Coward of the County

Made for TV movie based on the Kenny Rogers hit record of the same name that was released two years earlier in 1979, if you know the song then you will know the plot of this film. Set in an American small town in 1941, the USA has just entered World War Two as a result of the Japanese bombing of Pearl harbour. Some real black and white archive newsreels are shown. Young men are eager to sign up for the military, all that is except for Tommy Spencer who is known as "yellow" amongst the local bullies for his pacifist beliefs. If you know the song then you will know that he is pushed until he can hold back no more. Country singer Kenny Rogers plays his Uncle Matthew, once a hellraiser, now a man of the church who has a constant supply of words of wisdom. Kenny is good fun but I don't think that I would be mean in saying that his acting skills aren't as good as his singing. Overall the cast is pretty good. As mentioned this was made for TV and as a result the gang rape scene or it's direct aftermath are not seen, merely implied. Likewise the barroom fight finale is very exaggerated with flimsy props easily breaking and it is rather amusing, Kenny seemed to be enjoying himself! Legend TV (UK) recently screened this in its 4:3 ratio, sadly the picture quality was rather poor the the film itself was a good drama/love story.

It was a good idea at one point to turn a hit song into a movie and some actually hit the nail on the head. Some failed miserable and others well let's just leave it there. Who told Kenny Rogers he could act must have had low taste in talent. Not saying it was a waste of film either. At times this movie struggles to translate the message it's trying to tell. It's main topic is rape which like the hit song of the same name is shown and how Tommy has to step up to the plate to defend his not only honor but his sweetheart.

Now Kenny Rogers playing a not so Honest preacher is something to see. I also give or gave Kenny Rogers credit cause he made movies that weren't musicals and acting had to shine through. He somehow held his own with a good cast which included his then wife Marianne Gordon.

Is it good, let's just say entertaining but it is a TV movie and TV budget's are nowhere near big screen budget's. It does have it's high points and low points and does tell the story well or follows the hit song pretty good. I felt that omitting any part of Tommy and his father was a poor choice as it was a big part of the song. It does mention it in dialogue but should have shown it for a stronger development for Tommy's character. If you are a Kenny Rogers fan this movie will serve it's purpose if not then this movie will struggle to hold your attention. Like any movie the climax will excite you as it wrap's up the movie. Other words this plotline has been told before with better writing and acting but it comes off more as a custom made vehicle for Kenny Rogers who at the time was at his peak. The Gatlin Brothers name like the song is a homage and inside joke to his fellow recording act and real life friends The Gatlin Brothers.

Now obviously this is a vehicle for Kenny Rogers popularity at the time, but it is an honest one. As a person who admits to past mistakes, learns from them, and then passes on these lessons ,this comes close to his real personality. That he was able to do this on record, in interviews, and then on film, speaks to his considerable ability to get across his views on life to his audience.While I feel he never quite matched the creative daring on his own that he displayed in the First Edition, through 1983 everything he did was a success. This movie reflects why. The script had old fashioned conservative values that most of his fan base share, and thus could make a connection with. This is a family movie about rape, and that in itself is an accomplishment. There is much to enjoy in the movie, the characters are well developed, the actress playing Becky is a knockout, and there are many in jokes for Kenny's fans to catch. Watch for his mother in an amusing cameo and his brother Lelan is there too. Also notice in the first scene that he is singing the traditional version of "Love Lifted Me". As most fans know it was a modernized version of this track that launched his solo career in 1975, and this scene (and the fact the his characters sermon is based on it) is a nice homage to that. All in all if you like Kenny and or movies for the whole family Coward Of The County is for you.

This is a somewhat low-budget, predictable made-for-TV movie made in 1981 starring Kenny Rogers - who sang the song the movie was based on a few years earlier.

Still, some movies are just so relatable that no one can dislike them.

Is there anyone who can't relate to being harassed and belittled by bullies who just wouldn't leave you alone?

Is there anyone who can't relate the feelings that accompany the bullying? Anger, shame... and guilt? That maybe you're more responsible than the bullies for your predicament?

Is there anyone who can't relate to the scene in which the bullies finally get pulverized as the same one you played in your head over and over again at one time or another in middle or high school - even if it never actually happened in real life?

A lot of people say they like Shakespeare - even though I suspect many of them just don't want to admit Shakespeare doesn't really grab them on a personal level.

Anyone who says they don't like Coward of the Country - well I suspect they just don't want to admit how gratifying it was to see what Tommy Spencer finally did - after he stopped and locked the door.

When critiquing Coward of the County, I must keep in mind that it is a made for TV movie based on a country song. I had a difficult time connecting with the "lead character" because I never was clear if that character was to be Matthew (Kenny Rogers) or Tommy. The film opens with Matthew giving a most unusual (and ineffective IMO) sermon about turning the other cheek. Why not start the film with "the final words my brother said to Tommmy"? A little more background of Tommy's character earlier in the film might have served better to draw the audience more into the character. The films trudges along with the outbreak of WWII and all the young men in town joining up and Tommy staying behind to meet Becky. It seems there was a lot of filler leading up to when "the Gatlin boys" came calling. Much of the space was filled with Matthew's shortcomings as a preacher, which had little to do with the story of the "Coward of the County". Overall, the film is good enough for TV and the acting was not bad. It is just slow at times and takes "the scenic route" in dealing with Tommy reaching the decisions that he does.