It may seem hard to believe today, but the Nixon quote contained in this clip sparked a to-the-death war with 20th Century Fox, the studio that was going to release Billy Jack at that time.
It’s rather innocuous today, but in 1971 it was rather outrageous (for corporations) to be involved with any kind of slam against a sitting administration. But this clip doesn’t even do that. TC Laughlin (Carol) reads a quote about the need for law and order and asks who the town council thinks spoke it. The quote sounded like very standard law-and-order stuff of the day. Debbie Schock (Kit) chimes in that it was spoken by Hitler during his rise to power, and she goes on to compare it to the same kind of lock-down the Nixon administration is doing at that time.
Fox insisted the line be cut. Tom and Delores refused. The dispute left them both unwilling to budge. Fox controlled the negative (which they were ready to cut), and our folks controlled the soundtrack (which they were ready to erase). It was a true mexican standoff.
We’ll have complete details of this in the documentary.
i really admire tom and delores’ courage and bravery to stand up for their rights and for the rights of others, even if it meant putting their film, their dream, in jepardy. to me, tom laughlin and delores taylor are like john lennon and yoko ono. theyre artists, visionaries, revolutionaries, and pop/counter culture heros!
Although this happen during the 70′s, there was still the (First Amendment Rights) Freedom of Speech that must be respected and upheld. There are at time when compromises are made between a director and its distribution company. But when 20th Century Fox wants to cut a scene just because they do not agree (due to political views), it is just not right. Also, 20th Century Fox could have sent a press release stating that they do not necessary agree with some of the script and comments in the film but still supports Tom and Delores freedom of speech and artistic creation. What I learned from this scene, is that it possible for a meaningful resolution when two opposing and extreme views have a rational conversation. We are really more alike than different!
Thank you and God bless you for your kind words. They really help.
Sometimes I wish I had never heard of Nixon! At the time I thought he was a great man and great leader. I made a fool out of myself supporting him! Then I got a lot of rubbing from my so-called “friends” after he resigned! Didn’t these friends know I felt bad enough that he turned out not to be what I thought he was? Didn’t they see I was sorry and heartbroken? I only suppored Nixon becausse I thought he was good. I sure would NOT have if I had known the truth. It just goes to show you can’t put too much faith in any politican. To this day it still hurts.
I have to say, David, you are a courageous man. People tend to support political leaders in near-religious fashion never admitting mistake or even foible. We all tend to cling to ideology as if delivered from above, and demonize others who differ. As you point out, you didn’t take your position because of any ill will, you took it because you believed it was the best choice. To be so open about it takes true grit. Kudos to you! We need millions more like to you to make this a saner, more rational world. We only wish people today could be less extreme with their views, or suspect of others that don’t share them. Thanks for a perspective that isn’t often shared, but should be. It would do us all a great deal of good to be less rigid in our positions and more understanding of each other.