, will live on in film history, it's brilliant). The success of BJ led to The Trial of Billy Jack which to be fair was at least as good as the preceding film, though not much better. Then Laughlin, never comfy in the role of producer or deal maker, disappeared amid rumours that he was having trouble getting financing for Billy Jack Goes to Washington. Six years after BJ, this film appeared and then promptly disappeared. It never saw a proper theatrical release but is available on DVD. The word terrible is not appropriate. You need to develop an entirely new adjective, perhaps a cross between terrible and wretched, to describe this film. The charming amateur acting so obvious in the first three is completely inappropriate in a film that is demonstrating the hubris of remaking a Jimmy Stewart role. The "bad guys" over-act and chew up the furniture, but only those tables and chairs which the "good guys" have not already gnawed on. There is an EXTREMELY MISGUIDED attempt to insert into the film the trademark "Billy Jack" brand of violence. But this takes place deep into the film, and thankfully most viewers are asleep or in a coma by this point, and are spared the horror.
Too much pontificating and political signifying ruin the last film in the series.
Captain_Couth17 June 2004
Billy Jack Goes to Washington (1977) was the last film in the Billy Jack
series. Unlike the other films where the political posturing was kept in check, Tom Laughlin goes full tilt boogie into the subject. In this virtual remake of the classic Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, Billy Jack is
appointed the vacant senatorial seat after receiving a full pardon from the
Governor. Why did they give this man a political platform I'll never know. But they did and he tries to do his best to let the whole nation know that
he's the last and only honest man in Washington D.C.
Why do we watch Billy Jack movies. Most of you will answer because he
kicks butt and takes names. But the latter films focus more on his "acting" and the metaphysical being of one's self. If you watch Billy Jack for these
reasons raise your hand. That's what I thought.
For die-hard Billy Jack fans, others beware!
Recommended.
series. Unlike the other films where the political posturing was kept in check, Tom Laughlin goes full tilt boogie into the subject. In this virtual remake of the classic Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, Billy Jack is
appointed the vacant senatorial seat after receiving a full pardon from the
Governor. Why did they give this man a political platform I'll never know. But they did and he tries to do his best to let the whole nation know that
he's the last and only honest man in Washington D.C.
Why do we watch Billy Jack movies. Most of you will answer because he
kicks butt and takes names. But the latter films focus more on his "acting" and the metaphysical being of one's self. If you watch Billy Jack for these
reasons raise your hand. That's what I thought.
For die-hard Billy Jack fans, others beware!
Recommended.
The Billy Jack Franchise Pursues the Wrong Idea
DLewis6 September 2011
I remember, as a kid, running into a bit of advance promotion on "Billy Jack Goes to Washington" in one of my teen magazines and readying myself for its release. It never came to my town, though it did surface elsewhere and quickly died; for myself, I would have to wait something like 23 years to see it, and then on a gray market VHS video version which did contain the complete film. It is an almost fully literal remake of "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" made in full cooperation with Frank Capra, with Laughlin in his Billy Jack character taking the place of James Stewart. The budget on this project was miserly compared to what was needed, and it consists mainly of long and medium distance master shots in long takes; it isn't visually very interesting and cannot help but be boring. The excellent cast plays the property professionally, but invariably the piece comes off like a sub-TV Movie of the Week affair, and way too long. I haven't seen the re-edited version for DVD, but I would think that reducing the film's length would reduce comprehension of the story as well. Nevertheless, it is to be preferred over the bathetic and ridiculous "The Trial of Billy Jack," which can be seen as reflecting the screeching halt of the 60s counterculture; "Billy Jack Goes to Washington" may likewise reflect their attempt as reintegration into the system, but that's a bit of a stretch. The 70s were not the 30s; with the Watergate matter, Americans -- for the first time -- tasted widespread contempt of the full U.S. government including the executive branch. The Laughlins failed to take advantage of that, retelling the 1930s tale as it was, with little embellishment or updating. The Billy Jack character was a significant cultural component to the era in which he thrived; it's a shame that, past a certain point, the Laughlins were unable to find the right venue for Billy Jack to continue in, having lost sight of his pioneering martial arts appeal and his roots in the Western. If they needed to remake a classic, it should have been something like "The Tin Star."
Awful Movie
gavin69429 September 2017
After a senator suddenly dies after completing (and sealing) an investigation into the nuclear power industry, the remaining senator and the state governor must decide on a person who will play along with their shady deals and not cause any problems. They decide on Billy Jack, currently sitting in prison after being sent to jail at the end of his previous film.
First of all, the premise is pretty silly. You get to appoint a senator, so you pick a man with no political experience who is serving time in jail? That just makes very little sense. But it is necessary to move the plot forward.
Unfortunately, the plot is pretty weak and is really just a ham-handed confrontation between Billy Jack and some corrupt politicians who are obsessed with building a nuclear reactor on a fault line. The plot idea is not bad, but the execution is so sloppy it seems like an amateur movie-of-the-week, not a theatrical release. Allegedly another 40 minutes of footage is floating around out there, but one has to wonder what more could have been added to this sprawling mess.
First of all, the premise is pretty silly. You get to appoint a senator, so you pick a man with no political experience who is serving time in jail? That just makes very little sense. But it is necessary to move the plot forward.
Unfortunately, the plot is pretty weak and is really just a ham-handed confrontation between Billy Jack and some corrupt politicians who are obsessed with building a nuclear reactor on a fault line. The plot idea is not bad, but the execution is so sloppy it seems like an amateur movie-of-the-week, not a theatrical release. Allegedly another 40 minutes of footage is floating around out there, but one has to wonder what more could have been added to this sprawling mess.
fourth and final in the series
disdressed122 May 2010
this fourth and final film in the Billy Jack franchise was never released theatrically.i thought it was a better film the the previous one,the T4ial of Billy jack,which i found tedious,bloated and preachy.this one is not as heavy.there is very little action.it/s more drama than anything.basically.billy jack become a senator and quickly realizes how corrupt things are in Washington.i'll leaver the plot at that.on a side note,i noticed that the run time is listed as 155 minutes,which is interesting since the version i watched was about 111 minutes or so.i also noticed on message boards that someone had seen the original cut at a preview some thirty plus years ago,and had noticed that the DVD version was cut to pieces.it would be interesting to see that version.maybe some day,that version will see the light of day.as for this version,it was decent enough.for me,Billy Jack Goes to Washington is a 6/10
TERRIBLE Movie and TERRIBLE Acting
tim0619-763-43780712 August 2013
Warning: Spoilers
I guess Tom Laughlin thought he was as good of an actor as Jimmy Stewart which he isn't anywhere close to. High school actors are MUCH better than Laughlin and his wife. I had to force myself to watch all of the movie as the terrible acting became humorous the more I watched it. I can't believe the owners of "Mr. Smith Goes To Washington" let such a bunch of amateurs do a remake of such a great movie that had professional/talented actors. I should have known how bad the movie was going to be as I thought the original "Billy Jack" movie was also terrible due to the amateur acting. Don't waste your time watching this movie or any other of Tom Laughlin and his wife's pathetic movies!
Confronting the Corporate Socialists...
poe42624 October 2012
Warning: Spoilers
As the title clearly suggests, BILLY JACK GOES TO WASHINGTON is a remake of the Jimmy Stewart film- only with a bit more kick... The prostitution of the Constitution is beautifully summed up at one point when one of the thugs working for one of the politicians who has auctioned off his seat to the highest bidder says, "Pigs get fat, hogs get slaughtered." Although Laughlin seems a bit TOO laid back in the early scenes, looking like he's about to nod off at a presidential debate, he DOES eventually get to doff his boots and kick some ***. (In an odd little scene near the end of the movie, Dolores Taylor congratulates Billy Jack for not "taking his boots off" during the course of events. It's an odd observation because not only does HE take off his boots to kick some ***, but SHE does, too- literally.) The message Laughlin's trying to get across- about the built-in uncertainties of using nuclear power- are still valid today (look at GE's Fukushima meltdown, if nothing else). Billy Jack has always been the Patron Saint of Lost Causes, which is one of the things that makes the character so enduring: we're ALWAYS going to be at the mercy of the 1%; but at least Laughlin stood up and said something that most of the spineless cowards in Hollywood wouldn't DARE. As for the movie, Billy Jack does his on-the-level best, but Bernie Sanders (or Jimmy Stewart) he ain't: he literally collapses during his filibuster and has to be rushed to the hospital (where it's touch-and-go for a while). Laughlin's Passion Play still resonates, and his AIM was always right on target. Greg Palast would've been proud.
Remake of classic Mr. Smith Goes to Washington doesn't get MY vote!
mrcaw1215 September 2016
Warning: Spoilers
I stumbled across this movie on the late, late show and recognized Laughlin and wondered if this might be one of those "Billy Jack" movies I'd heard about but had never seen. It didn't take me long to realize the movie I was watching was a remake of the classic Mr.Smith Goes to Washington as it follows the scene structure pretty closely. Horrible movie. Laughlin was so wooden in the film that I was shocked that he had enough popularity to HAVE this role. His wife, Delores Taylor, ironcially enough, vaguely resembles original leading lady Jean Arthur; only Ms. Taylor comes across more as the rural Appalachian no makeup, kinda scrawny, coal miner's wife version. It's very weird folks. It's like these two kidnapped the real stars of the movie and jumped into their roles. Veteran actor Pat O'Brien still brings a twinkle to his eye and was about the only twinkle this movie had to offer. Ironically it was a very young Lucie Arnaz (25ish) in a small role that provided an aesthetic link to the original role with her moxie fueled approach to her characterization that at least enlivened the screen occasionally from the wooden, deadpan approach NO LAUGH LAUGHLIN served up. Is there ANYTHING worth viewing? Well it has some nice shots of Washington DC National Mall with all its famous memorials and you know it's got that 1977 "look" so you can see what the cool cats were wearing. So it does have some kitsch to check out the bell bottom pants, etc. Do yourself a favor and just see the original which STILL holds up decades later!
Not The Best Of The Billy Jack Films
garyldibert15 February 2007
This was fourth and last of the Billy Jack Era however, this picture never made it to the theaters for any length of time. This picture was shown in Los Angeles as a sneak preview on April 16 1977. The next night the picture was again a sneak peak at the Admiral Theatre in Omaha Nebraska. Tom Laughlin resumes his role as Billy Jack and Delores Taylor resumes her role as Jean Roberts. While sitting in prison from the third film a Senator suddenly dies which leaves an open spot in the Senate. After the Senator death, it's revealed that he was conducting an investigation into the nuclear power industry, the remaining senator and the state governor must decide on a person who will play along with their shady deals and not cause any problems. Therefore, they decide to get Billy out of prison and give him the vacant sit. They figure by giving Billy the seat he won't give them enough trouble because he won't no anything. Billy is pardoned, released and nominated, after which he begins his duties. He soon notices that things aren't right, and starts trying to find out just what are going on. I didn't know this until I saw it in a magazine. Tom Laughlin and Delores Taylor were married. At the end of the movie, the couple kept the mailbags that were use in the Senate part of the shooting. The couple uses them on ski trips for there skis and equipment. The bags were confiscated by airport officials when they protested that the bags were property of the U.S. Mail. When this film was being shot, the Senate Scene had to be recreated because the film crew was denied asset to the real Senate Chamber. As filming progressed, Laughlin found it increasingly difficult to film in Washington, D.C. They were wrongly accused of desecrating gravesites in Arlington Cemetery. Even though it was the last of the four films, it wasn't the best. I will give this film 7 weasel stars an also will say the second and the third films were the best.
Very disappointing.
spaz4714 May 2015
Warning: Spoilers
In this film Billy Jack is appointed a Senator, and despite all that we've seen in the past films where he raves against the Government, he goes to Washington and discovers that politicians are crooked.(?????) There is only one real action scene where Jean is being accosted by some knife wielding black dudes and Billy shows up just in time to kick the crap out of them. Apparently Jean has had a miraculous recovery from her gunshot wounds in the previous film as she also removes her boots and helps by leaping through the air to land a wicked kick to one of her aggressors. Billy does do a lot of yelling in the Senate chambers, and finally passes out to the relief of the viewer, me. There are some notable actors in here: Sam Wanamaker, E.G. Marshal, and Luci Anaz; but even they can't save this film. All four of the Billy Jack films, the first two very good, seem to have a disjointed story line. It was as if Tom Laughlin couldn't keep it all straight. Too bad as there was a lot of potential in this film that was never realized.
Misplaced Populism
bkoganbing19 November 2013
Former convicted criminal from the first Billy Jack movie and focal point of a riot where a few dozen people were killed now gets an appointment to the US Senate via Governor Richard Gauthier. Only in the movies.
Tom Laughlin felt that Jimmy Stewart's character of Jefferson Smith was a proper vehicle for the expression of his ideas and so Billy Jack Goes To Washington was born. The 30s classic is given a reworking and Jefferson Smith's national boys camp is now coed and to be modeled on the Indian reservation school where Delores Taylor mentored the kids.
But now instead of a dam, a nuclear power plant is to be built and in Washington style the appropriation is once again hidden in a bill. And if you've seen Mr. Smith Goes To Washington you know pretty much what happens here. Whole chunks of dialog from the original is lifted into this film.
Another idea that had me reeling though was included, that being a national initiative that the young folks who Billy Jack is an icon want. An idea from our country's Progressive Era unearthed and better that it should have stayed buried. This film itself gives all the arguments against it, low voter turnout, special interests getting the best media campaign money can buy from Madison Avenue. George W. Bush would have grooved on a national referendum on same sex marriage for instance during the 2004 presidential campaign.
In fact I'm willing to bet that Laughlin and Taylor are rethinking that one today. Billy Jack Goes To Washington is a bad idea of misplaced populism.
Tom Laughlin felt that Jimmy Stewart's character of Jefferson Smith was a proper vehicle for the expression of his ideas and so Billy Jack Goes To Washington was born. The 30s classic is given a reworking and Jefferson Smith's national boys camp is now coed and to be modeled on the Indian reservation school where Delores Taylor mentored the kids.
But now instead of a dam, a nuclear power plant is to be built and in Washington style the appropriation is once again hidden in a bill. And if you've seen Mr. Smith Goes To Washington you know pretty much what happens here. Whole chunks of dialog from the original is lifted into this film.
Another idea that had me reeling though was included, that being a national initiative that the young folks who Billy Jack is an icon want. An idea from our country's Progressive Era unearthed and better that it should have stayed buried. This film itself gives all the arguments against it, low voter turnout, special interests getting the best media campaign money can buy from Madison Avenue. George W. Bush would have grooved on a national referendum on same sex marriage for instance during the 2004 presidential campaign.
In fact I'm willing to bet that Laughlin and Taylor are rethinking that one today. Billy Jack Goes To Washington is a bad idea of misplaced populism.
An Honest Man Versus the Politicians and Lobbyists of Washington D.C.
Uriah4324 February 2017
After an American senator dies of a sudden heart attack a top secret file is found which implicates him in a crooked scheme with lobbyists for the nuclear industry. Needing a puppet they can control to complete their deal, and concerned about populist opposition to the senator's replacement, these corrupt politicians and lobbyists appoint a person totally disinterested in politics--Billy Jack (Tom Laughlin). Yet even though the appointment is only supposed to be for a couple of months, what the insiders don't realize is that Billy Jack has his own code of values and he doesn't bend to political pressure that easily. Now rather than reveal any more I will just say that this film had some good drama but there were also several rather ludicrous scenes which really weighed it down. For example, the ending was not only predictable but was kind of ridiculous as well. Likewise, there were some parts which were also incredibly naïve and unrealistic. No doubt there will be some viewers who lived through the 60's who will give certain parts of this film a free pass. However, there will be other viewers who might have some problems relating to it and for that reason I have rated this film accordingly. Slightly below average.
A missed opportunity
pmtelefon22 February 2020
Tom Laughlin was one for the books. He was a very talented man. (I remember when he ran for president.) There has never been another filmmaker like him. I wish he would have teamed up with a strong producer. Someone who would have been able to keep his ego in check and kept Laughlin's eye on the ball. "Billy Jack Goes to Washington" could have been so much better. It's almost good. It is a great looking movie with a very strong cast. It just seems to go on forever. There is dopey action scene that should have been left out. The filibuster scene is supposed wear out Billy Jack but it ends up wearing out the audience. What a shame. Hidden inside "Billy Jack Goes to Washington" there's actually a pretty good movie. On the plus side, "Billy Jack Goes to Washington" is a lot better than "The Trial of Billy Jack".
Senator Billy Jack
AaronCapenBanner28 November 2013
Tom Laughlin returned once again as both director and star of this film, both the fourth(and last) Billy Jack film, and a remake of "Mr. Smith Goes To Washington". After one of his state senator's dies, Billy is chosen by the governor and surviving other Senator(played by E.G. Marshall) to replace him(!) For some reason, they think fiercely independent Billy will follow the party line(huh?) while attracting younger voters(Perhaps!) Of course, as soon as Billy gets wind of the political corruption in his state, he goes into Martial Arts fighting, then filibustering mode... Well-intentioned but misguided film tries to shoehorn Billy into Jimmy Stewart's Mr. Smith role(and costar Delores Taylor as Jean, his adviser of sorts). Even updated, this falls flat. Barely released, though there was a planned fifth and final film in this series that was never finished, which is a pity.
AMAZING PREDICTION OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON
Kelly Perkins10 June 2000
Tom Laughlin has an uncanny ability to predict future events. His movie BILLY JACK foretold the way action movies would go (ie. RAMBO, STEVEN SEIGAL, CHUCK NORRIS, etc.) In this particular installment of the Billy Jack Saga,the emphasis is on Washington and the way the special interest groups and power brokers have corrupted our government. It's really a prophetic film, in light of the present day situation on Capitol Hill. There is an eerie fortelling of the Vince Foster espisode.
BILLY JACK GOES TO WASHINGTON is a re-make of the Jimmy Stewart classic MR. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON, except using nuclear reactors as the hub of the plot. Tom Laughlin, as the character Billy Jack, really has a chance to prove his acting skills in this one; there is more depth of character in his performance of the lead role. The sets were very intricate and the production values a lot higher than the previous espisodes. Plus, there is an excellent supporting cast: Delores Taylor (Laughlin's real life wife), E G Marsall, Sam Wanamaker, Luci Arnez, and Peter Donat. This is a definat must see!
BILLY JACK GOES TO WASHINGTON is a re-make of the Jimmy Stewart classic MR. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON, except using nuclear reactors as the hub of the plot. Tom Laughlin, as the character Billy Jack, really has a chance to prove his acting skills in this one; there is more depth of character in his performance of the lead role. The sets were very intricate and the production values a lot higher than the previous espisodes. Plus, there is an excellent supporting cast: Delores Taylor (Laughlin's real life wife), E G Marsall, Sam Wanamaker, Luci Arnez, and Peter Donat. This is a definat must see!
An interesting period piece
DrHypersonic30 September 2005
As a Washington, D.C. native who saw this film when it was first released (and, contrary to some other comments, it WAS released in DC, playing in several area theaters), I was interested to see how Laughlin would portray the city and its political institutions. Surprisingly, he did so very well. The debt to Jimmy Stewart is obvious throughout but, having said this, his film reflected the political temper of the city in the late 1960's-early 1970's very well indeed. The dialog was not brilliant or sparkling, but there were some good lines: "Pigs get fat, hogs get slaughtered," is one I remember, referring to bribes and corruption. No matter what one's political views are, this is a film that can be viewed as escapist entertainment and, now from a vantage of several decades, with some nostalgia as well. Worth a rental, definitely, and better if seen with someone who lived through the era.
Weeeeeeee
bevo-1367825 July 2020
The third Billy Jack movie
NaranekAngmar13 August 2023
Some of the other reviews state this was the fourth and final Billy Jack movie, when it was in fact the third movie featuring the Billy Jack character. It follows on from The Trial of Billy Jack (1974) and is followed by The Return of Billy Jack (1986).
There is also speculation that the film has been heavily cut, from the original runtime of 1 55 to 114 minutes for the video release. Seems to me there is a good chance 155 isn't the runtime in minutes, but is the runtime in hours and minutes = 1h55m. The video release was 1h54m, as is the version available on streaming services. The NTSC DVD release was 1h50m, so that version does appear to have had some edits.
There is also speculation that the film has been heavily cut, from the original runtime of 1 55 to 114 minutes for the video release. Seems to me there is a good chance 155 isn't the runtime in minutes, but is the runtime in hours and minutes = 1h55m. The video release was 1h54m, as is the version available on streaming services. The NTSC DVD release was 1h50m, so that version does appear to have had some edits.
The final Billy Jack film has more focus than its overlong predecessor, even if it stands in the shadow of the massively superior Capra film.
IonicBreezeMachine17 June 2023
After a sitting United States senator dies, this rallies corrupt Political Boss James Bailey(Sam Wanamaker) and surviving senator from the same state Joe Paine (E. G. Marshall) to action to find a replacement so they can push through approval of the Willet Creek Nuclear Power Plant project. While the governor can't appoint Taylor's handpicked replacement without committing political suicide, he is soon inspired to choose Billy Jack (Tom Laughlin) believing his popularity will keep him safe politically, while his disinterest in politics will allow the passage of the dam project. As Billy unsteadily enters the halls of political power along with Jean (Delores Taylor) and several members of the Freedom School, he is taught the ins and outs of the process by his jaded secretary Saunders (Lucie Arnaz) who is initially placed their by Paine to keep Billy Jack away from the Nuclear Power Plant in the legislation. As Billy attempts to push through his own legislation for a Youth Camp for impoverished children. Billy soon finds himself face to face with the insidious political machinations that he soon fights against (sometimes literally).
Billy Jack Goes to Washington is the fourth and final film in the Billy Jack series of films written by Tom Laughlin and wife Delores Tayor, and starring and directed by Laughlin. The impetus of the project actually came about from Frank Capra Jr. Who had been trying to get a remake of his father's film Mr. Smith Goes to Washington made, including at one point a musical version with John Denver as Smith, but being met with disinterest. Capra had a meeting with Laughlin sometime after the failure of Laughlin's larger budgeted western The Master Gunfighter with the prospect of remaking the film with the Billy Jack character and Laughlin was receptive believing stepping into mainstream politics was a natural evolution for the character. Laughlin handled both distribution and production of the film independently including with his ill-fated Taylor-Laughlin Distribution, and following production overruns Laughlin was sued by his financial backers which lead to the film missing its intended Christmas 1976 release due to the film being tied up in litigation despite being completed. When the film was released it only made it to a handful of theaters (mostly grindhouses and porn theaters by Laughlin's account) which Laughlin attributed to political pressure by the Nuclear industry. Watching Billy Jack Goes to Washington is a strange experience because it is less rambling than its predecessor, but it's also so heavily built upon the original Capra film that it just keeps reminding you of a better version of the movie.
Billy Jack Goes to Washington despite a name change of who is going to Washington is not really a Billy Jack movie and is instead just the Capra movie with Billy Jack crudely inserted into the proceedings. While I can't say anything of the extended cut which seems to be unavailable (Laughlin cut out 40 minutes of footage for its home video release and redubbed the filibuster to include references to Three Mile Island), the home video cut features the same plot beats and much of the same dialogue from the 1938 film with only very minor adjustments for either inflation or replacing the subject of contention as a Nuclear Power Plant in place of a dam. The way Billy Jack is portrayed in this film he's often playing the line reads the same way Stewart played Smith in the original Capra film, and even overlooking the headscratching logic of why Bailey and Paine thought they could control Billy Jack given the character's history the character so doesn't align with this role that when something more in line with a Billy Jack film comes into play, like a fight sequence halfway through the story, you really get a sense of just how incongruous this two elements feel together especially since they've just lifted wholesale sections of dialogue that weren't designed for this character.
In terms of the actual content in the movie (at least in the abridged version that's the only one available) it is a much easier sit than The Trial of Billy Jack and at least has a central point of focus even if it's only because of a film it copied so heavily. I'll say that while Laughlin and Marshall don't quite capture the level seen by Stewart and Rains in the original, Laughlin is okay during the filibuster scene (not great but I've seen worse) and Marshall isn't a bad choice for this role.
Billy Jack Goes to Washington is an unnecessary remake of one of Frank Capra's most beloved and quoted films that's been crudely retrofitted into a fourthquel for a character who doesn't feel at place in this story. With that said however, I'll at least say it's still aligned more or less with the spirit of the Capra film. For people interested in Billy Jack I still say stick with the first two films and as for this one: completionists only, all others should just rent the classic.
Billy Jack Goes to Washington is the fourth and final film in the Billy Jack series of films written by Tom Laughlin and wife Delores Tayor, and starring and directed by Laughlin. The impetus of the project actually came about from Frank Capra Jr. Who had been trying to get a remake of his father's film Mr. Smith Goes to Washington made, including at one point a musical version with John Denver as Smith, but being met with disinterest. Capra had a meeting with Laughlin sometime after the failure of Laughlin's larger budgeted western The Master Gunfighter with the prospect of remaking the film with the Billy Jack character and Laughlin was receptive believing stepping into mainstream politics was a natural evolution for the character. Laughlin handled both distribution and production of the film independently including with his ill-fated Taylor-Laughlin Distribution, and following production overruns Laughlin was sued by his financial backers which lead to the film missing its intended Christmas 1976 release due to the film being tied up in litigation despite being completed. When the film was released it only made it to a handful of theaters (mostly grindhouses and porn theaters by Laughlin's account) which Laughlin attributed to political pressure by the Nuclear industry. Watching Billy Jack Goes to Washington is a strange experience because it is less rambling than its predecessor, but it's also so heavily built upon the original Capra film that it just keeps reminding you of a better version of the movie.
Billy Jack Goes to Washington despite a name change of who is going to Washington is not really a Billy Jack movie and is instead just the Capra movie with Billy Jack crudely inserted into the proceedings. While I can't say anything of the extended cut which seems to be unavailable (Laughlin cut out 40 minutes of footage for its home video release and redubbed the filibuster to include references to Three Mile Island), the home video cut features the same plot beats and much of the same dialogue from the 1938 film with only very minor adjustments for either inflation or replacing the subject of contention as a Nuclear Power Plant in place of a dam. The way Billy Jack is portrayed in this film he's often playing the line reads the same way Stewart played Smith in the original Capra film, and even overlooking the headscratching logic of why Bailey and Paine thought they could control Billy Jack given the character's history the character so doesn't align with this role that when something more in line with a Billy Jack film comes into play, like a fight sequence halfway through the story, you really get a sense of just how incongruous this two elements feel together especially since they've just lifted wholesale sections of dialogue that weren't designed for this character.
In terms of the actual content in the movie (at least in the abridged version that's the only one available) it is a much easier sit than The Trial of Billy Jack and at least has a central point of focus even if it's only because of a film it copied so heavily. I'll say that while Laughlin and Marshall don't quite capture the level seen by Stewart and Rains in the original, Laughlin is okay during the filibuster scene (not great but I've seen worse) and Marshall isn't a bad choice for this role.
Billy Jack Goes to Washington is an unnecessary remake of one of Frank Capra's most beloved and quoted films that's been crudely retrofitted into a fourthquel for a character who doesn't feel at place in this story. With that said however, I'll at least say it's still aligned more or less with the spirit of the Capra film. For people interested in Billy Jack I still say stick with the first two films and as for this one: completionists only, all others should just rent the classic.
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