The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia

Yeah, it's cheesy. Dennis Quaid and Kristy McNichol sing, or try to. That just about says it all. But, I grew up watching this movie. It seems like it came on every summer, along with Kristy's other flicks: "Only When I Laugh" and "Little Darlings." I went to great lengths recently to buy the out-of-print video. Seeing it just takes me back. Great cinema? Uh, no. But good for a little nostalgia and fun cheesiness? Definitely.

If you like road movies, tear-jerkers and real rock'in country music,u will just loooove this flick ! One of my favorites. I wish I could find a decent soundtrack in any format. My VHS copy seems to be a copy of a copy of a copy ie not the best quality... I watch this movie every 2 years.....The cast is great and the acting is too. In the old days one went to the flicks to cry, laugh & be moved or excited. This ones does it for me ! I particularly like one of the first scenes (filmed from hi up in a 'copter, showing their red truck rolling down the hi-way with guitar music blasting ! (well I do put the sound up real LOUD...). The only thing missing is me following behind on my 1939 red Indian Chief !

I guess what makes this flick so unique for me is the fact that it was filmed almost entirely on location in my hometown....of Trenton, Georgia...which is a smalltown(Population app. 1,500) in the Northwest Georgia Mountains....the backdrop wasn't changed at all...and now I can watch this film and see my hometown 22 years ago(even though it was released in 1981...it was filmed during the summer months of 1980)....The script is lacking indeed..I'll give you that...but, it does have my favorite actor of all time(Dennis Quaid) starring in it...I've often thought if they'd made the movie based strictly on the lyrics to the well known Vicki Lawrence song..it would have been much better....But, as it is...if you aren't from the Chattanooga,Tn./Trenton,Ga. area it would probably be a major dissapointment for you....But, if you like Dennis Quaid or Don Stroud you'll enjoy it...worth watching...Dennis Quaid surprised me...He really can sing!!!

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.

I saw this film when it first came out in the early 1980s. I had a big crush on Kristy McNichol and just had to see this film. Somewhat an offbeat mixture of country humor and drama, The Night The Lights Went Off in Georgia starts off like a cornball comedy and ends up deadly serious.Kristy McNichol proved she could sing and was very good in "Baby Bye-Bye". Dennis Quaid was an up-coming star, and his rugged good looks, and boyish charm are backed up by his extremely well singing talents. Amazing that Quaid didn't become a country music singing star, I thought he was that good. Mark Hamill is pleasant as the love-struck cop, but it's an "ice-cream cone" performance. The late Sunny Johnson looked beautiful, and it's a real shame that this talented actress died so young.