Thirteen weeks ago we posted the post-rape scene between Jean and Cindy (Delores Taylor and Susan Foster) from Billy Jack. I mentioned how Marlon Brando stood up in a crowded theater, stopped the film, and announced for all to hear that Delores’ performance in this scene was THE yardstick by which all actors should judge themselves. He was stunned by Delores’ realism, pain, and honesty. He said it was one of the greatest performances he had ever seen on film.
Thirteen weeks later, we continue to be blown away by the clips’ meteoric rise on YouTube, passing 140,000 views. Bravo, Delores! It’s about time you started getting the recognition you so dearly deserve… even though Delores did receive a Golden Globe nomination for this performance for newcomer of the year.
Please drop by and leave a comment to let Delores know what you thought of her work.
She’d LOVE to hear from you!!
Hello mates, good post and good urging commented here,
I am actually enjoying by these.
Greeting Delores, I loved your movies, and I was heartbroken to hear about your husband Tom’s passing. I am actually from Winner, SD, myself, as I am the daughter of Mary Houlton. She said she was a classmate of yours. I believe that your movie, Billy Jack, was one of the most heartwarming and political movies I ever saw, and it really made a huge difference in my life; subsequently, many others, over the years, agreed with me. We watched Billy Jack again a short while ago, and we all gasped at how pertinent it is today as it was then. It called everyone to action, through these values. I now live on the Pine Ridge in South Dakota, and I was heartened to see that you asked for donations to go to Pine Ridge, and we were heartened to your family thought of the people here. Again, I extend my deepest sympathies for your great loss, and I will say the most loving prayers for his spirit journey. For it is now he will know all the beautiful mysteries of the spirit world. I wish the best of health to you Delores,and children, and may you have a good year for ahead.
I am not impressed by the film or by Taylor’s performance. Both seem amateurish to me. So what?
Seems to me, that the Laughlins have and had courage beyond anything I have witnessed. Most of us won’t put ourselves in the position they did to produce and show this film about persons who would not just “go along to get along.” Brando was a guy who spoke the truth and I think we ae all so tired of the BS hypocrites that these movies will stand. They are a a gift. But, remember, before you become Billy Jack, practice that Akido, practice, practice.
Oh my, how thankful I am for this scene as it helped me deal with my ordeal. I thank God for you Delores and this scene. You helped me help others also. You and Tom were Godsent for these movies which are so very much in need these days. So sad the state our country is in. Thank you again for helping. You and Tom filmed truth. Bravo for the great work you all have done. Billy Jack will live on; it has to!
God Blessings to you and family.
With love
the only reason tom and delores both didnt recieve an oscar in all catagories for their films is because it is too vividly portrayed and cuts to the heart of society and exposes too much of their falabilities in their own government and stereotyping of people. just because we dont wear a feather everywhere we go and cant speak or tribal languages fluently any more doesnt make us any less native american. i think your peformances are superb and deserved every award that could be givin.
. . .Mrs. Delores ,
I sent a note to this websight already about the Movies you a Tom made in the Billy Jack Era, the Things that you & Tom have Taught me ( and countless others) will last a lifetime . . .Life Values . . .Honesty, Integrity, Truthfullness , & Standing up for what you believe in. .. all of these Virtues You & Tom Displayed to your audience . . .myself included . . .so much so I started The Martial Arts back then and continue to practice to this Day! I have all your DVD’s of the Billy Jack Era, and watch them always , I only wish I could get the CD of back ground music somewhere , but at this Time no luck ! Anyway Thank you & Tom for being there for all of Us! God Bless! Patrick Eschenfelder ! Excellent Showman ship on the Part of yourself & Tom! Take care! Patrick!
Hey Dolores,
I’d seen this post-rape part while switching channels on TV when I was a kid, and I’ve never forgotten it (although I couldn’t remember anything else from the film, or the title). And today, someone was talking about BILLY JACK, so I googled it, and happened upon this scene. And it was, like, “THAT’S the movie!” So I rented it. And watched it again. What a great movie!
There are more eloquent people here who can praise your acting better than I can. But what I will say is, it says a LOT about your talent that a little kid who’s only interested in finding monsters or spaceships on TV (or whatever) would stop dead in his tracks and be mesmerized by you in this scene, and still remember it 25 years later. I guess Marlon Brando was right.
Take care,
MIKE
This scene, this movie, these actors/actresses; sheer genius. Raw and real, one of my very favorite movies. Thank you Tom/Delores for putting it out there.
dear delores,
someday, my biggest wish is to meet you and tom. not purely as a fan, but to also be able to tell you and tom face to face how much the character of billy jack has meant to me. hardly a day or a week goes by where I don’t mentioned billy jack. I particularly love the “when police men break the law” scene. I sure hope to meet you and tom some day. you guys really rock. don’t be afraid to shoot me an email and say hey.
sincerely,
milt marhoffer
I don’t mind saying that Billy Jack had a huge impact on me, and I don’t know how many times I’ve watched it.
But, you know, sometimes I fast forward past this scene. It’s too painful, too real, too gut-wrenching, too honest — too BRILLIANT.
That’s about as high a compliment as I’ve ever paid anybody in my life.
many thanks.
sj
I grew up watching Billy Jack n Jean.. The total love and respect for not just each other but those around them touched my very heart. Standing up for what is right is not easily acceptable to people who tend to think they are better than others! God created us.. And the native American Indians were the most respectable people, always respecting the land, and utilizing what the earth provided. Had our ancestors embraced their way of life our country wouldn’t be in the shape it is today! Your movies help touch lives, even today, that so badly need what your films represent. There will always be bullies, there will always be crooked people, but you have to look inside yourself and have the courage to stand for what’s right and what you believe. Billy Jack and Jean showed the kind of love, strength and courage that our society needs today! Jean, I cry every time I see this scene, no matter how many times I watch it! You’re emotions are so sincere and so touching that it hurts every time! God Bless you and your family!
Dolores you still give me chill when watch you act
Hey you wonderful pair of creative genius,
I grew up with the non violence, free school, Aikido (yeah I know, it was hop ki do for TL) loving VISIONS you implanted in my brain & sill remain….
You two rock in ways there is no possible way for you to know or comprehend. This gives me great inner confidence when I wonder if I made the right choice: no kids, full time magician for schools and corp events…. Did I reach anyone? I don’t know, but I know you did, and I know there is no way you could even guess the depth of you influence in my life.
In My Life….
Love,
-Steffan
A truly wonderful acting family. We watched Billy Jack on one of our first dates when it first came out.. Loved it .. passed on our love for it to our 2 sons. they adored it so much that they even named their beloved Springer spaniel King Billy Jack. ( B.J.)he lived 14 long loving years. As a very young couple and Being of a mixed race marriage the movie really helped us to teach our children how to treat others as they would want them to be treated. I can honestly say they never decribed another person by color of skin only by color of clothing.. As we all know how some people were being treated at that time in the early 1970′s, Thank God for the change in peoples attitudes over the past 40 years.. and Thank God for the Movies that were ahead of their time such as Billy Jack. and to this day both of us have “One Tin soldier” on our Ipods brings back wonderful memories of yesteryear.. Many Thanks for them…
I remember Deloris & Tom well. My father was Rolling Thunder (Pope). My name is Morning Star Pope “Bundy”. We went with dad to AZ and got parts as extras. It was very exciting and wonderful to be around so many good people. Tom’s movies have directly affected my life. Many of my friend’s and myself included saw him as our hero. I an grateful for the experience and send love to the Laughlin family.
Delores, heart-wrenching acting shown here, as in all of “Billy Jack,” by you, Tom, and all the other actors who made this movie so real, meaningful, and moving. Since I first saw it years ago, it’s one of my favorite movies. Whenever I hear the opening song by Coven, I always remember this. Thanks so much.
Delores, Your performance in Billy Jack was really one of the main reasons for it’s success. You were amazing, as was the rest of the cast. My only complaint is that you didn’t explore acting more, because I think you would have had a major career. Your performance as Jean has stood the test of time. You should be very proud of your work in this film.
After seeing “The Trial of Billy Jack”, I got into a heated debate with another reader of the Indianapols News. We bantered back and forth many times over his saying that Billy Jack was just a pothead Indian, looking for excuses to use drugs! Could NOT get him to understand that Indian culture was behind the scenes in the movie. Always have loved BJ and his real family and always will! Too bad we didn’t have more of their movies to enjoy!
I just wanted to say I saw this movie in 1974. I lived in the midwest in Mo - still do. I came from a pretty sheltered home with a passive mother and authoritarian father. I had little going for me in my life and I loved it so much. Billy Jack was a hero to the downtrodden, but he was realistic - not fake. Jean was the mother everyone wished they had. Strong without violence, and loving without shelfishness. The reason this film is such a cult classic and so loved by so many is because the kids can find something genuine in it to hang onto. Billy Jack is at times violent, but not unprovoked, only protective. He is never a bully and never unfair. The film was charming. I bought it on DVD when it came out and have all of the movies in my collection. God Bless you Tom and Delores Taylor Laughlin.
I remember that scene so well, but the whole movie met a lot to me personally. I was a Vietnam vet, and my Grandmother was full Lakota, back when being an Indian wasn’t so acceptable. I went through Sundance when we could still be arrested for practicing our beliefs and ceremonies. To me it was ironic that the USA was founded for religious freedom, but we were forbidden ours.
The part where Billy said, “Being an Indian isn’t a matter of blood, it’s a way of life” says it all.
I remember reading how much you had to go through to get this movie made and in the theaters. It still astounds me at how the studios screwed you over, and in the end, your beliefs and convictions triumphed.
In the years that have passed, the movie still holds dear in my heart. Thank you for carrying through and completing it.
Mitakuye Oyasin,
Bill
I was 10 years old the night my mother took me to the theater to see Billy Jack & I remember mom covering my eyes during the rape scene. She was so nervous being the wife of an Assembly of God pastor in a small southern town but I begged & begged her to let me go see the movie until she caved & took me. When I got older, I searched and searched pawn shops and thrift stores all over the place looking for video tapes of Billy Jack until I finally found it and I wore that tape out in one year until I memorized about 90% of the entire movie’s dialog. I have to say, the scene depicted in the clip above is by far one of the most moving and believable scene’s I have ever seen. Bravo to Delores & bravo to Marlon Brando for speaking out. They don’t make em like Brando, Laughlin or Delores Taylor anymore, that is fact. Great job by a total pro! God bless you and the entire Laughlin family.
When I first seen Billy Jack I was very young. Even though I was young, I was deeply affected by the movie, especially Delores in the scene after the rape. Her talent is amazing. And, though I have not met her, I believe she was not just acting, that she actually used her own beliefs and values.
Also, I think Delores & Tom share a tremendous love, that shines through no matter what.
Delores, thank you for influencing how I live my life and for setting such a high standard for us all.
Hey Delores ! Great to see this response.. I was a waiter at The GOOD EARTH restaurant in Westwood… I waited on you.. I remember talking about the film with you.. I thought you were nice.. That was in 1978 ! Barry
Iwas 17 when I first saw the Born Losers and Billy Jack. I still have a copy of Billy Jack on vhs but it is getting a little worn out now. I live in australia and am having trouble finding a dvd of this movie. Would love to get the Boxed set. The Billy Jack movies were very popular down under. Tom and Delores we Salute you. Great Films and Great Actors.
Dolores, you’ve been the heart of your family’s enterprises. I can see that clearly. It seems to me that whatever was on your plate you stepped up and gave a wonderful account of yourself.
I wish the family well in carrying on this legacy now. Even though i am a contemporary of Tom and Dolores i did not become aware of the movie Billy Jack or their work or their lives until 3 years ago (another story) - the real and touching love story, in my view, is the real life one of this Laughlin family. There’s a love song in South Pacific, “I touch your hand and my arms grow strong . . . . .” Now, when i hear that song i think of this couple - in my view, their lives should be a movie or, at least a book?
I agree that their lives should be written as a book, and also as a movie!!!
I can empathize and sympathize with both characters as I’ve been in both shoes so to speak. Delores, Brando was so incredibly correct, you broke the mold on that one, Honey! Wish we had more actors and actresses like you and the other cast members. Kudos, ladybug!!!!
wow, i just watched billy jack for the first time since it was first released. that’s almost forty years later!
i was struck by what i remembered and what i had forgotten.
the most amazing thing to me was i realised that the scene where he talks about one justice for all i came quiet close to plagerising in a class some 20 odd years later!
i didn’t realise it at the time, and apolgise these many years later.
and yes, that scene after the rape was extremely powerful, so real life that even after rape, she was protecting him and her kids. a beautiful performance.
I have watched Billy Jack over the years and there was another movie before Billy Jack where this character started. Delores did an amazing job at capturing the reality of the situation. The truth brought to that scene is the best that’s ever been captured in movies. To Tom’s credit I enjoyed him as an actor in another role many years before Billy Jack. He might remember portraying a Navy pilot in South Pacific. Not a large roll, but, I new he would be a great actor someday. Now as these movies come on tv, I have my children sit and watch. I make a point of the ideals that both Tom and Delores bring to the characters they portray. Thanks for your contributions to character building and thanks for the awsome films you’ve brought to our heritage. Happy 80th Birthday and many more to come.
I watched this movie years ago as a child. We saw it at the drive-in when parents thought we were asleep. It shaped my way of thinking about women and victimization. Later, I was able to translate the message to any time someone had the power to impose their will on another without an honest protective motive. By that, I mean a parent stopping a child from running in the street. Recently, I have watched the movies again. More lessons that relate to the things we deal with now. Thank you. Truth has a way of being useful throughout time.
I know exactly how it feels to be gang raped and I could always relate to this (Jeans - Delores) poignant scene..I love Delores and Toms work..Billy Jack changed my life..I carried around a lot of anger due to the gang rape in my early teens and also from the death of my partner who was stabbed to death in my late 20′s..The turning point was when I suffered a mini stroke/seizure, which turned out to be a stroke of luck when I met a young martial artist by chance who helped turn my life around and he became my martial arts teacher and then that helped me overcome my fear of knives and also being around groups of young adult males..This lead to my gift of healing which came to me whilst studying the martial arts path..and I have to this day been working with Reiki with others who have suffered post traumatic events to help alleviate and dissolve the debilitating energetic overloads and shut-down of chakra centres(which that result from these events)..to bring back peace and balance - healing
A big AHA moment I’m sure it’s no coincidence that Jean/Delores is wearing Orange - this is the colour of the sacral chakra which is the main energetic centre that shuts down when a woman/men is violated through the intentional act of Rape (Violation of the sacred Reproductive and giving and receiving in/of life Chakra)..THANK YOU Delores for giving us Jean..eternal gratitude, peace and love x
Delores Taylor’s performance in this brief scene was so intimate and so touching, I felt like I was eavesdropping on a personal conversation. To me, the only other scene in any other film that comes even close to this is Ben Johnson as “Sam the Lion” giving his monologue on growing old in Peter Bogdanovich’s “The Last Picture Show”.
I was 6 when this movie was released in ’73 , I cried on the way home because the ending was sad and the song just compounded it. My mother thought my brother had hit me, I never did tell her the real reason why. Still Tom Laughlin was HOT and I watched the movie a million times
Being of mixed heritage myself, (white, Cherokee, Chiricahua Apache, and small for my age,(born w/ only one kidney) was always picked on in school untill I saw Billy Jack. I never had the chance to learn Martial arts from a professional instructor. I did however learn to defend myself by telling myself that if Billy Jack can. so can I. Every time a new release came out I was sure to see it. Thank you both for the inspiration to stand up to the bullies in this world. And the mindset of peace and fellowship with your fellow man. This world needs the message of these movies now more than ever! Thanks again and God Bless
when I was in high school I was in the chorus, we performed One Tin Soldier at our spring concert. One Tin Soldier was and is a very powerful song,but it could only draw it’s power from the film Billyjack and from the performers. No one else could have played the roles that each played (from Thom andDelores down to the young Indian with the flower on his face when they went for icecream). Thirty three years later there is not another film like this. Thank you all for wonderful memories and valuable life lessons
i loved this movie. when i was young in the early 70′s i was the indians who were picked on beat up and degraded. i became older and took martial arts instruction to become more like billy jack and defend the helpless and be confident about myself and my life. thank you for inspiring me
johnny april- bassist of the rock band staind. 15+ million records sold.
Johnny: you’re music has inspired us. Thanks for taking the time to comment. It means a lot to us.
Delores wasamazing and right that her case and cause to live for the kidsit wouldn’t change naything and doesn’t you still have to live with it.I like what shesays near theend when he gives himself up to.It all relates .I canunderstand what Teresa means when it happened to me I wanted thesame thing -justice-revenge and for them to sufferlike idid an even thoughI never had a free school to look after shes right you have to heal learn and grow on yourown because your life is not over or has just begun.
Tom and Delores,
I was a young troubled teen when I saw Billy Jack-it completely changed my lofe for the better-much love to both of you!
that is life-so sorry for the typo…much older now and needing glasses!
Just returning from Vietnam after serving 18 months this is one movie I remembering seeing and never forgetting. We have reunions now in Las Vegas every two years and the movie of Billy Jack still comes up. As one person with a mad cruch on Lynn Baker my dreams were to sit with her and play rainbow made of children on our guitars. The song and the sound of her voice always brought peace to my heart and mind after the war. Though I still struggle with PTSD at times she still a big part of my life that helps me get through it and the strange thing is I have never met her and probably never will. Thats ok, she still close by in my heart and mind. I hope her life has been filled with all of her dreams and she still healthy and safe. Thank you soooooo much Lynn Baker…..Bruce Fogarty, Voorhees New Jersey.
I saw “Billy Jack” five times in the theater when it came out. I was astounded by the realism you brought to the role and of the authenticity of the entire film. Thank you for all the wonderful work that you and Tom have done over the years.
Hi,
The Billy Jack movies are timeless. Then again, so is truth. Thank you for these great messages.
I love Jean’s speech but since I been on that side of the spectrum when I was very young (16) I can’t help but applaud Susan Foster (Cindy) for her dramatics at wanting Billy Jack to go after Bernard after what he did, cause at that time when it happened to me I felt exactly how Cindy did but at the same time applying Jean’s speech that two wrongs don’t make a right, when you have hippy parents I guess some of their peace and love stays with you always.
I was a kid, 13-14 when I became a Billy Jack fan. THought today, we seem SO far removed from the Ideals of Decency represented in the film and by extension, by you and Tom. Kudos for the work you did. Sitting here today post my own mid-century mark, I can still hear the words you spoke on the screen. That’s a real testament to your work. Peace to you Delores. And thanks David Sharif (in later years I became a Western Sufi)
Delores, Thank You!
I was 19 in 1971 when I first saw Billy Jack. I have never forgotten it and have never tired of watching Billy Jack over the years. I will be ordering a DVD and also donating toward the documentary.
Yes, it really touched my heart! I hate any man who would rape a woman! Rapists should be casterated!
I cried at that scene. Talk about Heart wrenching.
Mom, you were amazing.