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IMDbPro

The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia

  • 1981
  • PG
  • 1h 52m
IMDb RATING
5.9/10
1.1K
YOUR RATING
The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia (1981)
A small-town stud wants to go to Nashville to be a big country star. His ambitious kid sister works as his manager. Their dream hits jeopardy when they cross paths with a small-town sheriff.
Play trailer1:21
1 Video
14 Photos
DramaMusic

A small-town stud wants to go to Nashville to be a big country star. His ambitious kid sister works as his manager. Their dream hits jeopardy when they cross paths with a small-town sheriff.A small-town stud wants to go to Nashville to be a big country star. His ambitious kid sister works as his manager. Their dream hits jeopardy when they cross paths with a small-town sheriff.A small-town stud wants to go to Nashville to be a big country star. His ambitious kid sister works as his manager. Their dream hits jeopardy when they cross paths with a small-town sheriff.

  • Director
    • Ron Maxwell
  • Writers
    • Bob Bonney
    • Bobby Russell
  • Stars
    • Kristy McNichol
    • Dennis Quaid
    • Mark Hamill
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    5.9/10
    1.1K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Ron Maxwell
    • Writers
      • Bob Bonney
      • Bobby Russell
    • Stars
      • Kristy McNichol
      • Dennis Quaid
      • Mark Hamill
    • 19User reviews
    • 8Critic reviews
    • 54Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 1:21
    Watch Trailer

    Photos14

    Dennis Quaid and Kristy McNichol in The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia (1981)
    Kristy McNichol and Arlen Dean Snyder in The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia (1981)
    Kristy McNichol in The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia (1981)
    Kristy McNichol and Royce Clark in The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia (1981)
    Mark Hamill, Dennis Quaid, and Kristy McNichol in The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia (1981)
    Don Stroud in The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia (1981)
    Mark Hamill in The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia (1981)
    Kristy McNichol in The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia (1981)
    The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia (1981)
    The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia (1981)
    Kristy McNichol in The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia (1981)
    Kristy McNichol in The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia (1981)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Kristy McNichol
    Kristy McNichol
    • Amanda Child
    Dennis Quaid
    Dennis Quaid
    • Travis Child
    Mark Hamill
    Mark Hamill
    • Conrad
    Sunny Johnson
    Sunny Johnson
    • Melody
    Don Stroud
    Don Stroud
    • Seth Ames
    Arlen Dean Snyder
    Arlen Dean Snyder
    • Andy
    Barry Corbin
    Barry Corbin
    • Wimbish
    Lulu McNichol
    • Boogie Woogie
    Royce Clark
    • Luther
    Elijah Perry
    • L.C.
    • (as Jerry Rushing)
    Jerry Campbell
    • Odie
    Maxwell Morrow
    • Bully #1
    Bill Gribble
    • Bully #2
    Lonnie R. Smith Jr.
    • Bully #3
    • (as Lonnie Smith)
    Elaine Falone
    • Verna
    Terry Browning
    • Wanda
    Barrie Geisinger
    • B.G.
    Ellen Saland
    • Nellie
    • Director
      • Ron Maxwell
    • Writers
      • Bob Bonney
      • Bobby Russell
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Dennis Quaid and Kristy McNichol did their own singing.
    • Quotes

      Amanda Child: Why don't we just write a batch o' them good songs and make ourselves a record deal in Nashville?

      Travis Child: We gotta live some of it to write about it, you know. When some livin' comes along, you gotta reach out and just grab it.

      Amanda Child: Grab ass, that's all you know. You grabbed every ass from Georgia to Texas.

      Travis Child: Women calm me down, honey.

    • Connections
      Referenced in Melrose Place: The Night the Lights Went Out at Melrose (1998)
    • Soundtracks
      I Need You Strong for Me
      Sung by Kristy McNichol

      Music & Lyrics by David Shire & Carol Connors

    User reviews19

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    5/10
    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.
    helpful•5
    6
    • preppy-3
    • Jun 1, 2007

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • June 5, 1981 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Amanda läßt die Puppen tanzen
    • Filming locations
      • Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA
    • Production company
      • Viacom Enterprises
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $14,923,752
    • Gross worldwide
      • $14,923,752
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 52 minutes
    • Sound mix
      • Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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