I could watch Popcorn Sutton all day. Stacking rocks, building stills, smoothing bran paste, shaking moonshine in clear Kerr jars... As long as he's talking about what he's doing at the same time, I'm watching and listening.
In his new documentary, "The Last One," Neal Hutcheson, a film studies graduate from NC State University, has captured the meticulous and precarious art of moonshining, and at the same time, has captured the life and spirit of the rascally Popcorn Sutton.
Sutton, a tradtional-to-the-core moonshiner, ventures into the Appalachian highlands to make one last batch of his high-proof bootleg whiskey, and takes Hutcheson along as witness. Filmed in the mountains of North Carolina, The Last One follows Sutton through the entire process of moonshining, from clearing the space and building the still, all the way through distillation, "bottling," and yes, a bit of sampling. There's even a little mountain music and dancing (by Sutton) thrown in.
Sutton is a salty ole cuss who drives a Model-A Ford, and he'll tell you right quick what he thinks of the "revenuers" who have chased him all his life. As the first trickles of his last batch fall from the pipe, Sutton recites all the types of liquors he's made in his life: the fighting kind, the loving kind, the crying kind, and apparently, the divorcing kind. The batch in the film? 'Bout five fights per pint.
Hutcheson's company, Sucker Punch Pictures, produced the film, which also features Sutton's assistant J.B. Rader, as well as several journalists and historians who offer insight on the history of moonshining, and the way moonshiners have been treated over time by the government and society.
The Last One airs December 14 at 9pm on the Documentary Channel (DISH Network 197) and again on December 15 at 1:30am. I'm not sure how many of us have DISH around here, but if you have it, watch it. If you don't, keep a close check on the UNC-TV website for upcoming showtimes there. Sucker Punch also has dvd copies of the film for sale at their site, as well as a short preview of the film.
Brooke Cain isn't always proud of the number of hours she logs in front of the TV, but her loss of brain cells can be your gain. From reality shows to sitcoms to the more serious stuff, Brooke keeps her DVR smoking so that she can help keep you in the know. Brooke also tweets for Happiness is a Warm TV (you can follow 
Comments
Popcorn is about Civil Disobedience
Sat, 07/25/2009 - 00:13 — jocomcdGreat review and well written.
Oh, and you shur is purdy!
Popcorn Sutton and Moonshine
Tue, 02/17/2009 - 17:19 — DEJeffreysNeal Hutchinson did us a wonderful favor by documenting the Moonshine tradition which I saw on UNC-TV. I think the law should leave Popcorn Sutton alone, as I am sure that he will be the last generation to be filling up those mason jars with the fruits of the corn still. Popcorn is such a colorful character who shows us the hard way of life in the Appalachians and one of the few ways the men could support their families at the time. Without moonshine and the revenuers, there would be no NASCAR as the first "stock cars" were used for delivery. Some 60 years ago as a child, I remember visiting the still of a distant cousin in Person County, NC with my uncle who liked having an occasional sip of white lightnin'. No doubt that stuff could pickle one's liver and was just about as healthy as smoking cigarettes which supported Person County and many other areas. With all that said, we still need to know about our heritage and I thank Neal for that.
the last one
Sun, 01/04/2009 - 22:45 — buster123Hi I grew up in the smokey mountains of the carolina
Popcorn sutton is a hero in my eyes we need more people like him. my family made likker and sold it and as long as there is life here in these mountains there will always be corn likker here. again popcorn sutton you are a hero and you will be missed when you are gone. I have drink some of your shine and I must have drink the loveing kind because I got married the next week.