An Emmy-winning, locally produced documentary about Maggie Valley moonshiner Marvin "Popcorn" Sutton shows at 7 p.m. Jan. 21 at White Horse Black Mountain in Black Mountain.
The film, which won a 2009 Emmy, depicts Sutton distilling his final batch of illegal liquor. Interviews with Appalachian folklorists, storytellers, and authors explore the role of moonshine in Appalachian history and identity.
The affable Sutton dominates the film, weaving explanations of moonshine craft with stories of a lifetime of in an outlaw trade.
Sutton’s fame grew exponentially when he committed suicide following a series of highly publicized moonshine busts. Scheduled to report for an 18-month prison term, he instead ended his life. Singer Hank Williams Jr. attended Sutton's funeral to pay his respects.
