MovieChat Forums > Paper Moon (1973) Discussion > Question about the liquor transaction

Question about the liquor transaction

posted 15 years ago by thecrux-1
6 replies | jump to latest

Actually it's more an observation and a desire to compare notes; but

I wonder if the bootlegger's brother; The sheriff who was hiding behind the brush during the transaction where Moze re-sold the stolen whiskey, was there because the bootlegger suspected Moze stole the whiskey from him and wanted to entrap him - OR - it was a matter of busting Moze even if he didn't mouth off within the cop's earshot about selling the bootleggers own stolen whiskey to him, or even suspected it...in a sort of crooked cop/bootlegger cabal to "rob" ( and bust ) the seller no matter who he was.

Any thoughts?

[–] zigfried-2 13 years ago

The bootlegger knows Moze is conning him right from the start. It is the bootlegger who is setting up Moze. The scene in the hotel lobby where Moze is talking about the deal with the bootlegger, at one point Moze says he can get the liquor to him in the morning. The bootlegger then asks if the liquor is in the county and Moze says yes, it is. The camera then goes in for a close up of the bootlegger's face as he turns and looks at Moze. It is at that moment that the bootlegger knows what Moze is doing. Apparently no one dealt booze in that county but that one bootlegger. When Moze says the booze is in the county, the bootlegger knows that is not possible without him knowing about it.

[–] thecrux-1 13 years ago

Absolutely plausible. I re-watched the scene to see the "look" the bootlegger gave Moze. Very sly.

Thanks for your input.

[–] dhmason6155 8 years ago

It's been five years, but what did the bootlegger have to gain from conning Moze? Him and his brother went to a whole lot of time trouble and effort, chased Moze into the next state over a period of two days, only to get their money back? I know they got an extra $200 out of him, but that was by accident.

I don't see the angle.

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What kind?
...The Forever Kind.

[–] Mikey (423) 5 years ago

"It's been five years, but what did the bootlegger have to gain from conning Moze?"

The bootlegger was securing his monopoly on booze in the county. He was the only game in town and he was going to make sure it stayed that way. Again, Moze thinks he is setting up the bootlegger, but it is actually the other way around. That is why the camera moves in on the bootlegger's face when he asks Moze if the booze is in the county. It is also why he is just standing in the bushed smoking as Moze and Addy drive away. He knows they are not going very far.

[–] MNRebecca (773) 7 years ago

The bootlegger then asks if the liquor is in the county and Moze says yes, it is. The camera then goes in for a close up of the bootlegger's face as he turns and looks at Moze. It is at that moment that the bootlegger knows what Moze is doing.

I don't believe that's correct. The look from the bootletter meant, "You're violating protocol and I'm gonna swindle you for it" or "I've been planning to swindle you from the start but now that I know you've violated protocol, I'm gonna make it particularly miserable for you." When the sheriff picked him up, neither he nor his brother knew that Moze had stolen the liquor. He found out later, which is why, when he hunted Moze down in Missouri, he menaced Moze cooly with, "My brother's real sore at ya. Seems you sold him some of his own whiskey."

[–] CreosoteXmp37 (294) 3 years ago

Interesting! Another great angle, and equally as plausible as the previous.