Meurtre à Coweta County

"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 watched this movie for the first time in high school at a time when I usually couldn't stand ANY type of TV movie. My dad was watching it and I just happened to be passing through as it was starting, and I was totally transfixed by this movie. I absolutely LOVE this movie. Andy Griffith is best known as a "good guy", but in this movie he plays one of the BEST evil, deluded, just-plain bad guys in movie history, big or small screen, in my opinion. Johnny Cash plays a very solid supporting role in the movie as the sheriff who will not rest until the crime is solved; but this film is OWNED by Griffith. If you see it listed, watch it, for God's sake, watch it. You won't regret it.

Some of the other reviewers have remarked surprise at the solid, serious performances of Griffith and Cash. Few people these days are aware that both these fine performers actually first appeared in film in very serious roles, Griffith in "Face in the Crowd" and Cash in "A Gunfight" - both solid dramatic films. Both Griffith and Cash have oddly complex histories as artists and oddly complex personalities as artists - far more so than many of their fans understand.

At any rate, as a TV film, this relies very heavily on the performances of these actors, and they do very well. Cash especially is quietly forceful, as if he were always holding a loaded gun but knows better than ever to pull the trigger. His character knows that to respond to Griffith's John Wallace with a vigilante's fury would be to make much the same mistake as Wallace himself: assuming that human will, and not the law, rules our fates. Since Cash's sheriff sides with and defends the law - and ultimately depends upon it - he represents a truly American heroism, devoted to country as much as God, and to the law for which the country stands. His tearing down of the Wallace empire is thus a major historical change in the lives of the people in the two counties involved - from aristocracy to democratic republic, a change as radical as the Civil War that essentially laid the foundations for it in the South.

One note of caution: Even for a television movie, I found the first third of film a bit disturbing: Wallace's casual viciousness is truly upsetting. He's not a 'villain' because he takes delight in the suffering of others - it's just that others' lives are utterly meaningless to him, except insofar as they contribute to his happiness as tools, or can be readily removed if they become obstacles. Thus his final prayer is not hypocritical - he honestly believes that all God wants of creation is to keep John Wallace happy - a reminder that just believing in God and professing Christ does not one make one a Christian - a reminder crucially important in the current era.

NOTE: After submitting the above I discovered Johnny Cash's real film debut, as a psycho killer in "Five Minutes to Live" - release date 1965, but probably filmed 1959. Very weird performance by Cash. A very young Ron Howard also appears in a brief but important role.

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.

People who enjoyed Andy Griffith's tv show need to be warned. Watching his show and then watching this riveting film is like watching a fireworks display and then seeing a nuclear explosion! He plays one of the most loathsome villians you will ever see, a man without a conscience who truly believes he is above the law and can kill whoever he wants. It is one of the most frightning portrayals of a cold-blooded killer imaginable. On the other hand, Johnny Cash is one of the most likeable good guys imaginable as the honest, dogged righteous sheriff determined to bring Griffith to justice. Cash is one of the greatest singers of all time, but this film shows off his considerable acting ability as well. Its also a beautiful film to look at with its depiction of life in the South and the photography. I see this wonderful film as almost a morality play of sorts, ultimate good versus ultimate evil. One interesting footnote, there is an actress named Cindi Knight who plays the murder victim's wife, in real life she later married Andy Griffith! This film was available on video for a while, but is out of circulation. Tape it if its on tv