entertarneIt WHITBY FREE PRESS, Thursday, May 25, 1972, Page 3 guide -N0W AT THE BROCK THEATRE "Billy Jack" the Simple Truth! The thing that marks "Billy Jack", opening today (Thursday, May 25) at the Whitby Brock Theatre in techni- colour, most of all is the honesty and integrity of the film. At preview after preview, in city after city, the film, s t a r r i ng Tom Laughlin and Delores Tay l o r , has been the subject of an i n c r e dible response to the complete and utter honesty of its story and pre- sentation. A Dedication to Truth And t h i s quaiity of integrity and honesty was no accident, but a design by al 1concerned with making "Billy Jack" both behind and before the cam- era. For it was the conviction of the cr ea to rs of the film that it woul d "work" best through dedication to truth. When time came to cast the film being released by Warner Bros. , the producers sought for and found new- comers capable of bringing a special fresh quality to the screen. The per- formers were discovered in ail kinds of places: i n drama schools, i n the towns selected as locations, and often justwalkingdown a street at the right m o m en t. These new faces again add to the complete real ity and truth which mark ail of "Billy Jack". Seasoned Perf orners Seasoned per formers also were sel ected for proper parts and the s p e c iai qualities of Tom Laughlin as Bi ly Jack, t h e h a if-indi an, former Green Beret, and Delores Taylor as Jean, the anti-violence director of the school, have been particularly highly praisedby those viewing "Billy Jack" at the many special showings. T h e songs t h a t are sung and the special hilarious episodes which have created such outstanding audience re- action are memorable because they are the creations of the performers THEM- SELVES. Each actor or actress sings h i s or h e r own composition and the comedy episodes a r e enacted b y the Committee, the improvisational group which created the satirical scenes of the film on a completely on-the-spot, off-the-cuff basis. Therearemanyhighlights in "Billy Jack", but two scenes stand out in par- ticular, for e a ch in its own way un- derliines the kind of tr aining and under - standing and sensi tivi ty which had to be at work to assure the validity audien- ces have noted. Tom Laughlin. Some people cali him Billy Jack... and, like Billy Jack, nobody really knows much about him. Intelligent, sensitive and something of a misfit, he also explodes suddenly and violently... resulting on one occasion in the most exciting karate fight ever filmed. In France they say he's a combination Marlon Brando and Gary Cooper. Minneapolis' Ben Kern described him as coming on with the controlled fury of a James Cagney and the agility of a Douglas Fairbanks. Whichever-Tom Laughlin clearly is the most masculine and exciting new star of the 70's. "Billy Jack" will make you laugh... think... and will give you hope for your children's future. Above ail, what happens to Tom Laughlin in "Billy Jack" will make you angry .. . even make you furious...or, if you're a woman - break your heart. One scene is undoubtedly the kar- ate sequence. In this memorable pôr- tionof the film, Mr. Laughlin as Billy Jack is chaillenged and surrounded by a group of town toughs. It is a grim moment, but through the art of "hap- continued on page 4 P.LOTSETO 0 -ECTION..k entertai....n ment Sales 24 months eor 24,000 miles Warranty Service OWASCO VOLKSWAGEN LTD. WHITBY - OSiAWA Body Shop 1425 Q.UNDAS STREET EASTWHITSY ONTARIO TEL. 668-9383 -4 «mwowwmm%ý m