The Moonshine War (1970)

Director:

Richard Quine

Writers:

Elmore Leonard (novel), Elmore Leonard (screenplay)

Stars:

Patrick McGoohan, Richard Widmark, Alan Alda

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Patrick McGoohan	...	Frank Long
Richard Widmark	...	Dr. Emmett Taulbee
Alan Alda	...	John W. (Son) Martin
Melodie Johnson	...	Lizann Simpson
Will Geer	...	Mr. Baylor
Joe Williams	...	Aaron
Susanne Zenor	...	Miley Mitchell
Lee Hazlewood	...	Dual Metters
Max Showalter	...	Mr. Worthman
Harry Carey Jr.	...	Arley Stamper
Tom Nolan	...	Lowell
Dick Peabody	...	Boyd Caswell (as Richard Peabody)
John Schuck	...	E.J. Royce
Bo Hopkins	...	Bud Blackwell
Charles Tyner	...	Mr. McClendon

Storyline

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Plot Keywords:

1930s | rapist | prohibition | moonshine | dentist | 

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Taglines:

1932: The Moonshine War. The 18th amendment prohibited drinking. It didn't say a word about killing, double-crossing or blowing things up.

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Genres:

Comedy | Crime | Drama

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Certificate:

GP

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

July 1970 (USA)

Also Known As:

Whisky brutal

Filming Locations:

California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Filmways Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

100 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Connections

Featured in Shooting the Moonshine War (1970)

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Soundtracks

"Ballad Of The Moonshine"
Performed by Hank Williams Jr.
Written by Hank Williams Jr.

User Reviews

Pappy Made A Batch Of Corn, The Revenuers Came

I suppose I was fortunate enough to see The Moonshine War in that garden spot of the earth, Fort Polk, Louisiana when it first came out. With all the southern recruits around me, that audience certainly identified with. Would they only have known at the time what a liberal Alan Alda would turn out to be.

Alda is miles from Hawkeye Pierce in this film. He's a young moonshiner who's got some of the finest product around, comparatively speaking. And in those last days before America came to its senses and repealed Prohibition, he's got a short window of opportunity to get rid of his stash before legal liquor goes on the market again.

Trouble is that two people want his product real bad. One is gangster Richard Widmark, back again in those villainous roles that first brought him stardom. The second is treasury agent Patrick McGoohan, one of those despised revenuers that the hillbilly folk don't like.

McGoohan is no Eliot Ness, in fact he's more typical of the treasury agents from back in the day, crooks themselves trying to take advantage of an unpopular law. Yet even with gangsters gunning for Alda, the hill folk won't give McGoohan the right time of day.

The Moonshine War was an entertaining film, nothing special about it, but no disgrace to anyone involved. Except for the ending which was a classic of its kind. I can't say more, but if for no other reason see this film to see how Mr. Widmark and cronies are dealt with.