The Bitter End Aaand Action!
By Captain J. Gary "Gator" Hill
I
and Doctor Sleep, the 2019 sequel to The Shining, to name a few. Of course, I can’t move on without mentioning Savannah and Tybee, but I’ll try to keep it quick and dirty. Let start with the biggies: Forrest Gump, which was filmed both in Savannah and Beaufort, and Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil (based on John Berendt’s book by the same name, which was his first book – how bout that for a first!) These next few are movies I’ve watched recently as I had family down over the summer and for Thanksgiving. First, The Gifted, a splendid and heartfelt movie filmed on Tybee Island. Next on the list is Savannah, based on local legend and market hunter Ward Allen, this was a locally produced movie by Unclaimed Freight Productions. (These are the same people who brought you CBGB, which was based on NYC music nightspot known as a launching pad for acts like the Ramones and Blondie, which was kinda’ strange given these were punk and alternative bands, but CBGB stands for Country Bluegrass Blues.) I also have to mention that Disney did an awesome live action remake of Lady and the Tramp, which is a great choice for family time. Last but least, there’s The Peanut Butter Falcon, and I can’t say enough about how much I love this film! It is definitely a must see. I hope you take time to check some of these out as well as searching out others I don’t have space to include – there just isn’t enough space to encompass all that’s been done here on our special coast. However, you spend your time with family and friends, Merry Christmas to you all!
hope this year has found you healthy as we continue to deal with the virus, I hope your financial stability has weathered these times as well, and above all else, I hope your Christmas presents aren’t sitting on a container ship off the coast somewhere. It’s been a wild year for sure, but it’s times like these that should make us appreciate the things we take for granted. So, here we are with Christmas nearly upon us. Time for family gatherings and figuring out how we entertain everyone after the ham and figgy pudding have been consumed. I recommend staying away from religious and political conversations and instead enjoying some holiday classics, like Frosty the Snowman, A Charlie Brown Christmas, or whatever your family favorite might be. Did you know the lowcountry is home to a thriving film and TV industry? Let’s start with some of our neighbors, like the beautiful and historic Beaufort, S.C., to my north. A well-preserved bit of southern charm that also served as the backdrop for movies such as The Great Santini, The Big Chill, Platoon, G.I. Jane, and one of my favorites The Prince of Tides. Both The Prince of Tides and The Great Santini were based on novels by the great American author Pat Conroy. (Definitely take time to read some of his works if you haven’t yet.) Over sixteen movies have been filmed in Beaufort, as well as other travel and made-for-TV projects. Do a little research and see what might pique your family’s interest. To my south lies Brunswick Ga., which is all abuzz over a movie currently filming there. Black Panther 2: Wakanda Forever continues the saga and I am curious how this will go after the untimely death of Chadwick Boseman. Boseman did an outstanding job in this role and his death makes me sad as he was not only outstanding as an actor but as an individual as well. Going back decades this historic city has hosted movies such as The Longest Yard with Burt Reynolds, and Conrack, which again was based on another Pat Conroy novel, The Water is Wide, starring the wonderfully talented Jon Voight. Though the movie was set on a fictional island called Yamacraw, the story was based on Conroy’s time teaching on Daufuskie Island. (To clarify so you’re not confused, story based on Daufuskie, movie set on fictional Yamacraw Island, and filmed in Brunswick.) Although I haven’t seen it yet, the TV special Extreme Christmas Trees was filmed in part at Brunswick Manor. I do plan to check this out. Off the beaten path, even smaller towns like Darien (I don’t say this to besmirch Darien as I find it a charming and beautiful place and have been there numerous times) have played host to film crews, most recently to Will Smith’s Gemini Man. Long before that, Darien played a part in the movie Glory which went on to win three Academy Awards in 1989. St. Marys also has quite a few film credits, including Dumbo, The Leisure Seekers with Donald Sutherland and Helen Mirren,
Till our wakes cross again, peace and love and shrimp and grits. I’ll see you on the water!
Email: TheOriginalCaptainGator@gmail.com 22
Southern Tides Magazine
December 2021
