Meurtre à Coweta County

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.

As a true crime buff I found this film a profoundly compelling story and one in which, considering the racial attitudes of the place and era, the testimony of two black men actually convicted a white and powerful land baron of murder. One of the two principal characters which are the centerpiece of this film is Andy Griffith who gives an outstanding performance as the self assured and dubious law abiding Christian John Wallace, owner of a great land empire located in Meriwether County of rural Georgia. The other is the late and legendary country western singer Johnny Cash as the fearless incorruptible southern sheriff Lamar Potts with a true craving for the principle of natural justice. When tenant farmer Wilson Turner steals one of Wallace's prized dairy cows the latter, along with three cronies, decide to enact their own justice on the perpetrator. They pursue Turner in a car chase across the county line into neighboring Coweta where Wallace corners Turner at a roadside cafe and viciously and fatally bludgeons him on the head with the butt of a gun. The witnessed crime comes under the jurisdiction of Coweta County sheriff Potts who after intensive investigation arrests Wallace and the others.

In the meantime Wallace with the coerced help of two of his black farm workers have already disposed of Turner's body by burning it and scattering the ashes in a nearby river. Confidently believing he has got away with murder because no body can be found Wallace and his cohorts are sent to trial but Potts and his lawmen have turned up evidence of bone fragments in ash deposits at the crime site and the accused are duly convicted and sentenced. Potts also shows his relentless pursuing of others involved in the crime by arresting Meriwether County Sheriff Hardy Collier as an accessory after the fact. Griffith and Cash couldn't have been more perfect choices for this film in their respective roles. The former, I have always been used to seeing as the smiling friendly character of "The Andy Griffith Show" and many other films, but whose great acting talents in this instance show he can play just as well the evil, corrupt and reprehensible individual at the expense of his popular image. Cash for his part as the slow southern drawl talking lawman demonstrates his capacity as a serious and capable actor in addition to his already established singing talents. I am led to believe he was chosen for this part because he resembled the original Lamar Potts. This is a film which deserves a greater audience than it has got and shows that with truth and honor justice can prevail for all as equals.

Andy Griffith gives one of the best performances of his career as the socio-pathic John Wallace who is as evil as Griffith's other great character, Will Stockdale, is good. Johnny Cash makes a serviceable lawman. (Good casting: I'm afraid that if Mr. Griffith had played the lawman and Mr. Cash the villain, this would have been a poorer movie.) There are also great minor characters such as the witches. (Yes, witches--or conjurers as they might prefer.) I never thought of it before, but this movie probably echoes "Macbeth" even if it does not quite parallel it.

"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.

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.