MtheGM, I kinda doubt it.
Laughlin and his wife were very good at shaping the publicity around the BJ films, and tightly promoted the films to the American "not quite a hippie" market of squares like me, who imagined that they were in tune with the natural universe because they hated war and stuff.
I think he didn't consider the British market his target audience.
His ad campaign showed bunches of folks leaving the theater proclaiming that it was one of the best films ever. The fact that many of those interviewed for the ad were part of the production staff did not detract from its effectiveness.
FWIW Almost everything I find lame in Billy Jack I also disdain in Alice's Restaurant...except the music was better in Alice's Restaurant
Jeri-agreed.