SpuffyWeb
Sadly Over-hyped
Freaktana
A Major Disappointment
Ella-May O'Brien
Each character in this movie — down to the smallest one — is an individual rather than a type, prone to spontaneous changes of mood and sometimes amusing outbursts of pettiness or ill humor.
jabritton-23321
Sorry Merk, but Severn Darden played Mr. Marduke. The wandering folksinger (John, no last name ever given in the movies or the stories.) was played by Hedges Capers. And it wasn't "Dirty Bird" but Ugly Bird (from the short story "Oh, Ugly Bird!' by Manley Wade Wellman. Admittedly, the film isn't the greatest, but the stories and books about Silver John are classics by an author with a genuine love for the mountains and their people and of the folk music of the area.
Skragg
It wasn't till quite some time after seeing this movie that I read any of Wellman's stories, but this movie is pretty faithful to them, at least the ones I know (though I don't know if any of the Silver John stories have "Mr. Marduk" or not). I don't know if I know Hedges Capers or the leading actress from anything else, but they were fine in it, and along with them, it's full of great character actors (though I don't think that's the right term for Susan Strasberg) - Denver Pyle, R. G. Armstrong, Severn Darden, Harris Yulin (who, apart from Darden, might have had the best part, and who really seemed to enjoy playing it). Even the political stuff, like the very end (which I won't give away) doesn't seem too forced. That ending could apply to ANY time (certainly including right now), and it would be a shame for people to think of it ENTIRELY as some NIXON JOKE (though I suppose it probably IS thought of as only that). In spite of the listing, I'm certain this movie is from 1972-73.
bradanddiana
I remember seeing "The Legend of Hillbilly John", in my 8th grade year. I went, primarily, to see the "Ugly-Bird", a stop-motion animated creature that promised that the film could be a great ride. I believe that the animated special effects were done by Gene Warren, who would later helm the effects in the fondly remembered Saturday morning opus; "Land of the Lost". Silver John is able to destroy the creature by hitting it with his guitar, one strung with pure silver strings, the only weapon to defeat the Devil( according to this film ). It strongly reminds me of "Equinox" in places, a similar, occult/adventure flick, but "John" is much more a spiritual journey, more akin to "The Silent Flute'(aka; Circle of Iron).
austex23
Hampered by a tiny budget and a lack of subtlety, Hillbilly John does an earnest job of bringing Manly Wade Wellman's silver-stringed guitar hero's adventures to the screen. Nice use of music by Hoyt Axton and some effective moments in two of the stories directly adapted from Wellman's fantasies. The last third of the film departs from its source material and grows tiresome. Definitely good enough to justify someone releasing it on DVD.
