The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia

After 1980's "Little Darlings" grossed some $40 million at the box office, everyone credited scene-stealer Kristy McNichol with its success; the teen actress then had the opportunity to do anything she wanted...and she chose this comedy-drama with country music. Why? Because she gets to sing, act sexy and tough, be soft, and do a drunk routine (which doesn't come off--she's one of the most unconvincing drunks ever). McNichol plays business-minded sis to brother Dennis Quaid, a hell-raising, skirt-chasing musician, but his scrapes with the law make Kristy turn to cop Mark Hamill for help. That's the whole plot, really. The picture is such a mess from a director's standpoint, I can imagine the editor (Anne Goursand) sitting at her cutting machine surrounded by reels of film going out of her mind. Pieces of it are energetic, McNichol is engaging, but the guys are colorless, the writing is pedestrian, and the ending is dopey instead of moving. The rather ungainly title is lifted from a 1972 hit song, which has been rewritten completely and rerecorded here. Why did they bother using it at all? ** from ****

I saw this film several times as a young teen. It's not the greatest film but it's not bad and a little bit underrated on IMDb. The country music film is a comedy-drama with a little action thrown in here and there. The movie also has a little romance in it as well. It is one of those lesser known films that I think more people would like if they took the time to view the movie.

Fans of country-western films like "Urban Cowboy", "Cole Miner's Daughter", "Crazy Heart" and "Tender Mercies" might like this film.

The movie is also a good recommendation for the people that like "hidden gems" - films that most people have forgotten even existed. Give "The Nights the Lights Went Out in Georgia" a chance one day when you are in the mood for something different than your normal film genre favorites.

7/10

If you like road movies, tear-jerkers and real rock'in country music,u will just loooove this flick ! One of my favorites. I wish I could find a decent soundtrack in any format. My VHS copy seems to be a copy of a copy of a copy ie not the best quality... I watch this movie every 2 years.....The cast is great and the acting is too. In the old days one went to the flicks to cry, laugh & be moved or excited. This ones does it for me ! I particularly like one of the first scenes (filmed from hi up in a 'copter, showing their red truck rolling down the hi-way with guitar music blasting ! (well I do put the sound up real LOUD...). The only thing missing is me following behind on my 1939 red Indian Chief !

Dennis Quaid plays Travis Child a skirt-chasing (yet lovable) guy who is constantly sleeping with married women and getting in trouble with the law. His sister straight arrow Amanda (Kristy McNichol) tries to keep him out of trouble but can't do it. She tries to get policeman Conrad (Mark Hamill) to help her...but has Travis gone too far?

If you've heard the title song you basically know the outcome. This is a dull, totally predictable, by the numbers drama. I was one of the few people who actually paid money to see it in a theatre in 1981. I remember the snickers coming from the audience during the "dramatic" scenes...especially at the ending. The only thing that made this endurable where Quaid and McNichol. They effortlessly give out good performances and make this somewhat interesting. Also McNichol play a singer and she was a good singer so she belts out a few songs. Also, in case any one is interested, Quaid bares his butt in this one. Hamill is just terrible...but it's not entirely his fault. His character is badly underwritten and he's just there to provide a love interest for McNichol.

So...this is pretty bad story-wise but worth catching if you like Quaid or McNichol. Or you can just listen to the song and get virtually the entire movie in three minutes. Pretty much forgotten...and for good reason. I give it a 5.

More vague impressions of a film from a time when the then very cute Kristy McNichol was the hot commodity on TV and film. Truth is I can't remember much of this film other than my peers mentioning it over and over again, and how it had "Kristy McNichol" in it. That was always followed by "She was in Little Darlings... have you seen 'The Night the Lights Went out in Georgia'"?

The movie itself is nothing to brag about. I finally saw it one afternoon, and really didn't quite get the whole thing. In fact, I don't ever remember a single joke or gag. The one thing I remember is Kristy's character driving around this pickup. In fact, that may have been the last shot.

What I do recall is a sappy, not so smart, quasi brother-sister road- trip film that seemed a little thin. Maybe it's because I was never a young teenage girl with an alcoholic brother that keeps me from connecting with this film, I don't really know. What I do know is that I slept through part of it.

I don't know... did this review help anyone? Probably not, but hey, for what it's worth, I can't remember enjoying it a great deal. If you're a woman who had an older brother with issues, or are a huge Kristy McNichol fan, then there may be something here for you.