Meurtre à Coweta County

Original title: Murder in Coweta County

TV Movie
1983
Not Rated
1h 40m

IMDb RATING

YOUR RATING

Johnny Cash and Andy Griffith in Meurtre à Coweta County (1983)

In 1948, in rural Georgia, Coweta County is watched over by its legendary, indomitable Sheriff Lamar Potts (Johnny Cash). No felony had ever gone unsolved while Sheriff Potts was in charge. ... Read allIn 1948, in rural Georgia, Coweta County is watched over by its legendary, indomitable Sheriff Lamar Potts (Johnny Cash). No felony had ever gone unsolved while Sheriff Potts was in charge. In the next county, though, there is a vast estate known as "The Kingdom." It's ruled by o... Read allIn 1948, in rural Georgia, Coweta County is watched over by its legendary, indomitable Sheriff Lamar Potts (Johnny Cash). No felony had ever gone unsolved while Sheriff Potts was in charge. In the next county, though, there is a vast estate known as "The Kingdom." It's ruled by one man, John Wallace (Andy Griffith), whose power is absolute and beyond the law. But when... Read all

Director
- Gary Nelson
Writers
- Dennis Nemec
- Margaret Anne Barnes
Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.4/10

928

YOUR RATING

Director
- Gary Nelson
Writers
- Dennis Nemec
- Margaret Anne Barnes
Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

Awards
- 1 nomination total

Photos4

User reviews33

7.4928

Featured reviews

Sean84

Surprisingly shocking

"My momma always told me, Do what you have to do, just never let your conscience get in the way." - Wallace (Griffith). The movie is surprisingly shocking. The movie showcases both Griffith and Cash in non-typical roles; Sheriff Andy Taylor on the other side of the Law, and The Man in Black walks behind the badge. The movie is based on a true story, and most of the actors are convincing in their roles. Though the quality is rather grainy and the sound a little muffled, you will still probably enjoy it. It is similar to "All the King's Men", but only ninety minutes of your time. 9 out of 10.

7joshuahickman

Remake this Movie

I agree with the other comments, Griffith and Cash are great. THis made for TV movie is surprisingly edgy. The "N" word, which is common in the book and for that time, was used repeatedly by Griffith, who was a stark contrast to Matlock and Mayberry. My biggest disappointment with this movie is that that is was not filmed in Coweta County, or at least they didn't use our courthouse. Also, they didn't use the Old Jail in Greenville, which still stands today. I'd like to see this movie remade on location, with a Hollywood budget, and at least one major start. The most important Character that would need to be played by a major star would most likely be John Wallace the villain. Over all, for a TV movie it's worth watching.

9coop-16

Surprisingly good, well acted Southern Gothic police procedural

This little remembered made-for TV movie( based on a true story)is, in fact a taut, well acted thriller, with a rich sense of local color. Andy Griffith and Johnny Cash are, in fact very good actors, whose talents are rarely used Griffith gives what must rank as one of his greatest performances ..perhaps his most chilling since A Face in The Crowd, while Cash invests his Dogged, intelligent sheriff with quiet authority. Johnny's wife , June Carter Cash ( a fine actress, as she proved in The Apostle) is haunting as a backwoods "wise woman'( in fact, a Christian "witch")

7melchizedeknm

A story Rich in Georgia History

Being from Coweta County myself, the setting of this story portrayed this quaint southern county in a very convincing way. Johnny Cash embodies the character of a Coweta County sheriff with wonderful aptitude, and holds together the story in a brilliant manner. And with Andy Griffith in the mix, nothing can go wrong. As a required assignment for high school freshman in Coweta County, I enjoyed this movie very much the first time I watched it five years ago, and it is still a very nice watch today.

So, if you're looking for a good cinematic portrayal of southern life, this is a good pick for you.

10huron_emm

Great movie with a family connection!

I can't add anything to everyone's glowing praise for this movie and the riveting performances of Johnny Cash and Andy Griffith, I just wish it were more readily available. I was lucky enough to find a DVD copy in the short time it was released. Just to be different, mine is a personal review. My dad's family are from Heard County, GA. The conjure woman, Mayhayley Lancaster played by June Carter Cash was a friend of the family, in fact my uncle; as a young lawyer who went on to be a Circuit Court Judge for 50 years; represented Miz Mayhayley in her later years when her family tried to have her declared incompetent. She's buried in the same cemetery as my grandparents.

I know this review isn't something that will help people decide to see this movie, but others have extolled it's virtues better than I could have. It's just rare for a regular person to have a connection to a movie as good as this one, and I guess I wanted to brag about my family as well as the movie. Thank you for allowing my indulgence.

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Storyline

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Trivia
James Neal, who plays defense attorney A.L. Henson, was in fact an attorney and prosecutor in real life. He was a Special Prosecuting Attorney who won the convictions of Richard Nixon's aides H.R. Haldeman, John Ehrlichman and John Mitchell during the Watergate trial in 1974. He had several other significant cases in his career. Among his clients were John Landis (whom he successfully defended against charges of voluntary manslaughter after Vic Morrow, Renee Chen and My-ca Dinh Le were killed on the set of La Quatrième Dimension (1983); George Nichopoulos, against charges that he overprescribed drugs to Elvis Presley; and Exxon in the wake of the Exxon Valdez oil spill. Just two years after this movie was filmed, he was named by "Forbes Magazine" as one of the five best trial lawyers of 1985.

Goofs
Courtroom scenes show Georgia flag incorporating Confederate battle flag. Movie takes place in 1947; this flag wasn't adopted until 1956.

Quotes
Sheriff Hardy Collier: Sheriff Potts paid me a visit this morning.
John Wallace: Yeah? Wha'd he want?
Sheriff Hardy Collier: What he wants is the man who killed Wilson Turner.
John Wallace: Is that what's go you so bothered?
Sheriff Hardy Collier: Real bothered!
John Wallace: Well, Turner was nothing but thieving, weasely, white trash. What kinda man gonna go breakin' a sweat over the likes of him?
[chuckles to himself]
Sheriff Hardy Collier: Lamar Potts.
John Wallace: The man was insolent ... stole from me. I let him get away and every dirt farmer I got's gonna wanna start helping himself to my possessions. I had to kill Turner, it was business, Potts oughta understand that.
Sheriff Hardy Collier: Don't see things that way, John. Now if you don't walk right, Potts'll come atcha, and he keeps coming ... hey, you member the field hand that killed his wife and chopper her legs off? Now, Potts tracked him all the way to Kansas and yanked him outta a wheat field!
John Wallace: That was a nigger!
Sheriff Hardy Collier: It don't make no difference to him, John!
John Wallace: I don't believe you know who you're talking to! This is the Kingdom, this is Merryweather! Nobody round here gonna say a word against me!
Sheriff Hardy Collier: Except you didn't kill him in Merryweather! You killed him across the line, where there's Coweta wittnesses and a sheriff that won't quit. Now, I'm tellin' ya John ... if Potts can find a nigger in Kansas, he can sure find white trash in a swamp! Now, I don't know ... and I ... I don't wanna know where you dumped the body, but wherever it is ... better be hid good.