Andrew Budgell
Senior HTF Member
I'm not sure if this is being done for an eventual release by Warner Bros., but it sure looks promising. Please scroll down to the bolded text for more info on the DVD:
Commemoration planned for movie filmed in Boyle
By JENNIFER BRUMMETT
Staff Writer
Plans are being made to commemorate in 2007 the 50th anniversary of the release of the film "Raintree County."
The movie was filmed, in part, in Danville in July 1956, said Holly Henson, artistic director for the Pioneer Playhouse and a member of the Raintree County commemoration committee. The film, which starred Elizabeth Taylor, Eva Marie Saint and Montgomery Clift, was released the following year.
Other filming locations were McCracken County, Paducah, Natchez, Miss., and Reelfoot Lake, Tenn.
The organization of a festival surrounding the commemoration is in its early stages, but a few components already are in the works.
Henson said Catherine Bush, who wrote Danville-produced musicals such as "I'll Never Be Hungry Again" and "Hester Buys a Vowel," has been asked to write a play for the 2007 Pioneer Playhouse season. "Raintree County" will be the play's theme, and the play likely will be a comedy. Early discussions indicated the play would be produced as the last offering of that season. Henson said Bush probably will incorporate local stories into the play she is writing. "It will be historical and hysterical," Henson added.
A parade, a movie showing, a "community cast party" or picnic, a grand ball as well as the organization of a permanent "Raintree County" exhibit on the Pioneer Playhouse grounds are being considered. Carolyn Crabtree of the Danville-Boyle County Convention and Visitors Bureau said often tourists want to see where "Raintree County" was filmed.
Book, DVD in the works
A book and DVD also are in the works. Local residents who remember when "Raintree County" was filmed and have stories to tell about it, have memorabilia from the film, or who were part of the hoopla - maybe as an extra - are wanted for "oral history"-type interviews both for the book and DVD. They can call Crabtree at (859) 236-7794 or e-mail [email protected]. Crabtree is not conducting the interviews, but rather is serving as a contact person for the committee and will pass names on to those creating the DVD and book.
For example, Mary Stith Hamlin of Stith Funeral Home, another committee member, remembered her dad and W.T. Isaacs picking up Taylor in a horse-drawn carriage for the Louisville premiere. She also remembered breaking her ankle catching fireflies for Saint to take back to California.
Henson said her dad, the late Eben C. "Colonel" Henson, was the reason "Raintree County" was filmed in Danville.
"He knew the location manager for MGM, Eddie Woehler," Henson explained. "He worked with Dad down at Silver Springs, Fla."
The Colonel contacted Woehler, showed him pictures of Boyle County that he'd taken, and had him take a look around the area. Woehler liked the look of Boyle County, Henson said, because of its lack of utility and lightpoles.
Commemoration planned for movie filmed in Boyle
By JENNIFER BRUMMETT
Staff Writer
Plans are being made to commemorate in 2007 the 50th anniversary of the release of the film "Raintree County."
The movie was filmed, in part, in Danville in July 1956, said Holly Henson, artistic director for the Pioneer Playhouse and a member of the Raintree County commemoration committee. The film, which starred Elizabeth Taylor, Eva Marie Saint and Montgomery Clift, was released the following year.
Other filming locations were McCracken County, Paducah, Natchez, Miss., and Reelfoot Lake, Tenn.
The organization of a festival surrounding the commemoration is in its early stages, but a few components already are in the works.
Henson said Catherine Bush, who wrote Danville-produced musicals such as "I'll Never Be Hungry Again" and "Hester Buys a Vowel," has been asked to write a play for the 2007 Pioneer Playhouse season. "Raintree County" will be the play's theme, and the play likely will be a comedy. Early discussions indicated the play would be produced as the last offering of that season. Henson said Bush probably will incorporate local stories into the play she is writing. "It will be historical and hysterical," Henson added.
A parade, a movie showing, a "community cast party" or picnic, a grand ball as well as the organization of a permanent "Raintree County" exhibit on the Pioneer Playhouse grounds are being considered. Carolyn Crabtree of the Danville-Boyle County Convention and Visitors Bureau said often tourists want to see where "Raintree County" was filmed.
Book, DVD in the works
A book and DVD also are in the works. Local residents who remember when "Raintree County" was filmed and have stories to tell about it, have memorabilia from the film, or who were part of the hoopla - maybe as an extra - are wanted for "oral history"-type interviews both for the book and DVD. They can call Crabtree at (859) 236-7794 or e-mail [email protected]. Crabtree is not conducting the interviews, but rather is serving as a contact person for the committee and will pass names on to those creating the DVD and book.
For example, Mary Stith Hamlin of Stith Funeral Home, another committee member, remembered her dad and W.T. Isaacs picking up Taylor in a horse-drawn carriage for the Louisville premiere. She also remembered breaking her ankle catching fireflies for Saint to take back to California.
Henson said her dad, the late Eben C. "Colonel" Henson, was the reason "Raintree County" was filmed in Danville.
"He knew the location manager for MGM, Eddie Woehler," Henson explained. "He worked with Dad down at Silver Springs, Fla."
The Colonel contacted Woehler, showed him pictures of Boyle County that he'd taken, and had him take a look around the area. Woehler liked the look of Boyle County, Henson said, because of its lack of utility and lightpoles.
