I Walk the Line

1970 "Sheriff Tawes walks the line between duty and desire, between law and violence, between honor and shame"
6.5| 1h37m| PG-13| en| More Info
Released: 18 November 1970 Released
Producted By: Columbia Pictures
Country: United States of America
Budget: 0
Revenue: 0
Official Website:
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Henry Tawes, a middle-aged sheriff in a rural Tennessee town, is usually the first man to criticize others for their bad behavior. Miserable in his marriage, Henry falls in love with teenage seductress Alma, who is the daughter of local criminal and moonshiner Carl McCain. Henry's moral character comes further into question when he is tempted to conceal Carl's crimes in order to prolong his relationship with Alma.

Genre

Drama

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Director

John Frankenheimer

Production Companies

Columbia Pictures

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I Walk the Line Audience Reviews

SoTrumpBelieve Must See Movie...
Pluskylang Great Film overall
BelSports This is a coming of age storyline that you've seen in one form or another for decades. It takes a truly unique voice to make yet another one worth watching.
Murphy Howard I enjoyed watching this film and would recommend other to give it a try , (as I am) but this movie, although enjoyable to watch due to the better than average acting fails to add anything new to its storyline that is all too familiar to these types of movies.
Maddyclassicfilms I Walk The Line is directed by John Frankenheimer, has a screenplay by Alvin Argent and is based on the novel by Madison Jones. The film stars Gregory Peck, Tuesday Weld, Estelle Parsons, Ralph Meeker and Charles Durning.Peck plays Henry Tawes, a married Sheriff in a small American town. The story takes place during the depression years. Henry's ordered life is turned on its head when he meets the Alma(Tuesday Weld). The pair are drawn to one another and begin an affair. Henry struggles with his feelings for the much younger woman.Henry also has to deal with Alma's terrible father (a terrifying Ralph Meeker)and his own devious deputy(Charles Durning).Peck is utterly convincing as the man struggling against his own feelings and willing to risk all he has to have Alma. I think he gives one of his best performances here.Weld is excellent as the flirty Alma, who is torn between her way of life and the possibility of a different kind of life with Henry.Estelle Parsons doesn't get much to do as Henry's wife, I would have liked a few more scenes of her character, Parsons delivers a solid performance despite the short screen time.The film has a soundtrack by Johnny Cash, the theme song is that most famous of Johnny's songs Walk The Line; and it fits the story perfectly.I think it's a real shame that this is not one of Gregory Peck's better known films. His performance here is one of his best.
Noirdame79 Not to be confused with the 2005 Johnny Cash biopic "Walk The Line", this 1970 film directed by John Frankenheimer tells the story of a middle-aged, small-town sheriff, Henry Tawes (Gregory Peck) , who finds himself becoming increasingly disillusioned with his life as a husband and father, and coming to resent his humdrum existence. It could also be argued that he is entering a mid-life crisis, and one day, he stops the daughter of a local moonshiner (played by Ralph Meeker), pretty Alma McCain (Tuesday Weld) and her younger brother for driving without a permit. Captivated by her beauty, he begins a secret affair with her, all the while turning a blind eye to her family's illegal activities. Things become increasingly out of hand as inspectors begin to investigate the goings on in town and Henry's devious deputy (Charles Durning) discovers the liaison and the McCain family's profession. Henry also finds his distraught wife (Estelle Parsons) has also discovered the affair, and he decides to throw all caution to the wind and run away with Alma. Torn between her affection for Henry and her loyalty to her family, Alma's choice and Henry's recklessness result in tragedy and heartbreak.This movie was very much overlooked when it was first released, but it is a good flick and the performances are superb. The production was shot mainly on location in Tennessee and Johnny Cash provides the soundtrack. This role was a very different one for Gregory Peck, especially at this stage of his career, but he embodies the tightly-wound sheriff expertly. Tuesday Weld is convincing and captivating as a young woman caught in a way of life that not only limits her opportunities but also her choices. Used by her father to keep Henry smitten in order to keep the family business secret, she makes the only choice she feels she can make, but not without cost to Henry.Columbia released the movie on DVD a few years back, and it is unforgivably very bare-bones (there isn't even a menu), but it is in widescreen and the transfer looks wonderful, capturing the bleak yet lush countryside.If you're a fan of Gregory Peck and Tuesday Weld, this is a film that must be viewed.
pbsnyderyho 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.
dworrick I own this movie and have watched it many, many times.In my opinion, it is one of the best, and perhaps least touted, of Peck's works.I cannot help but think that the scenario portrayed in this film has played out many times in real life.Peck delivers a 5 star performance of a man of strong moral fiber, driven by the desire to abandon all he has that is right, in pursuit of what he wants, and deep down inside, probably knows he can't have.Highly recommended and truly a treasure in my library. If you can find it...you won't be sorry.Not sure why this one barely gets the recognition it truly deserves.Drama, suspense, and surprise at it's best !!!