Movie Cosmos - Murder in Coweta County

Description:

Wallace a wealthy landowner in Meriwether County, Georgia, has virtually unlimited power in the county, including having the sheriff under his control. When he murders a share cropper he thinks that he is powerful enough to get away with it. Because the act of murder took place in Coweta County, it is under the jurisdiction of the Coweta County sheriff who hunts the murderer without trepidation.

Top Cast >

Johnny Cash

As Lamar Potts

Andy Griffith

As John Wallace

Earl Hindman

As J.H. Potts

Ed Van Nuys

As Huddleston

Robert Schenkkan

As Wilson Turner

Jo Henderson

As Josephine Wallace

Daniel Keyes

As Elzie Hancock

Danny Nelson

As Sheriff Hardy Collier

Norman Matlock

As Albert Brooks

Brent Jennings

As Robert Lee Gates

June Carter Cash

As Mayhayley Lancaster

James Neale

As A. L. Henson

Earl Poole Ball

As Steve Smith

Dan Biggers

As Judge Boykin

Marc Clement

As J.C. Otwell

Bill Crabb

As Strickland Cousin

Stuart Culpepper

As Tom Strickland

Charles Darden

As Gas Thief

Doug Dillingham

As Deputy #2

Bobby Dunn

As Liquor Runner

Clara Dunn

As Sally Lancaster

J. Don Ferguson

As Jim Hillin

Wilbur Fitzgerald

As Prosecutor

Harry George

As Mobley's Attorney

James Oliver Griffin

As Strickland's Attorney

Ellen Heard

As Mrs. Eula Baker

Harry Howell

As Sivell's Attorney

Hugh Jarrett

As Millard Rigsby

Rebecca Jernigan

As Irene

Ray Johnson

As Bailiff

Cindi Knight

As Julia Turner

Victor Langdon

As Deputy #1

Evan E. Lee

As Tommy Windham

Wallace Merck

As Sheriff Threadgill

Elijah Perry

As Herring Sevill

Larry Quackenbush

As Jury Foreman

Nolin Randolph

As Luther

Burt Slade

As Warden

Bea Swanson

As Vivian

Betty S. Talmage

As Geneva Yeager

Walter Wilder

As Woody

Wallace Wilkinson

As Woodsman

Don Young

As Minister

Top Crew >

Gary Nelson

Director

Dennis Nemec

Writer, Producer

Margaret Anne Barnes

Book

Lloyd N. Adams Jr.

Executive Producer

Dick Atkins

Producer

Michael Lepiner

Executive Producer, Producer

Larry Pizer

Director of Photography

Eric Albertson

Editor

Stuart Wurtzel

Production Design

Christian Kelly

Set Decoration

Peggy Farrell

Costume Design

Brad Fiedel

Original Music Composer

Reviews:

Wuchak (7/10)

Crime drama set in Georgia of the late 40s with Andy Griffith and Johnny Cash

In 1948, a wealthy landowner in Meriwether County (Griffith) controls the Sheriff and the citizens, but when he flaunts his power in neighboring Coweta County, the no-nonsense Sheriff comes after him (Cash).

“Murder in Coweta County” (1983) is a well-done period piece based on the true story, also called “Last Blood.” It’s similar to “Mississippi Burning,” which came out five years later (and no doubt influenced it), just with the television budget of “Murder in Mississippi” (1990), which is the unofficial prequel to that more famous theatrical film.

Johnny’s wife, June Carter Cash, has an interesting role as a backwoods Christian seer. John Wallace (Griffith) visiting her in desperation is reminiscent of King Saul going to the witch of Endor in the Bible (1 Samuel 28).

Griffith is effective in the rare role of the antagonist, which he proved he could do 9 years earlier in another worthwhile TV production, “Pray for the Wildcats.”

The movie runs 1 hour, 40 minutes, and was shot in the heart of Georgia in areas south of Atlanta; specifically, Monticello (street scenes, exterior scenes and the historic downtown square), Zebulon (courthouse exterior) and Greenville.

GRADE: B

2024-06-20