Overby Center to feature documentary on Soggy Sweat’s Whiskey Speech in October program

By Overby Center staff

A new documentary film on Soggy Sweat’s iconic Whiskey Speech will be presented at a program in October by the Overby Center for Southern Journalism and Politics. When Prohibition was still in effect in Mississippi and the issue of liquor a major point of political and social discussion, Judge Noah S. “Soggy” Sweat first delivered the speech at the King Edward Hotel in Jackson, Miss., in 1952.

Mississippi judge, law professor and legislator Noah S. “Soggy” Sweat, author of the Whiskey Speech.

The speech is known for the extraordinary rhetorical and theatrical approaches in which Sweat came down on both sides of the issue. The film explores the historical, political, economic, religious, and linguistic dynamics of the speech.

The working title of the film is “When You Say Whiskey: Soggy Sweat, Storytelling & the Whiskey Speech.” It is produced and directed by David Crews, a member of the Overby Center Board of Trustees. Crews will participate in the program along with Charles Overby, chairman of the Overby Center. Extended excerpts of the film will be shown and discussed. 

Lewis Rule of Ruleville, Miss., holds a bottle of Perry Martin whiskey during World War II. Perry Martin ran a still on an island in the Mississippi River and produced prized whiskey that was run all the way to Chicago. Photo courtesy of the Rule and Burdine Family.

The film will explore Sweat’s life and accomplishments. He had a wide-ranging career including service in World War II, state legislator, district attorney, judge, and law school professor. The speech was delivered numerous times over the years, including on the floor of the Mississippi legislature. Sweat had the speech copyrighted, and after it was delivered on an episode of The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson and attributed to a Kansas legislator, the next night Carson corrected the mistake and gave full credit to Sweat, noting that he had the wonderful name “Soggy.”

Crews has conducted more than 40 interviews including with novelist John Grisham, musician Marty Stuart, several of Sweat’s friends, and Emory University historian Joe Crespino. Stuart wrote the country classic, “The Whiskey Ain’t Working Anymore.” 

Film director David Crews interviews country music legend Marty Stuart.

Crews has recorded several extraordinary orators recreating the speech, and portions of it will be woven into the film. Matthew Graves is editor of the film, and Claire Shelmire Crews is director of photography. The final version of the film will run 57 minutes.  The film is supported in part by the Mississippi Humanities Council under a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Crews has produced three films that have been broadcast by PBS affiliates including, “Unrivaled,” which tells the story of Sewanee’s 1899 football that went undefeated; “The Toughest Job,” which chronicles the career of Mississippi Gov. William Winter and won a regional Emmy Award for Best Historical Documentary; and “Eudora,” which documents the remarkable life and work of writer Eudora Welty.  

The program will begin at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 29 in the Overby Center Auditorium on the Ole Miss campus. The public is welcome, and there is no charge. Free parking is available on the campus. A reception for all attendees will follow the program.