The Legend of Hillbilly John (1972)
December 21, 2024 12:40 PM - Subscribe

A roaming hillbilly, on a quest to defy the Devil, encounters several supernatural characters and does battle with his silver-stringed guitar in a series of interlocking stories based on/inspired by the writings of Manly Wade Wellman. Originally titled Who Fears the Devil.

Starring Hedges Capers, Severn Darden, Denver Pyle, Susan Strasberg, Sharon Henesy.

Directed by John Newland. Written by Melvin Levy, Manly Wade Wellman. Produced by Barney Rosenzweig. Cinematography by Flemming Olsen. Music by Roger Kellaway.

Recently restored and re-released as part of Severin's All the Haunts Be Ours Volume II collection. It's also on YouTube.
posted by DirtyOldTown (8 comments total) 3 users marked this as a favorite
 
Historically interesting in the sheer number of things it draws from Appalachian folklore and because it starts from the stories of Manly Wade Wellman. But it feels cheap and stilted and not one accent doesn't sound like dog shit. I could watch with some interest in it as an artifact, but as a story, it didn't draw me in even a little, ever.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 12:41 PM on December 21, 2024 [1 favorite]


I'll be interested to hear what the other folks who got this box set think of when they get to this one. Being from a family with actual hillbillies, I just couldn't get past the film's wobbly representation and more-70's--than-mountain-music songs.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 1:04 PM on December 21, 2024


I'm sure the movie is awful but the Manly Wade Wellman stories on which it is based (I would wager very loosely..) are worth checking out if you can still find them. I've never seen the main character called "Hillbilly John" by fans of the stories. Usually it's "Silver John" (after the strings on his instrument) or "John the Balladeer".
posted by Nerd of the North at 1:43 PM on December 21, 2024 [2 favorites]


Upon reflection, 1972 seems like a really inauspicious year to have had a go at any sort of film adaptation of fantasy literature.

I doubt these stories would ever have been adapted well but the time period here virtually guarantees an awful result.
posted by Nerd of the North at 1:47 PM on December 21, 2024


I'm sorry to hear this is awful, because I really wanted it to be great! I haven't read all of his Silver John stories, but I feel like the vibe could make for a great movie, and '72 kind of seems like it should have been a perfect time for it, honestly. There's a nice looking collection from Valancourt of the stories.
posted by kittens for breakfast at 3:49 PM on December 21, 2024


To be fair, Kier-La Janisse curated this box set and she feels it's pretty awesome, so it may just be me.

KLJ is one of the coolest people in film curation.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 5:12 PM on December 21, 2024 [1 favorite]


I first watched this many years ago after reading the Manly Wade Wellman stories it is very loosely based on. Rewatching it last month, it reminds me mostly of 70s TV, which isn't a good thing. But yeah rewatching it now it doesn't really work as a movie but I kind have a soft spot for it. I can't speak to the authenticity of the movie or its representation of culture (America has never been good with representing its rural cultures, see Southern Comfort for instance) but it certainly tries hard, is very 1972, and I don't mind the lead. I like the junky stop motion. If you have the discs I recommend the interview with the producer - it gives you a better idea of what they were trying to do and why it failed. I don't think the movie ever looked as good as it does on the disc.
posted by Ashwagandha at 7:25 AM on December 22, 2024 [1 favorite]


And not for nothing, but if having something made of "true silver" can repel all evil, why don't more people keep stuff around made of silver?

I know hillbillies are poor, but silver is way cheaper than gold and fending off Satan, demons, and monsters is a pretty worthwhile expense, as splurges go.

Severn Darden, who plays Mr. Marduke often played professors for some reason, including Dr. Barazini in Back to School and Dr. Meredith in Real Genius.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 11:22 AM on December 22, 2024


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