Accused of a murder they had nothing to do with, three Yankee kids – happy-go-lucky brothers Chris and Wayne Dixon (real-life brothers Alan and Jesse Vint) and their pretty blonde hitchhiker Jenny (Cheryl Waters) – are hunted by the law in Georgia in the 1950s.
The performances are all on-target, with stand-out supporting turns by Sam Gilman as a hard-nosed deputy, Joan Blackman as the sheriff’s doomed wife, 70’s teen pop idol Leif Garrett as the sheriff’s son, James Gammon as a low-life hoodlum, Doodles Weaver as a doddery ol’ cuss, and Geoffrey Lewis as a cranky gas station proprietor.
The violent and disturbing surprise ending packs one hell of a savage and powerful kick-you-in-the-guts wallop.
This AIP drive-in classic was the first feature produced by Max Baer, Jr. (Jethro in the TV series The Beverly Hillbillies), who also plays the Sherrif.
Baer apparently wrote the film on the back of his Beverly Hillbillies scripts during breaks in taping the show.
Produced for $225,000, Macon County Line was one of the highest-grossing independently financed movies of 1974, earning $18.8 million in North America and over $30 million worldwide. The film’s success inspired Return to Macon County (1975), which was not a direct sequel despite its title.
Chris Dixon
Alan Vint Wayne Dixon
Jesse Vint Jenny Scott
Cheryl Waters Hamp
Geoffrey Lewis Sherrif Reed Morgan
Max Baer Jr. Carol Morgan
Joan Blackman Luke Morgan
Leif Garrett Deputy Bill
Sam Gilman Lon
Timothy Scott Elisha
James Gammon Gurney
Emile Meyer Augie
Doodles Weaver Public Defender
Avil Williams Pimp
John DeMattio Ida
Kate Monahan Ed
Edward Cross Whore
Jan Green
Director
Richard Compton
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The violent and disturbing surprise ending packs one hell of a savage and powerful kick-you-in-the-guts wallop.
