Murder in Coweta County (1983)

Crime drama set in Georgia of the late 40s with Andy Griffith and Johnny Cash

In 1948, a wealthy landowner in Meriwether County (Griffith) controls the Sheriff and the citizens, but when he flaunts his power in neighboring Coweta County, the no-nonsense Sheriff comes after him (Cash).

“Murder in Coweta County” (1983) is a well-done period piece based on the true story, also called “Last Blood.” It’s similar to “Mississippi Burning,” which came out five years later (and no doubt influenced it), just with the television budget of “Murder in Mississippi” (1990), which is the unofficial prequel to that more famous theatrical film.

Johnny’s wife, June Carter Cash, has an interesting role as a backwoods Christian seer. John Wallace (Griffith) visiting her in desperation is reminiscent of King Saul going to the witch of Endor in the Bible (1 Samuel 28).

Griffith is effective in the rare role of the antagonist, which he proved he could do 9 years earlier in another worthwhile TV production, “Pray for the Wildcats.”

The movie runs 1 hour, 40 minutes, and was shot in the heart of Georgia in areas south of Atlanta; specifically, Monticello (street scenes, exterior scenes and the historic downtown square), Zebulon (courthouse exterior) and Greenville.

GRADE: B