The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia (1981)

User Rating:

5.2/10   

Director:

Ronald F. Maxwell

Writers:

Bob Bonney (screen story)
Bob Bonney (screenplay)

Release Date:

29 May 1981 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Music

Tagline:

You're never too young to learn the score.

Plot Keywords:

Bar | Obscene Finger Gesture | Jail | Revenge | Jealousy

Cast

Kristy McNichol	...	Amanda Child
Dennis Quaid	...	Travis Child
Mark Hamill	...	Conrad
Sunny Johnson	...	Melody
Don Stroud	...	Seth Ames
Arlen Dean Snyder	...	Andy
Barry Corbin	...	Wimbish
Lulu McNichol	...	Boogie Woogie
Royce Clark	...	Luther
Jerry Rushing	...	L.C.
Jerry Campbell	...	Odie
Maxwell Morrow	...	Bully #1
Bill Gribble	...	Bully #2
Lonnie R. Smith	...	Bully #3 (as Lonnie Smith)
Elaine Falone	...	Verna

Runtime:

120 min | Canada:110 min (Ontario)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Canada:PG (Ontario) | Finland:K-16 | Norway:15 | USA:PG

Filming Locations:

Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA

Company:

GS Productions

Trivia:

The title was inspired by the 1970s hit song of the same name.

Quotes:

Melody Bartlett: I'm not your prize, Seth. It's over.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Melrose Place: The Night the Lights Went Out at Melrose (#7.13)" (1998)

Soundtrack:

A Little Gettin' Used To

McNichol and Quaid are worth seeing...but nothing else is

Dennis Quaid plays Travis Child a skirt-chasing (yet lovable) guy who is constantly sleeping with married women and getting in trouble with the law. His sister straight arrow Amanda (Kristy McNichol) tries to keep him out of trouble but can't do it. She tries to get policeman Conrad (Mark Hamill) to help her...but has Travis gone too far?

If you've heard the title song you basically know the outcome. This is a dull, totally predictable, by the numbers drama. I was one of the few people who actually paid money to see it in a theatre in 1981. I remember the snickers coming from the audience during the "dramatic" scenes...especially at the ending. The only thing that made this endurable where Quaid and McNichol. They effortlessly give out good performances and make this somewhat interesting. Also McNichol play a singer and she was a good singer so she belts out a few songs. Also, in case any one is interested, Quaid bares his butt in this one. Hamill is just terrible...but it's not entirely his fault. His character is badly underwritten and he's just there to provide a love interest for McNichol.

So...this is pretty bad story-wise but worth catching if you like Quaid or McNichol. Or you can just listen to the song and get virtually the entire movie in three minutes. Pretty much forgotten...and for good reason. I give it a 5.