I Walk the Line (1970)

Truly the worst movie I've ever seen in a theater

Awesome Movie

The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.

It's easily one of the freshest, sharpest and most enjoyable films of this year.

Underrated, overlooked gem from director John Frankenheimer has Gregory Peck in fine form playing Tennessee sheriff and family man in a depressed hillbilly town falling for Tuesday Weld, the comely daughter of a moonshiner. The sheriff, torn by sexual longing and responsibilities--and throwing all morality out of his path--strikes a subtle arrangement with the mountain clan to continue seeing their daughter if they keep their business under-wraps...but is this girl just stringing the lawman along? Frankenheimer bookends the film with a collage of sorrowful faces (scored with music by Johnny Cash) and the effect is a bit pretentious (it seems like a put-on); however, the director's dramatic compositions (helped immeasurably by David M. Walsh's superlative cinematography) overcome this arty overreaching and actually take on some meaning. Alvin Sargent's screenplay, adapted from Madison Jones' book "An Exile", is literate and engrossing, and the obtrusiveness of that stilted opening (as well as Cash's songs, pushed too far out in front) can easily be forgiven. Sexual obsession wears surprisingly well on Gregory Peck, and when he asks Weld to run away with him, you believe it. Both performers are terrific (even Peck's arched eyebrow and granite jaw work well for him here) and the supporting cast is equally solid. Atmospheric and charged with emotion. *** from ****

this is just my own personal opinion,but i found this movie very slow.there's a lot of drama,but not much action.Gregory peck plays the sheriff of a very sleepy town,where almost nothing happens.then he does something which goes against his morals.he ends up paying for it in the end.Tuesday Weld also stars in the movie.i watched this movie right to the end,though i found it hard to keep going.John Frankenheimer directed the movie,and if you like his style of movie making,you might like this movie.for me,though,i didn't like it that much.i've seen much worse movies,but i didn't feel invested in this movie or the characters.anyway,if you don't mind drama,and aren't concerned about a lot of action,you might like this movie. 4/10

I recently viewed this film for the second time, having seen it perhaps twenty years ago. I found out why I remembered it fondly. A fairly true-to-life depiction of a back-hills country town and it's people. The characters are strong and played superbly by the great cast. The cinematography is wonderfully nostalgic. It makes you feel as if you are there, living the story. I remembered numerous details from this movie which made me realize how closely I paid attention the first time around. I've seen dozens of movies in the last year and can't remember half as much about them. Modern movies offer great things with special effects and bigger than life color and sound. Movies like this one are timeless classics without any of the production bells and whistles. Just a good if not great, honest movie.

Warning! Contains Spoilers! I Walk the Line is a very well done movie. The director superbly catches the growing tension of the characters; the moonshiner, the sheriff, his deputy, and his family. The story itself details the descent of an honest small-town sheriff from the straight and narrow to corruption, adultery, and murder. All because of his affair with a moonshiners' daughter. This descent is disturbing because of its intensity and the "There but for the Grace of God, go I factor." NB For the more sensitive viewers there are hints of pedophilia (the moonshiner's daughter is portrayed as very young)and incest. It should be rated R.