I Walk the Line poster

Movie

I Walk the Line

1970PG-131h 37m5.9 / 10

Sheriff Tawes walks the line between duty and desire, between law and violence, between honor and shame

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.

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Checked Sep 2, 2026

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Synopsis

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.

More about I Walk the Line

Cast

Gregory PeckSheriff Henry Tawes
Tuesday WeldAlma McCain
Estelle ParsonsEllen Haney
Ralph MeekerCarl McCain
Charles DurningWylie Hunnicutt
Jeff DaltonClay McCain
Freddie McCloudBuddy McCain
Jane RoseElsie

Credits

Directed by
John Frankenheimer
Written by
Alvin Sargent, Madison Jones

Production details

Status
Released
Original language
English
Budget
$4M

Production

  • Atticus
  • John Frankenheimer Productions Inc.United States
  • Edward Lewis ProductionsUnited States
  • Halcyon Productions
  • Columbia PicturesUnited States

Themes

based on novel or bookdecadencedistilleryforbidden lovelovenubile womanprevaricationsmall town