Bootleggers

Bootleggers was filmed just across the 'holler' from me many years ago. It was a funny film with some pretty good acting and yes, some pretty lousey acting but still funny. Slim Pickens was perfect for the role of Grandpa Pruitt,and I'd love to see him making moonshine again.

Saw this movie many years ago and got interested when Jaclyn Smith became popular, so popular in fact, that the producers decided to re-titled the movie as "Bootlegger's Angel," to capitalized Smith's later stardom.

There's nothing extra special about the film but it's highly entertaining with excellent performances from all the cast. Smith is a revelation -- she's really born to play Charlie's angel and boy, oh, boy, she can hold a gun with poise and style!

Bootleggers was filmed in and around Calico Rock, AR. In celebration of this film and historic Calico Rock, AR the city will host Bootleggers day June 15-16, 2007 to celebrate our historic past, especially the connection to "The Bootleggers." You can get more information on the "Days" and order copies of the movie from the Calico Rock Chamber offices at 870-297-4129.

All of the historic buildings used in the filming are still present, except for the "jail" that was destroyed to break the boys out. Of course it was just a prop to begin with. Many of the "extras" still live in and around Calico Rock and many more residents can share true stories about real Bootleggers from the era.

Can't really remember much about this movie, except that it was shown in the very early days of HBO, over and over. I remember HBO being a huge novelty (movies on TV! without commercials!) but the novelty soon faded as they had a pretty limited set of titles to show. Bootleggers seems to have been one of them; I feel like they showed it several times a week at least. Anyway, I watched it, and enjoyed it, back then when I was 13 or 14. Would love to see it again and find how it compares to my memory.

My family and I particularly enjoyed this film because it rang true to its era and area. My husband's grandfather was so important to Mountain View, AR that the army would not accept him for service in the Civil War; he was the town's only miller and needed there. My husband's father died at age 104 fourteen years ago and was proud to be from Arkansas, loved to tell of the history. The old-time singing was especially authentic. How I would like to have a video. Taped it from TV the one time we ever knew it to be on here but the local station cut some of the best scenes! I have to say we are not, were not a drinking family, but we surely enjoyed The Bootleggers movie, anyway!