Macon County Line (1974)

A vengeful Southern sheriff is out for blood after his wife is brutally killed by a pair of drifters. Low-budget film set in Georgia in 1953 and based on fact.

Director:

Richard Compton

Writers:

Max Baer Jr. (story written by) (as Max Baer), Max Baer Jr. (screenplay) (as Max Baer)

Stars:

Alan Vint, Cheryl Waters, Max Baer Jr.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Alan Vint	...	Chris Dixon
Cheryl Waters	...	Jenny Scott
Geoffrey Lewis	...	Hamp
Joan Blackman	...	Carol Morgan
Jesse Vint	...	Wayne Dixon
Sam Gilman	...	Deputy Bill
Timothy Scott	...	Lon
James Gammon	...	Elisha
Leif Garrett	...	Luke Morgan (as Lief Garrett)
Emile Meyer	...	Gurney
Doodles Weaver	...	Augie
Avil Williams	...	Public Defender
Jay Adler	...	Impound Yard Man
Roger Camras	...	Man in Car
David Orange	...	1st Highway Patrolman

Storyline

A vengeful Southern sheriff is out for blood after his wife is brutally killed by a pair of drifters. Low-budget film set in Georgia in 1953 and based on fact.

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Plot Keywords:

southern u.s. | blood | kiss | rifle | cigarette smoking | 

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Taglines:

It shouldn't have happened. It couldn't have happened. But it did

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Genres:

Action | Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

1 December 1975 (Sweden)

Also Known As:

A Fronteira do Pesadelo

Filming Locations:

Sacramento, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$225,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$18,765,000

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$30,000,000

Company Credits

Production Co:

Max Baer Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

89 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The car the brothers drive is a 1949 Chrysler Town and Country convertible. Only 993 were built at a base price of $3,765 ($39,100 in 2018). In excellent condition, at auction in 2018, these cars can sell for over $100,000 - and sometimes a lot more.

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Connections

Followed by Return to Macon County (1975)

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Soundtracks

Another Place Another Time
Theme from Macon County Line (1974)
Words, Music, Vocal by Bobbie Gentry

User Reviews

Southern Gothic

Richly atmospheric, "Macon County Line" veritably drips 1950s backwoods Louisiana, in a story about two good-humored, shiftless dudes, both laid-back and basically decent, who joyride through the South, with no particular goal in mind. Along the way they pick up a young, attractive Southern belle. But a car problem puts them at the mercy of local hicks, including a White, bullying cop (Max Baer Jr.), prejudiced against Blacks and outsiders.

The plot starts out with some red-light hi-jinx, augmented by lush color visuals and great music, like the Black gospel song "Keep On Keeping On" which conveys the film's subtle theme. The slow-paced story fits the hot, lazy Southern weather. And as we get to know the main characters on their daytime journey, we sense something is going to happen. We just don't know what or when.

As night falls the tone turns ominous. Danger lurks in coincidence. And the story morphs into a kind of allegory that renders it timeless. Terrific suspense makes the last twenty minutes spellbinding ... human prey trying to escape a killer in the brushy backwoods at night, no music, just the natural sounds of frogs and crickets ... tense ... the killer is somewhere in the woods ... two people hear footsteps, a door opens, death is close at hand ... silence.

The film's visuals are grainy, which contributes to a nostalgic, dreamlike quality. Production design is authentic. Casting and acting are fine, and considerably better than one would expect for this genre of film.

I think people were surprised at the time by its success. Certainly, it could never be made today. And that probably ups its status now as a cult classic. "Macon County Line", in addition to being a fine Gothic story set in an atmospheric South, evokes nostalgia for an era and pace of life gone forever.