In the late 1970s there was a series of low budget rural romance movies, with a sad plot device. Probably the best of this undistinguished lot was Ode to Billy Joe. A very adult film in a sweet package based upon a hit song became a moderate success. By 1981 this genre was mercifully dead, when someone got the bright idea to make Coward of the County. Younger viewers may not remember the Kenny Rogers song of the same name. It was a smash hit about a coward who's lady love is raped and then goes after the attackers. The movie follows the song.
At age 10 Tommy's father died in prison. On his deathbed Tommy's father made him promise to stay away from fighting. The intention was that Tommy not grow up to be like his father, but as he grows up it just makes him appear to be cowardly. When WWII breaks out all of the young men enlist but Tommy which angers most of the town. He finally finds love but soon she is raped by the town bullies. Tommy and his uncle fight them, and in so doing Tommy finds redemption. After marrying Becky he goes off to fight in the war.
At least Ode to Billy Joe had an ambitious conceit, it tried to solve the mystery of the song. The only conceit here is singer Kenny Rogers in the pivotal role as the town preacher and uncle of the "cowardly" boy, His role of mentor and protector of his nephew was quite nice, although not fleshed out completely. Kenny Rogers was a major country star in the late 1970s and in the 80s he tried to parlay that into acting. This was one of two movies that he did based on his hit songs-the other The Gambler was a hit that spawned several sequels. This was a little less successful.
The film is set in a small southern town in the months prior to WWII. This is a setting that is hard to convey with any sincerity, but Coward manages to do that quite well. And the budding romance between Tommy and Becky (the town beauty) is quite sweet. The rape scene is mercifully subdued. We feel the horror, but are not subjected to a cruel graphic humiliation. When Tommy confronts the attackers in the local bar, what follows is arguably one of the best fight scenes in film history. That being said it's still a low budget, amateurishly acted film with a threadbare plot. A good set with sensible direction crying for a better movie and actors.
At age 10 Tommy's father died in prison. On his deathbed Tommy's father made him promise to stay away from fighting. The intention was that Tommy not grow up to be like his father, but as he grows up it just makes him appear to be cowardly. When WWII breaks out all of the young men enlist but Tommy which angers most of the town. He finally finds love but soon she is raped by the town bullies. Tommy and his uncle fight them, and in so doing Tommy finds redemption. After marrying Becky he goes off to fight in the war.
At least Ode to Billy Joe had an ambitious conceit, it tried to solve the mystery of the song. The only conceit here is singer Kenny Rogers in the pivotal role as the town preacher and uncle of the "cowardly" boy, His role of mentor and protector of his nephew was quite nice, although not fleshed out completely. Kenny Rogers was a major country star in the late 1970s and in the 80s he tried to parlay that into acting. This was one of two movies that he did based on his hit songs-the other The Gambler was a hit that spawned several sequels. This was a little less successful.
The film is set in a small southern town in the months prior to WWII. This is a setting that is hard to convey with any sincerity, but Coward manages to do that quite well. And the budding romance between Tommy and Becky (the town beauty) is quite sweet. The rape scene is mercifully subdued. We feel the horror, but are not subjected to a cruel graphic humiliation. When Tommy confronts the attackers in the local bar, what follows is arguably one of the best fight scenes in film history. That being said it's still a low budget, amateurishly acted film with a threadbare plot. A good set with sensible direction crying for a better movie and actors.