The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia

I saw this film when it first came out in the early 1980s. I had a big crush on Kristy McNichol and just had to see this film. Somewhat an offbeat mixture of country humor and drama, The Night The Lights Went Off in Georgia starts off like a cornball comedy and ends up deadly serious.Kristy McNichol proved she could sing and was very good in "Baby Bye-Bye". Dennis Quaid was an up-coming star, and his rugged good looks, and boyish charm are backed up by his extremely well singing talents. Amazing that Quaid didn't become a country music singing star, I thought he was that good. Mark Hamill is pleasant as the love-struck cop, but it's an "ice-cream cone" performance. The late Sunny Johnson looked beautiful, and it's a real shame that this talented actress died so young.

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

I guess what makes this flick so unique for me is the fact that it was filmed almost entirely on location in my hometown....of Trenton, Georgia...which is a smalltown(Population app. 1,500) in the Northwest Georgia Mountains....the backdrop wasn't changed at all...and now I can watch this film and see my hometown 22 years ago(even though it was released in 1981...it was filmed during the summer months of 1980)....The script is lacking indeed..I'll give you that...but, it does have my favorite actor of all time(Dennis Quaid) starring in it...I've often thought if they'd made the movie based strictly on the lyrics to the well known Vicki Lawrence song..it would have been much better....But, as it is...if you aren't from the Chattanooga,Tn./Trenton,Ga. area it would probably be a major dissapointment for you....But, if you like Dennis Quaid or Don Stroud you'll enjoy it...worth watching...Dennis Quaid surprised me...He really can sing!!!

Travis Child (Dennis Quaid) is a skirt-chasing hard-drinking country singer. His sister Amanda Child (Kristy McNichol) is his tough driven manager pushing to go to Nashville. They've been on the road for six months and always on the run from jealous boyfriends/husbands or general mayhem. They get separated. Amanda is stopped by deputy Conrad (Mark Hamill). Travis gets arrested after hitting a cop.

The plot isn't anything special. The production is relatively lower grade. The movie does have two very charismatic performances. Quaid is terrific and a solid singer. McNichol is wonderful as the spunky teen with definite edge. I love them both. The country singing is pretty catchy. The movie runs a little long but it has the fine performances and Luke Skywalker, too.

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.