In one scene, we learn the origin of the lyrics to “I Shot the Sheriff.” At the time, Ms. Anderson was on birth control pills, and Mr. Marley thought the pills were sacrilege. He wanted her to have his baby. He believed their love was strong and it was sin to kill his seed. The doctor who prescribed those baby-killing pills became the sheriff. And thanks to this movie, these lyrics, which Anderson helped write, are now put into a proper context:
Sheriff John Brown always hated me,
For what, I don’t know:
Every time I plant a seed,
He said kill it before it grow
Tidbits like this are invaluable. And they quite clearly invoke a feminine power in Ms. Anderson. This beautiful woman was a pioneer in many ways and this movie is as just as much about her as it is Marley. It’s no surprise the progressive movie icon Marlon Brando was attracted to her; they had a seven-year relationship, around this time period, which honestly seems more interesting than her relationship with Marley.
