The Legend of Tom Dooley

The film's story bears little resemblance to the true story behind the song. The real Tom Dooley returned home from war in the summer of 1865, where he met, and began to court, Laura Foster. The murder of Laura Foster, and the trial, conviction and execution of Tom Dooley for the crime became the first highly-publicized crime of passion in American history. The film also omits the third person in the story, Ann Foster Melton, who was considered the "jilted lover" of the story. Ann Melton was also arrested as an accomplice in the murder, but her case was dismissed after Tom wrote a note the night before his execution, saying he was the only one who had a hand in the murder.

The film is set at the end of the US Civil War in 1865, but the Sheriff has a cabinet full of with a Winchester repeating rifles which were not manufactured until the following year 1866.