The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia (film)
| The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia | |
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Theatrical release poster
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| Directed by | Ronald F. Maxwell |
| Produced by | Bill Blake |
| Written by | Bob Bonney |
| Starring |
Kristy McNichol Dennis Quaid Mark Hamill Don Stroud Arlen Dean Snyder Barry Corbin |
| Music by | Keith Allison Bobbie Gentry Mark Lindsay David Shire |
| Cinematography | Bill Butler |
| Edited by | Anne Goursand |
| Distributed by | AVCO Embassy Pictures |
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Release date
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Running time
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112 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia is a 1981 American musical drama film starring Kristy McNichol, Dennis Quaid, Mark Hamill and Don Stroud, directed by Ronald F. Maxwell.
It was very loosely inspired by the 1973 Vicki Lawrence song of the same name (it shares almost no plot elements with the original song). In 1981, Tanya Tucker recorded a different version for the film's soundtrack and new lyrics related to the plot of the film were written. These altered lyrics were based on the plot line of the movie, which is not the same as the story of the original song.
A young singer and his sister/manager travel to Nashville in search of stardom. As they journey from one grimy hotel to another, it becomes increasingly obvious that only one of them has what it takes to become a star.
Travis Child (Quaid) is a country singer who had one hit song and then faded from the scene. His ambitious younger sister, Amanda (McNichol), is determined to get them to Nashville where Travis can once again become a star. Her plans are derailed by Travis's lack of ambition and easy distraction by women and booze.
The two are separated in one town and by the time they find each other in the next one, Travis has been arrested for public drunkenness. To pay the fine he takes a job bartending at a roadside tavern called Andy's, where he meets and falls for a young lady with a very jealous ex-boyfriend—who happens to be the deputy sheriff.
The film was shot on location in Dade County, Georgia, but some scenes were filmed around Chattanooga, Tennessee, and Manchester, TN as well.
At least one of the scenes was filmed on 23rd St. in Chattanooga, TN, and Scotty Maclellan had a small role in it. The bedroom scene was filmed in Ringgold, GA, at least according to the granddaughter of the woman who owned the house.
"The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia" proves to be a film of considerable feeling and tenderness." Kevin Thomas, Los Angeles Times, Aug 7, 1981
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