Swamp Girl

Swamp Girl

Year: 1971

Runtime: 78 mins

Language: English

Director: Donald A. Davis

Drama

Set against the hauntingly beautiful Okefenokee swamps of Georgia, the film follows a young blonde girl abandoned in the Florida marshes. She is rescued by a kindly black man, whom she affectionately calls “Pa,” and he raises her amid the swamp’s eerie wilderness, forging a unique bond of family and survival.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline – Swamp Girl (1971)

Trace every key event in Swamp Girl (1971) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Janeen helps Ranger Jim after his trap incident

Janeen helps park ranger Jim when his foot is caught in a poacher's trap. The act earns her Jim's trust and marks the beginning of their uneasy alliance. The swamp environment frames their growing connection as she learns to navigate danger beside him.

early in the story Okefenokee Swamp, near Waycross, Georgia
2

Nat's past revealed; he saves Janeen from the slavers

Nat, who will be known as Pa to Janeen, reveals his history with Doc, the doctor who ran the abortion clinic and arranged adoptions. He explains how he hid nearby, killed the two slavers with a hatchet, and escaped with Janeen into the swamp to protect her. The tale explains why Nat has kept Janeen close and why he fears the law.

early in the story (backstory reveal) Okefenokee Swamp
3

Janeen tells Pa about meeting Jim; Pa recounts Nat's past

Janeen shares with Pa the moment she met Ranger Jim, seeking help. Pa confirms Nat's role in protecting her and fills in details about their past. The conversation deepens the bond between Janeen and Nat and clarifies why they fear authorities.

shortly after the backstory reveal Swamp cabin
4

Carol Martin and Steve arrive; Nat is killed

Carol Martin and her boyfriend Steve reach the swamp cabin and kill Nat with the last bullet in their shotgun. Janeen hears the gunshot, returns to the cabin, and is forced to watch as Carol and Steve take her away. The act shatters her safety and sets her on a perilous flight.

late afternoon (arrival of fugitives) Swamp cabin
5

Janeen is captured and forced to guide the couple

Hearing the gunshots, Janeen is captured by Carol and Steve who force her to lead them out of the swamp. She endures their control while watching Jim's searchers in the distance. Her insider knowledge of the swamp becomes her only tool for survival.

immediately after capture Okefenokee Swamp
6

Jim returns to Waycross; Sheriff updates on breakout

Jim returns to Waycross, where Sheriff Ben informs him that Carol's boyfriend helped her escape from a women's prison farm and that a guard was fatally shot. The news prompts Jim to mount a response with Ben and others. The investigation shifts toward the swamp where Janeen is being forced through by the fugitives.

after Nat's death Waycross, Georgia
7

Martins arrive; parents hire guides to aid Carol

Carol's parents Gifford and Ella arrive in the area with plans to help their daughter, hiring rough locals Denton Cole, Hank, and Jesse as guides. Their presence escalates the pursuit and complicates Jim and Ben's efforts. The swamp becomes a pressure-filled battlefield of loyalties and survival.

as Jim and Ben plan the chase Waycross area / surrounding swamp
8

Jim and Ben set out in a swamp airboat to search

Upon learning the Martins' plans, Jim and Ben take to the swamp in an airboat to track Carol and Janeen's whereabouts. They coordinate with Denton Cole to monitor the fugitives and gather allies for a possible rescue. The airboat ride adds urgency to the escalating chase.

during the Martins' pursuit plans Okefenokee Swamp
9

Janeen guides the fugitives toward a quicksand pit

Inside the swamp, Janeen uses her insider knowledge to steer Carol and Steve toward danger. Her anger over Nat's murder fuels a dangerous turn as they stumble toward a quicksand pit. Steve is dragged under, and Carol panics, stumbling into alligator-infested waters.

during the pursuit Okefenokee Swamp
10

Gifford shoots at Janeen; Ben defeats him in a deadly chase

Carol's father, Gifford Martin, opens fire, aiming at Janeen as Jim and Ben close in. A chaotic chase leads to a shootout with Ben; Gifford is wounded and falls into a nest of venomous snakes. The escape attempt collapses as the Martins' plans unravel.

confrontation with the Martins Dense swamp area
11

Rescue and transport; Janeen joins the airboat crew

Janeen, shaken but alive, is taken aboard the airboat along with Jim, Ben, and the others. They haul Martin's body back to his wife, a grim end to the pursuit. Janeen's survival story continues as she becomes part of the group heading back through the swamp.

after the Martins' confrontation Okefenokee Swamp / airboat
12

Ella reveals Janeen's heritage and Janeen chooses the swamp

Ella mourns her daughter's fate and reveals that Janeen is her own daughter, born from the doctor's illicit circle. She urges Janeen to come live with her, offering a place in civilization. Janeen answers, 'I'm going home,' choosing to return to the swamp, leaving open the possibility of someday joining society.

end of the story Okefenokee Swamp

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 11:25

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Swamp Girl

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