Moonshine

1918

Comedy

4
IMDb Rating 5.9/10 10 1042 1K

silent film short film

Plot summary

A feud between the Owens and the Gillettes ends when the last remaining Gillette is killed, but new trouble erupts for the mountain folk with the arrival of a U.S. revenue agent and his assistant.

Director

Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle Photo
Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle

Top cast

Buster Keaton Photo
Buster Keaton as Revenue Agent
Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle Photo
Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle as Revenue Agent
Alice Lake Photo
Alice Lake as Moonshiner's Daughter
Joe Bordeaux Photo
Joe Bordeaux
720p.BluRay 1080p.BluRay
168.07 MB
1280*960
English 2.0
NR
Subtitles us  
24 fps
12 hr 18 min
Seeds 3
311.99 MB
1440*1080
English 2.0
NR
Subtitles us  
24 fps
12 hr 18 min
Seeds 6

Movie Reviews

Reviewed by FiftyTwo_52 5 / 10

Bootleggers, Gags, and History: A Glimpse into Silent Comedy's Past

Moonshine is a fascinating relic of early cinema (1918), but its charm is largely confined to historical curiosity.Directed by and starring Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle, with Buster Keaton in a supporting role, this silent two-reeler follows revenue agents on a slapstick mission to bust moonshiners in the Virginia Hills. While the premise is fun, the film's humor and pacing feel dated by today's standards.Arbuckle's physical comedy and Keaton's deadpan charm are the standout elements, and their on-screen chemistry is undeniable. However, the gags often rely on exaggerated slapstick that hasn't aged gracefully. The surviving fragments suggest a film heavy on intertitles and light on narrative depth, leaving modern viewers with more reading than laughing.The technical limitations of the era are evident, and the story lacks the sophistication of later silent comedies. That said, "Moonshine" offers a glimpse into the early careers of two comedy legends and the evolution of silent film humor. For fans of Arbuckle, Keaton, or silent cinema history, it's worth a watch - but casual viewers may find it underwhelming.A generous 5/10 for its historical significance and the glimpses of genius from its stars.
Reviewed by Snow Leopard

Funny Satirical Comedy

"Moonshine" is a funny short comedy that serves as something of a self-parody. There is the usual slapstick, stunts, and other antics, with 'Fatty' and Buster as two revenue agents trying to crack down on a bootlegging operation. What makes it different is the satirical title cards, which poke gentle fun at many of the conventions of movie-making that were well-known even in 1918. A couple of them are hilarious. It's too bad that the print of this short is in such bad shape, because it's a funny little novelty, and it is also great to see a couple of famous artists who don't take themselves too seriously, and who can enjoy a few jokes at their own expense.
Reviewed by tavm 5 / 10

Moonshine is one Arbuckle/Keaton comedy that exists only in fragments

The print of this silent comedy short starring Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle and Buster Keaton exists only in fragments today and that's what I saw on the Image Entertainment DVD of "The Best Arbuckle-Keaton Collection". In fact, the self-referential tone that other reviewers mentioned in their comments seemed to not to have been in what I watched. There are still a few funny gags that were presented like when Buster gets the men out of the car, there are a way lot more than what you'd expect of them coming out and it all seems to be in one continuous shot. Then there's the Buster-almost-falls-from-cliff-before-Fatty-becomes-the-almost-victim setup the was also good though this version seemed to have a few unintentional jump cuts due to overuse of film stock. After that, what I saw was a little confusing though the title cards and some more decent gags helped a little. So, according what I just watched, Moonshine is worth a look.
Read more IMDb reviews

1 Comments

Be the first to leave a comment