dtucker86 Review of Murder in Coweta County

Murder in Coweta County (1983 TV Movie)

one of the best tv films ever made

[13 September 2003]

I was very saddened to hear that Johnny Cash had died yesterday. We lost two giants in one day, him and John Ritter. Cash was a true country music legend, the only man to ever be inducted into the country music hall of fame and the rock and roll hall of fame. He was a wonderful singer, but he was also a fine actor as well. Murder In Coweta County was the best acting job that he ever did. I only wish this film was more widely available because it showcases the talents of both Johnny Cash and Andy Griffith. This film is based on a book by Judith Ann Barnes that I read in college. This movie is faithful to her fine book and really does it justice. It is a beautiful film to watch and really captures the south as it was in 1948. Andy Griffith played a villian in several films and this was his best "baddie" part. It is even better then when he was Lonesome Rhodes. He is evil with a human face as John Wallace the head of "the Kingdom". This is a man who has no soul and no conscience. The Bible talks of evil men "their consciences seared as though with a hot iron". He murders Wilson Turner in cold blood. He beats out his brains, throws him down a well and then burns his body and scatters his ashes in the river. This is a truly evil man. Johnny Cash is Lamar Potts, the righteous sheriff who brings this monster to justice. He sees Wallace for what he is. "John Wallace didn't buy pews or barns, he bought people". This is a man who is determined to see justice done "I want him...he isn't getting away with this" he says in another scene. It is almost like a Biblical morality play. Ultimate good against ultimate bad. It is only by sheer luck that an informer tips off Sheriff Potts about Wallace burning the body. They find a few ashes and bone chips stil floating in the stream and a chunk of brain in the well where they threw Turner's body. There were only enough remains to fill a small box but it was still corpus delecti, proof of a murder. SPOILER ALERT...There is an old Japanese proverb that evil ultimately destroys itself, the final scene of the murder trial of John Wallace is proof of that. He has a great lawyer who could have gotten him off but insists on taking the stand and telling the jury a ridiculous story about how Turner's death was an "accident". He actually believes he can do this and get away with it, he is that deluded. His lawyer tells him at the end, "John, you just buried yourself". John Wallace is convicted for the murder of Wilson Turner, the judge tells him "On the 30th day of July between the hours of ten am and 2 pm, you will be put to death by means of electrocution". The final scene shows him as he is strapped into the electric chair (back then they didn't have this appeal bs like they do today where killers die of old age on death row, you were EXECUTED!!!). I cannot think of a film that had a happier ending. Rest in Heaven Johnny, I'm glad your with June now. I hope you sing for the angels.