Woodrow Cornett: Letcher County Butcher (Film)

Woodrow Cornett: Letcher County Butcher

  •  Bill Richardson with Frank Majority
  •  1971
  • Black and White IconBlack & White
  •  9:51
  •  16 mm film
Film Description
Woodrow Cornett: Letcher County Butcher follows an old-time mountain butcher, a master of his craft, as he goes through the intricate process of butchering a hog. Cornett’s son-in-law, Frank Majority, provides a running commentary on the action, while Ashland Fouts supplies harmonica tunes and humor. Woodrow Cornett: Letcher County Butcher was one of the first films produced by Appalshop and continues to be a favorite for its simplicity and directness, although viewers should be advised that butchering is not a practice for the faint of heart.

Screenings & Festivals
  • American Film Institute
  • D.W. Griffith Film Festival
  • Museum of Modern Art
  • National Film Theatre, British Film Institute


This film was preserved by Appalshop Archive with support from the National Film Preservation Foundation. To support the work of preserving and safeguarding the collections, please consider designating a donation to Appalshop Archive.


Reviews

“Woodrow Cornett’s approach is so brisk and casually informative that you’re likely to find a squeamish reaction turning into an admiring one before you can quite account for it … We simply watch a skillful man go about his job with consummate skill, learning a thing or two about one of the processes of life most of us can conveniently forget about.” — The Washington Post
“A simply fascinating ten-minute picture telling how one man makes a living by butchering hogs and steers … I cannot convey in words how interesting this film is, made even more so by the harmonica music background that gives to this documentary much meaning.” — New Haven Register