Moonshine (1918)

A feud between the Owens and the Gillettes ends when the last remaining Gillette is killed, but new trouble erupts for the mountain folk with the arrival of a U.S. revenue agent and his ... See full summary »

Director:

Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle

Writers:

Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle (screenplay), Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle (story)

Stars:

Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle, Buster Keaton, Al St. John

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle	...	Revenue Agent
Buster Keaton	...	Revenue Agent
Al St. John	...	Mountain Man
Alice Lake	...	Moonshiner's Daughter
Charles Dudley	...	Moonshine Leader
Joe Bordeaux	...	(as Joe Bordeau)

Storyline

A feud between the Owens and the Gillettes ends when the last remaining Gillette is killed, but new trouble erupts for the mountain folk with the arrival of a U.S. revenue agent and his assistant. The revenuers search high and low for the secret hideaway where the mountain people prepare illegal alcohol, but end up in deep trouble that only a little movie magic can save them from.

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Plot Keywords:

revenue agent | feud | bootlegger | reverse footage | breaking the fourth wall | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Short

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

12 May 1918 (USA)

Also Known As:

Chiaro di luna

Filming Locations:

Balboa Amusement Film Studios - Sixth Street and Alamitos Avenue, Long Beach, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Comique Film Company

Technical Specs

Runtime:

23 min 7 min (remaining footage)

Sound Mix:

Silent

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Leading lady Alice Lake suffered an injury on the set of this film, according to an article in the December 1918 issue of Photoplay magazine. She was preparing to mount a horse when the horse stepped on her foot. Fortunately, Alice was standing on a sandy surface at the time and no bones were broken, but her foot was sore for weeks afterward.

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Quotes

Revenue Agent: You've proven yourself a hero. You may now marry this beautiful girl.
Revenue Agent: By the way, I forgot to mention that I'm already married.

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Connections

Featured in Silent Clowns: Buster Keaton (2006)

User Reviews

Funny Satirical Comedy

"Moonshine" is a funny short comedy that serves as something of a self-parody. There is the usual slapstick, stunts, and other antics, with 'Fatty' and Buster as two revenue agents trying to crack down on a bootlegging operation. What makes it different is the satirical title cards, which poke gentle fun at many of the conventions of movie-making that were well-known even in 1918. A couple of them are hilarious. It's too bad that the print of this short is in such bad shape, because it's a funny little novelty, and it is also great to see a couple of famous artists who don't take themselves too seriously, and who can enjoy a few jokes at their own expense.