Coward of the County

Based on Kenny Rogers' hit song, the story follows a young man named Tommy who returns to his rural hometown after serving in the military. He finds his community plagued by violence and corruption, particularly from a local crime boss named Billy Jim. Tommy, who has sworn off violence, must confront his past and his pacifist beliefs when Billy Jim targets his loved ones.

'Coward of the County' was a made-for-television movie that served as a vehicle for country music star Kenny Rogers, who also co-wrote the screenplay. While it aimed to deliver a moralistic tale, critical reception was generally mixed, with some praising its intentions and performances while others found the plot predictable and heavy-handed.

• Praised for its attempts at a positive message and country-western storytelling.
• Criticized for a slow pace and a somewhat simplistic moral conflict.
• Seen as a somewhat dated television movie with a predictable plot.

Google audience: Audience reviews are scarce for this made-for-TV movie, but it's generally regarded as a nostalgic piece of 1980s television with a straightforward narrative and a focus on its country music star lead.

The film is based on the 1979 hit song of the same name by Kenny Rogers, who also co-wrote the screenplay and makes a cameo appearance as a narrator.