David's Blog from the Creative Coast & Carolina Low Country!

The Legend of Bagger Vance, A Reflection on the filming in the Creative Coast

Back in 1999, I remember all the hype about Robert Redford jogging on Hilton Head's Coligny Beach every morning before heading to Colleton River Plantation. He was here in the Low Country filming The Legend of Bagger Vance; the story of a guardian angel that helps a World War 1 veteran, played by Matt Damon, forget about the war and strive to regain his life to what it was before the Great War. Bagger, played by Will Smith, is also helping Hardy who is telling the story of the great golf match that unfolded in 1931 Savannah.

In the Island Packet, they called for extras in 1930S attire to be the crowd that attends the golf tournament that was filmed at Colleton River, located just before the bridges to Hilton Head. That same summer, my friend Marty got three of us out their on that course to play, until it downpoured on us. I was quite pleased with experience, even though I was rained out.

Junuh, played by Damon, had drifted since the war ended in 1918 because of guilt when soldiers under his command did not return from the war. Adele, Junuh's estranged wife plans a golf tournament between  legends Bobby Jones and Walter Hagen to help save her golf course, the organizers decide to add a third competitor from Savannah, Junuh.

The match goes on for four rounds, as Junuh battles his demons and his past to regain his golf swing and his wife. Personally, I think Redford did an outstanding job in casting, especially Will Smith.

The opening scene were Junuh returns to Savannah was filmed along West Congress and Barnard Streets in the City Market. Restaurants and shops were paid to close on the days of filming to allow Hollywood take everybody back to 1931 Savannah.

Adele's home was filmed on East Gaston Street, near Forsyth Park, and the announcing of the tournament was shot on the balcony at City Hall. Madison and Wright Squares were used as backdrop scenes to give an idea of daily life in Depressed Savannah.

When Savannah learns that their Junuh is faring well in the match, it shows them flocking to the course, leaving work and home to attend the final round. This was filmed near the Lucas Theater on Abercorn Street.

Additional golf scenes were shot at Georgia's Jekyll Island and South Carolina's Kiawah Island.

I hope some of the clips and photos will bring this classic back to life.

Midnight in the Garden of Good & Evil, the scenes filmed around Savannah

Midnight in the Garden of Good & Evil is based upon events in Savannah from the 1980S, that focused on the four murder trials of Jim Williams, all four were based on one shooting from Christmas 1981.

John Berendt visited Savannah in 1982 and meet Williams in prison after his first conviction. The story revolves around the murder of Danny Hansford, a local hustler that had intimate relations with Jim Williams, a respected art dealer. He bought Mercer House in 1969 and completely restored it. The murder took place in Mercer House.

Mercer House construction began in 1860 by Johnny Mercer's grandfather, Hugh Mercer. Hugh Mercer was an army officer that resigned his commission in 1861 when Georgia seceded and he later joined the Confederate army.

The book emphasizes the different characters of Savannah, while Berendt in trying to piece together what really happened between Williams and Hansford. The book covers almost nine years of the William's trials.

In 1997, Clint Eastwood selected the project to be filmed. Two reasons I believe; the book spent over 200 weeks on the New York Times Best Seller List and as a tribute to the great song writer Johnny Mercer. Mercer's music would be showcased in the film's soundtrack.

One of my graduate professors, Doctor John Duncan, from present day Armstrong Strong Atlantic State University was used as one of the film's technical advisers. He taught the history of Savannah when I was in his class in 1995.

The screenplay took on a different view from the book. Many of the outrageous characters were minimized, while the Berendt character was renamed John Kelso for the film. Other liberties were taken to help move the story along, but the central character of the film came across as Savannah.

Many fans of the book were disappointed because of this, but today people flock down to Savannah to see where these events occurred.

The opening scenes show us flying over the marsh to Bonaventure Cemetery, focusing on the 'Bird Girl' and Johnny Mercer's grave. The cemetery is located in nearby Thunderbolt.

The park scenes, are of Forsyth Park, where Kelso meets Williams' attorney, Sonny Seiler and it ends the film when Kelso, Lady Chablis and Mandy are satisfied that justice has been served. Seiler owns UGA, mascot of the University of Georgia.

Kelso is greeted at 2 East Taylor Street, the Hugh Comer House, it was built in 1880 and hosted Jefferson Davis in 1886.

Kelso first meets Williams and Seiler at the Armstrong House, the corner of Bull and West Gaston Streets.

Clary's Cafe is located at 404 Abercorn Street, this is where Kelso starts to meet the characters of Savannah, they still serve breakfast and lunch.

Club One is located in City Market on Jefferson Street, famous for it's Drag Queen shows and a visit from Lady Chablis once a month. If you wish to be embarrassed, check your calender.

The Married Ladies Card Club scenes were filmed at 126 East Gaston Street.

Churchill's Pub, where Kelso listens to Mandy sing, burned a few years back and has since relocated to West Bay Street. A new pub, Issac's, occupies the current space.

The Court House scenes were filmed at the Federal Court House on Wright Square.

Kelso stayed at 200 West Jones Street while interviewing the characters for his book.

I hope this helps people remember the scenes and the back drop of events that helped make Savannah a huge destination for travelers.

Glory filmed in and around Savannah, Georgia

In 1988, filmmaker Freddie Fields was walking through Boston Common when he noticed a Civil War monument, honoring a unit from Massachusetts. Upon further inspection, he noticed it was tribute to the 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment, a regiment made up of African-Americans that fought for the Union during the Civil War.

Fields immediately thought this story would make a great film, he commenced work on Glory.

 The story focuses on how the unit was raised in Boston, the obstacles they faced as one of the Union Army's first African-American regiments, their assignment in the Union's Department of the South; fighting to trying to take the city of Charleston through engagements on James Island and Battery Wagner. The story takes place in Beaufort, James Island, Morris Island and Darien, Georgia.

Filmmakers, decided to film in the Savannah area because of the locations that they needed for the film. Initial filming began with the Battle of Antietam, the opening scene, was filmed in 1988 at the 135th Anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg.

In 1989, filmmakers descended on the Savannah area to film Glory. If you watch the film closely you can see some of Savannah's famous landmarks in the film.

The Mercer House, doubled as the residence of Colonel Robert G. Shaw's parent's home in Boston. It is here, where he is offered command of the 54th by the governor of Massachusetts.

The recruiting and mustering of enlisted men of the 54th was filmed near the intersection of Whitaker and West Jones Streets, near a local favorite Mrs. Wilkes Boarding house.

The training of the regiment scenes were were filmed at the Roundhouse Railroad Museum in Savannah. The museum doubled as Camp Readville, near Boston. Many of Massachusetts fighting units were trained here before going off to war.

Historic River Street served as a street in Boston, as the crowd sends off the 54th Massachusetts to join Union forces in South Carolina.

The 54th's arrival in Beaufort, South Carolina was filmed at the Meek's Home in Richmond Hill, Georgia.

The skirmish on James Island, a Confederate held island, outside of Charleston was filmed at Savannah's Rose Dhu Island.

Battery Wagner, the climatic battle scene were the 54th proved themselves in combat was recreated on Jekyll Island, just south of Savannah.

If you have not scene this movie, it is a must, the photography is awesome. It was unknown story that most people never knew before 1989. This one is a keeper and is part of my library.

Forrest Gump! Alabama was filmed in Savannah and Beaufort!

I first arrived in the LowCountry in 1992, I was introduced to the area from the watching the Heritage Golf Classic and the movie, Glory. The Prince of Tides had been just filmed here the year before and then came the announcement that Hollywood was returning to the LowCountry. Forrest Gump was being filmed in Savannah and in the Beaufort area, Beaufort was doubling for Alabama.

The opening scene from Forrest Gump was filmed with the feather floating down from the steeple of the Independent Presbyterian Church, on Bull Street in Savannah. Nearby is where Forrest Gump is sitting on a bench in Chippewa Square. The bench never existed, it was made of fiberglass and is now exhibited in the Savannah History Museum. The flow of traffic was altered to move in the opposite direction around the square as the bench scenes were being filmed.

Everybody who visits Savannah wants to sit on that bench. Good thing they moved it, I could see some college kids grabbing it for a dorm room or fraternity house, making a nice conversation piece.

The Vietnam scenes were filmed on what is now the Ocean Creek Golf Course on Fripp Island, near Beaufort, South Carolina.

The Shrimp boat scenes were filmed on the creeks between Lady's Island and Coosaw Island, near Beaufort. Other scenes were filmed just north of Savannah in Prichardville and Varnville, both are located in South Carolina.

Everytime I watch this movie I still awe at the beauty of this area that I call home, the LowCountry. Forrest Gump has too make you smile, it is rumored that there will be a sequel based on the novel, Gump & Co. Hollywood is reviewing a script that was written in 2001. For this project to happen they will need to sign Tom Hanks. Some of my future blogs will include other films that were filmed in the area.