The Moonshine War
| The Moonshine War | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Richard Quine |
| Produced by | Martin Ransohoff |
| Screenplay by | Elmore Leonard |
| Based on |
The Moonshine War (novel) by Elmore Leonard |
| Starring |
Patrick McGoohan Richard Widmark Alan Alda Will Geer |
| Music by | Fred Karger |
| Cinematography | Richard H. Kline |
| Edited by | Allan Jacobs |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 100 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
The Moonshine War is a 1970 American criminal comedy-drama film directed by Richard Quine, based on the novel of the same name by Elmore Leonard. It stars Patrick McGoohan, Richard Widmark, Alan Alda, and Will Geer.
Plot
A man called Son Martin (Alda) makes moonshine whiskey, owning and operating a profitable still in Prohibition-era Kentucky. One day, he gets a visit from an old Army acquaintance, Frank Long (McGoohan), who is now an Internal Revenue agent.
Long is willing to look the other way in exchange for a percentage of Son's business. But when he is unable to persuade Son to cut him in on the profits or even reveal where the moonshine is hidden, Long sends for the dangerous Dr. Taulbee (Widmark), who uses more violent methods in getting what he wants.
Taulbee and his henchmen go too far, killing Sheriff Baylor (Geer) and even Taulbee's girlfriend when she tries to get away. Long can see that he made a mistake, so he volunteers to help Son fend off the gang. Still outnumbered, Son finally tells Taulbee's men where the whiskey is buried in exchange for his life. But when the crooks start digging, they set off Son's buried dynamite instead.
Cast
- Patrick McGoohan as Frank Long
- Richard Widmark as Dr. Emmett Taulbee
- Alan Alda as John W. (Son) Martin
- Melodie Johnson as Lizann Simpson
- Will Geer as Sheriff Baylor
- Joe Williams as Aaron
- Suzanne Zenor as Miley Mitchell
- Lee Hazlewood as Dual Metters
- Max Showalter as Mr. Worthman
- Harry Carey, Jr. as Arley Stamper
- Tom Nolan as Lowell
- Richard Peabody as Boyd Caswell
- John Schuck as E.J. Royce
- Bo Hopkins as Bud Blackwell
- Charles Tyner as Mr. McClendon
- Terry Garr as Young Wife