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The Moonshine War
The Moonshine War
	Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Richard Quine
Screenplay by	Elmore Leonard
Based on	The Moonshine War; 1969 novel; by Elmore Leonard
Produced by	Martin Ransohoff
Starring	Patrick McGoohan; Richard Widmark; Alan Alda; Will Geer
Cinematography	Richard H. Kline
Edited by	Allan Jacobs
Music by	Fred Karger
Production; company	Filmways Pictures
Distributed by	Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Release date	July 1970;
Running time	100 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English

The Moonshine War is a 1970 American crime comedy-drama film directed by Richard Quine, based on the 1969 novel of the same name by Elmore Leonard. It stars Patrick McGoohan, Richard Widmark, Alan Alda, and Will Geer.

Plot

John "Son" Martin owns and operates a profitable still, making moonshine whiskey in Prohibition-era Kentucky. One day, he gets a visit from an old Army acquaintance, Frank Long, who is now an Internal Revenue agent.

When Frank is unable to persuade Son to cut him in on the profits, or even reveal where the moonshine is hidden, in exchange for Frank looking the other way, Frank calls in the dangerous Dr. Emmett Taulbee, who uses more violent methods in getting what he wants.

Emmett and his henchmen go too far, killing Sheriff Baylor and even Emmett's girlfriend when she tries to get away. Frank can see that he made a mistake, so he volunteers to help Son fend off the gang. Still outnumbered, Son finally tells Emmett's men where the moonshine is buried in exchange for his life. However, when the crooks start digging, they set off Son's buried dynamite.

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
Teri Garr as Young Wife
Claude Johnson as Young Man
Dick Crockett as Carl
Patty Sauers as Waitress
Tom Skeritt as Neighbor (uncredited)

Production

In October 1968 it was announced film rights to the novel had been purchased by Filmways with MGM to release.^[1] In March 1969 Richard Quine signed to direct.^[2] In June, Patrick McGoohan, who had just made Ice Station Zebra for Filmways and MGM, signed to play the lead.^[3] "You have to do something from time to time to pay the rent", said the actor.^[4]

Filming started August 1969. It was one of eight features greenlit under the new regime at MGM headed by Louis Polk and Herb Solow, the others being False Witness, The Magic Garden of Stanley Sweetheart (filmed in 1970), The Strawberry Statement (filmed in 1970), She Loves Me (planned for Julie Andrews but not filmed), The Adventures of Augie March, Man's Fate (planned by Fred Zinnemann but not filmed) and The Ballad of Dingus Magee (filmed in 1970).^[5]^[6]

The novel was published in September 1969. The New York Times called it "a near perfect shotgun opera."^[7]

The film went over budget.^[8]

References

^ Martin, Betty (Oct 28, 1968). "'Marooned' for Janssen". Los Angeles Times. p. f23.
^ Martin, Betty (Mar 22, 1969). "MOVIE CALL SHEET: Conrad Signs 3-Film Deal". Los Angeles Times. p. b6.
^ Haber, Joyce (4 June 1969). "Jack Palance Set for Good Guy Role". Los Angeles Times. p. d15.
^ Thomas, Kevin (Nov 14, 1969). "McGoohan---TV Spy Who Came Over for the Gold: SECRET AGENT". Los Angeles Times. p. h1.
^ "M-G-M LISTS PLANS FOR MOVIES AND TV". New York Times. Aug 2, 1969. p. 13.
^ Warga, Wayne (Aug 31, 1969). "Movies: Herbert Solow Strives to Leave His Mark at MGM Herbert Solow and MGM". Los Angeles Times. p. j20.
^ MARTIN LEVIN (Sep 21, 1969). "The Moonshine War: By Elmore Leonard. 236 pp. New York: Doubleday & Co. $4.95". New York Times. p. BR46.
^ "Operating Loss Of $l.9 Million Posted by MGM: Despite 2nd Period Deficit, Firm Earned $4.9 Million During 1st Half of Fiscal '70 Filming Costs Charged Off". Wall Street Journal. Apr 22, 1970. p. 5.