The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia (1981)

A small town stud wants to go to Nashville and be a big country star. His ambitious kid sister works as his manager. When they cross paths with a small town sheriff, their dream comes in jeopardy.

Director:

Ron Maxwell (as Ronald F. Maxwell)

Writers:

Bob Bonney (screen story), Bob Bonney (screenplay)

Stars:

Kristy McNichol, Dennis Quaid, Mark Hamill

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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
Elijah Christopher 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

Storyline

Country singer Travis (Dennis Quaid) and his younger sister Amanda (Kristy McNichol) travel to Nashville, Tennessee to find fame as singers. After getting into trouble with the law, Travis is sentenced to work detail at a prison farm. Amanda ends of falling in love with a police officer Conrad (Mark Hamill) who tries to help Travis out.

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Plot Keywords:

hixploitation | bar fight | pickup truck | state trooper | memphis tennessee | 

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Taglines:

Sex, action, humour, suspense and great songs!

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Genres:

Drama | Music

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

5 June 1981 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia

Filming Locations:

Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia, USA

Box Office

Gross USA:

$14,923,752

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$14,923,752

Company Credits

Production Co:

Viacom Enterprises

Technical Specs

Runtime:

112 min 110 min (Ontario)

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Vicki Lawrence sang the original hit song, which went to #1 and gold in 1972. The film uses the song title and nothing else. Lawrence had nothing to do with the film.

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Quotes

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

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Connections

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

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Soundtracks

Imaginary Arms
Sung by Tammy Wynette
Music & Lyrics by Sue Richards & Jerry Taylor

User Reviews

For Fans of Country-Western Films

I saw this film several times as a young teen. It's not the greatest film but it's not bad and a little bit underrated on IMDb. The country music film is a comedy-drama with a little action thrown in here and there. The movie also has a little romance in it as well. It is one of those lesser known films that I think more people would like if they took the time to view the movie.

Fans of country-western films like "Urban Cowboy", "Cole Miner's Daughter", "Crazy Heart" and "Tender Mercies" might like this film.

The movie is also a good recommendation for the people that like "hidden gems" - films that most people have forgotten even existed. Give "The Nights the Lights Went Out in Georgia" a chance one day when you are in the mood for something different than your normal film genre favorites.

7/10