Films/DVD Asylum

• OK the guesses are gettin' good! But my answer is: clarkjohnsen 11:10:54 06/02/01 (6)
  In Reply to: What was the first indie film? posted by clarkjohnsen on May 31, 2001 at 16:49:43:

  Billy Jack!

  Tom Laughlin wrote, directed and starred in this initially ill-fated, totally self-financed 1971 film. It opened and shut within a couple weeks. A later (can't recall exactly how long) and highly-self-publicized release got it shown on dozens of independent screens like the Orson Welles in Cambridge, where its popularity soon migrated to general release. There were two subsequent films in the series, the last of which I believe did *not* achieve theatrical release.

  There was also a prologue, made in 1967, called Born Loser.

  I've seen Billy Jack twice and, absent its semi-cartoonish villains, it stands up quite nicely. And now: All four are out on DVD with (I read) Laughlin's extensive commentary.

  clark
  
  

  ---

  • Well, Billy Jack was certainly independent. john dem 19:18:36 06/02/01 (4)
    In Reply to: OK the guesses are gettin' good! But my answer is: posted by clarkjohnsen on June 02, 2001 at 11:10:54:

    t was independent of any semblance of:

    Directorial skills
    Plot
    Script

    One scene I dearly love, I can't remember if it was the first or second Billy Jack film (they seem to blur into one big repressed memory) was where the kid
    with the prosthetic claw-like hand gets taught how to play the guitair ! LOL!!!! Was that just before the police opened fire in a Waco frenzy? Anyway,
    there are few films where I cheer, but when the "baddies" opened fire I openly said "hoo- fucking -ray!" along with many others in the bemused audience.

    One (or two?) to forget.

    
    
    

    ---

    • Re: Well, Billy Jack was certainly independent. TAFKA Steve 15:36:56 06/03/01 (1)
      In Reply to: Well, Billy Jack was certainly independent. posted by john dem on June 02, 2001 at 19:18:36:

      But if Tom Laughlin would have winked his "brown eye" and eaten fresh dog poop, it would have been an artistic achievement, right?

      And Coven's "One Tin Soldier" stole the melody from Pachebel's Canon.

      This is why I chose "Sweet Sweetback": to show how THE MAN took advantage of a brother.
      
      

      ---

      • The big studios would never buy it. john dem 15:50:11 06/03/01 (0)
        In Reply to: Re: Well, Billy Jack was certainly independent. posted by TAFKA Steve on June 03, 2001 at 15:36:56:

        "But if Tom Laughlin would have winked his "brown eye" and eaten fresh dog poop, it would have been an artistic achievement, right?"

        Hmmm...I don't think anyone has ever accused John Waters of artistic achievement.

        But the thought of Billy Jack Vs Divine, co- directed by Waters and Laughlin, now that I would have paid good money to see !

        Damn the studio system ! There's a huge market for Indie- crossover films but alas we can only dream....

        
        
        

        ---
    • That's just a typical right-wing kneejerk reaction... clarkjohnsen 14:01:00 06/03/01 (1)
      In Reply to: Well, Billy Jack was certainly independent. posted by john dem on June 02, 2001 at 19:18:36:

      ...to a film that beautifully portrayed the radical (if slightly hippy) resistance to the government's repressive protocols, the centerpiece of which was a "free school" a la Summerhill that didn't inculcate the sort of non-thinking you and your reactionary, bomb-tossing, doctor-killing buddies engage in.

      There, that felt good!

      clark
      
      

      ---

      • LOL- It wasn't their politics I didn't like ! john dem 15:07:57 06/03/01 (0)
        In Reply to: That's just a typical right-wing kneejerk reaction... posted by clarkjohnsen on June 03, 2001 at 14:01:00:

        It was the crappy acting !

        Or was it the self- indulgent preaching ?

        Or was it the "make love not war" sentiments while Billy karate- kicks the crap out of people ?

        Or was it the kid playing guitar with the claw- hand ? Yep, it was the kid- I was sure the strings would break and put out someone's eye- my hostlity reflects my disappontment at this potentially gruesome scene being overlooked.

        Plot Summary:

        GOVERNMENT/ COPS= BAD
        HALF INDIAN, EX GREEN BERET, KARATE EXPERT, VIOLENT PSYCHOTIC WITH PEACENICK PRETENSIONS= GOOD
        
        

        ---
• w/o looking stupider than I am Randy Bey 21:51:28 06/01/01 (0)
  In Reply to: What was the first indie film? posted by clarkjohnsen on May 31, 2001 at 16:49:43:

  how do you define "indie film"?
  Would that be independent film? Independent of what? Big studios? Any studio?
  Actors? Screenplay? Music?
  
  

  ---
• C'mon you guys... clarkjohnsen 11:53:45 06/01/01 (5)
  In Reply to: What was the first indie film? posted by clarkjohnsen on May 31, 2001 at 16:49:43:

  That "indie" moniker means it not only had to be more recent than the guesses below, but also conform to a certain strategy, viz., lowish budget, no studio support, largely a one-man show BUT a success in exhibition (and therefore we know of it).

  Hint on my entrant: From the seventies.

  clark
  
  

  ---

  • "Sweet Sweetback's Baad Asssss Song"? TAFKA Steve 05:40:41 06/02/01 (0)
    In Reply to: C'mon you guys... posted by clarkjohnsen on June 01, 2001 at 11:53:45:

    Director/writer/producer/actor/bottlewasher Melvin Van Peebles went to college in my home town.
    
    

    ---
  • 70's ?- Definitely Pink Flamingos nt john dem 16:55:38 06/01/01 (1)
    In Reply to: C'mon you guys... posted by clarkjohnsen on June 01, 2001 at 11:53:45:

    
    
    

    ---

    • That's good... clarkjohnsen 11:12:19 06/02/01 (0)
      In Reply to: 70's ?- Definitely Pink Flamingos nt posted by john dem on June 01, 2001 at 16:55:38:

      ...but more of a "cult" or "underground" than a true indie, which achieves theatrical release and earns some money.

      clark
      
      

      ---
  • "Harold and Maude"? (nt) TAFKA Steve 12:09:09 06/01/01 (0)
    In Reply to: C'mon you guys... posted by clarkjohnsen on June 01, 2001 at 11:53:45:

    .
    
    

    ---
  • Was it Looking for Mr. Goodbar? Aurelio S. 12:01:07 06/01/01 (0)
    In Reply to: C'mon you guys... posted by clarkjohnsen on June 01, 2001 at 11:53:45:

    Just a wild guess since it was on IFC a few days ago.

    AS
    
    

    ---
• Birth of a Nation Doug Schneider 23:36:04 05/31/01 (0)
  In Reply to: What was the first indie film? posted by clarkjohnsen on May 31, 2001 at 16:49:43:

  According to the book "Celluloid Mavericks" it's "Birth of a Nation."
  
  

  ---
• "Squaw Man" (nt) SR 22:52:45 05/31/01 (0)
  In Reply to: What was the first indie film? posted by clarkjohnsen on May 31, 2001 at 16:49:43:

  nt
  
  

  ---
• Re: What was the first indie film? TAFKA Steve 22:11:14 05/31/01 (0)
  In Reply to: What was the first indie film? posted by clarkjohnsen on May 31, 2001 at 16:49:43:

  Melies "A Trip To The Moon" (1902)? Just a guess.
  
  

  ---

This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors:

VH Audio

---

[ Top of Page ] [ Contact Us ] [ Support/Wish List ] [ Copyright © 2024, Audio Asylum, all rights reserved ]

---

[ General ] [ Speakers ] [ Tubes ] [ Vinyl ] [ Digital ] [ Hi-Rez ] [ Video Asylum ] [ Cables ] [ Tweaks/DIY ] [ Music ] [ Films ]

---