Story: The small town of Shagbottom, Tennessee has been more or less left alone by the rest of the state, but the area is about to get a lot more attention. As it turns out, the state has been overlooking Shagbottom for decades and now after a fresh survey, the town is going to be given their own state representative. As a small town with a lot of drama, the election is bound to be intense and filled with mud slinging, as the decision comes down to the two rival local families. The Culpepper clan and the Calhoun crew now face off with a public office and power on the line, but will a secret romance throw the entire process into chaos?

Entertainment Value: This hayseed curio from Ron Ormond is a light, backwoods Romeo & Juliet story blended with a host of country music performances. In truth, the movie seems to be more of a promotional tool for the musicians involved or a chance for audiences to soak in a wealth of music, as the narrative itself is minor and mostly stays of the way. At regular intervals, we’re given a scene or two to advance to plot, but imagine this like a Hee Haw movie. Some bad jokes, some skits, and some country music, all packaged by Ormond into Forty Acre Feud. The film runs about eighty-five minutes and contains twenty-five musical performances however, so I said, its pretty clear the music is the main focus here. I can’t say I am much of a country music fan, but the musicians provide a unique, enjoyable time capsule if nothing else, with interesting costumes and song choices, so there is value here even for those who don’t typically attend square dances. I had a good time with Forty Acre Feud, just know going in there’s mostly music with a little cinema mixed in.

The endless parade of country music on showcase features some familiar faces, with genre stars Loretta Lynn and George Jones having multiple performances. Lynn is fantastic as always and her voice is so iconic, while Jones looks humorous with a flat top haircut. Jones is joined by a young Johnny Paycheck during his songs, which adds even more country music history to Forty Acre Feud. Minnie Pearl has a prominent role as well, though she is more or less playing her signature character, while Del Reeves, Sam Tarpley, and Ferlin Husky also have central roles in this one. I wouldn’t call the acting here superb in the usual sense, but for what amounts to basically a variety show with an emphasis on music and silliness, everyone does fine. I think the musical guests will steal the show for most viewers, however.

The Disc: As part of the From Hollywood to Heaven box set from Indicator Series, Forty Acre Feud has been sourced from the best available elements for this presentation. Due to the original materials being destroyed, a clean standard definition treatment was the best in this case. The movie looks good, with a clean print, solid color, and good detail, so fans should be pleased. You can also listen to about four minutes of radio ads for Forty Acre Feud, while the box set overall includes numerous other Ormond films, behind the scenes extras, short films, promotional materials, and more.

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