Judge Wooten and Coon-On-A-Log

Content Warning: This film contains scenes of animal violence.

Herb E. Smith. 1971. 16 mm Film.

A Fourth of July raccoon-on-a-log contest serves as the background for this portrait of George Wooten, Leslie County Judge. Wooten’s lyrical comments on recreation, retirement, and the mountaineer’s relationship with the land are mixed with scenes of spectators clustered on the banks of the Middle Fork of the Kentucky River, applauding as someone’s favorite black-and- tan coon dog plunges into the water and hustles a raccoon off a log in 45 seconds. “What we got here,” says Judge Wooten,“ is peace and happiness.”

“A beautiful film.”— The Village Voice

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