The Legend of Hillbilly John (1974)

User Rating:

6.3/10   

Director:

John Newland

Writers:

Melvin Levy (writer)
Manly Wade Wellman (book)

Release Date:

February 1974 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Fantasy

Plot:

A wandering ballad singer in the Appalachians meets an ugly bird-type creature, is transported back in time...

Plot Keywords:

Based On Book | Independent Film

Cast

Hedges Capers	...	John
Denver Pyle	...	Grandpappy John
Susan Strasberg	...	Polly Wiltse
Percy Rodrigues	...	Capt. Lojoie H. Desplain IV
R.G. Armstrong	...	Bristowe
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Val Avery	...	Cobart
Sidney Clute	...	Charles
Severn Darden	...	Mr. Marduke
Sharon Henesy	...	Lily
Honor Hound	...	Himself
Chester Jones	...	Uncle Anansi
Alfred Ryder	...	O. J. Onselm
William Traylor	...	Rev. Millen
White Lightnin'	...	Themselves
Harris Yulin	...	Zebulon Yandro

Also Known As:

Ballad of Hillbilly John
My Name Is John
Who Fears the Devil

Runtime:

89 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

USA:G

Filming Locations:

North Carolina, USA

Company:

Two's Company

Movie Connections:

Referenced in My Best Friend's Birthday (1987)

Very entertaining supernatural film

It wasn't till quite some time after seeing this movie that I read any of Wellman's stories, but this movie is pretty faithful to them, at least the ones I know (though I don't know if any of the Silver John stories have "Mr. Marduk" or not). I don't know if I know Hedges Capers or the leading actress from anything else, but they were fine in it, and along with them, it's full of great character actors (though I don't think that's the right term for Susan Strasberg) - Denver Pyle, R. G. Armstrong, Severn Darden, Harris Yulin (who, apart from Darden, might have had the best part, and who really seemed to enjoy playing it). Even the political stuff, like the very end (which I won't give away) doesn't seem too forced. That ending could apply to ANY time (certainly including right now), and it would be a shame for people to think of it ENTIRELY as some NIXON JOKE (though I suppose it probably IS thought of as only that). In spite of the listing, I'm certain this movie is from 1972-73.