Swamp Country (1966)

Director:

Robert Patrick

Writer:

David DaLie (screenplay)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Tagline:

WHERE... a man can get anything for a song! WHERE... you're never too old or too young for love! WHERE..moonshiners play for keeps! (original poster)

Plot:

In a small southern swamp town, a local girl is found murdered. A young California man passing through town is blamed...

Plot Keywords:

Swamp | Pursuit | Moonshine | Moonshiner | Survivor

Cast

Rex Allen	...	Sheriff
Sue Casey	...	Mrs. Cox
David DaLie	...	Dave Wetzel
Carolyn Gilbert	...	Nora Cox (as Carole Gilbert)
Lyle Waggoner	...	Deputy
Marian Patrick	...	Mary Cox
Kiva Lawrence	...	Mary Richmond
Baker Knight	...	Baker Knight
Vincent Barbi	...	Bootlegger (as Vince Barbi)
Joseph Raffill
R.L. Armstrong	...	Hysmith (as Tex Armstrong)
Morris Johnson
Ted Gehring
Nelson Hitchcock
Liston Elkins
George Ellis
George Roberts
Cliff Thomas
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Jimmy Walker		(as Jimmy Walker and The Swampers)

Directed by
Robert Patrick

Writing credits
David DaLie		(screenplay)

Produced by
Robert Patrick	....	producer
Jerome Sandy	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Michael Terr		(as Michael Terresco)

Cinematography by
Mario Tosi		(director of photography)

Camera and Electrical Department
Robert Caramico	....	assistant camera
Gerardo H. Wenziner	....	cinematographer: second unit (as Jerry Wenziner)
Tankred Wenziner	....	assistant camera

Production Companies

• Patrick-Sandy Productions

Distributors

• Paragon Video Productions (1985) (USA) (VHS)
• Something Weird Video (SWV) (2002) (USA) (DVD) (special edition)
• Something Weird Video (SWV) (????) (USA) (VHS)

Runtime:

93 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Filming Locations:

Okefenokee Swamp Park - U.S. 1 South, Waycross, Georgia, USA

Company:

Patrick-Sandy Productions

Soundtrack:

You Turn and Walk Away

1966 regional semi-musical curiosity

When a boozy blonde floozy is found strangled in her Swamper Motel room, a heavy-set visiting Californian--scenarist David DaLie, such unlikely and uncharismatic screen-hero material it's no wonder he wrote the part for himself (who else cast him?)--unwisely goes running into the surrounding swamplands rather than defend his innocence. (We know he simply left his own motel room to check out the woman's screams, albeit too late to save her. So why would he bolt?) Strapping Lyle Waggoner, later famous on "The Carol Burnett Show" and "Wonder Woman," plays the local sheriff's deputy, his hair highly shellacked.

But the coolest thing about "Swamp Country" is that white bluesman, songwriter and cult musician Baker Knight plays a sort of Greek chorus--singing songs that comment on the action as a layabout who plays in the local bar and anywhere else he pleases. Knight is no actor or much of a looker, either. He still provides a wonderfully sly presence, musically and otherwise, to this eccentric film. His character is eventually kidnapped by Italian-American mobsters seeking to take over the local moonshining biz. He's also Sheriff Jim's romantic rival for the affections of flame-haired Nora.

This is an offbeat, surprisingly polished regional production (to think that primitive B&W Southern drive-in camp classic "Shanty Tramp" came a year later!) whose idiosyncrasies charm. For (threadbare) suspense, it offers peril by bear attack (wait...there are bears in Okefenokee?), quicksand, 'gator, panther (wait...there are panthers in Okefenokee?), and plain old bad people. Its improbabilities include an allegedly 10-year-old tomboy whose older sis looks about two years younger than their slutty 40-ish ma.

This widescreen movie looks great in Something Weird's transfer, with vivid color despite some streaking. There's a cool score and great songs by Knight. It's a pretty silly film but a fun one.