Madison Memories

Role in movie was
a life-changing experience for me

Nashville actor Knapp recounts playing Humphrey

By Frank Knapp
Special to RoundAbout
(April 2005) – I never will forget my first view of the Ohio River and Madison, Ind., as I drove down the Kentucky side toward that memorable bridge. I had made the drive from Nashville, Tenn., in just under four hours. Emotions welled in me as I crossed the bridge, taking in the view of this river town as barge traveled along its waters.
It was warm and sunny on that Friday afternoon, Sept. 3, 1999, and I had to find 108 E. Second St., where the “Madison” movie production office was located. I had landed a part in it, and shooting would begin the next day. I was excited and eager to get started.
How would it be? Who all would I get to know? These were some of the questions in my mind as I pulled into the production office parking lot. It didn’t take long to know it was gonna be great as I got out and stepped in to the “organized chaos” of the movie world.
I was soon made welcome by staff, crew, director Bill Bindley and his brother, Scott Bindley. The two co-wrote the movie script. The afternoon was filled with wardrobe, script, enjoying the riverbank and getting acquainted with the “Miss Madison.” What a sensation it was the first time I heard and felt the rumble of those engines. It sounded like a whole herd of Harleys roarin’ down the Ohio. Yes!
We filmed the end of the movie on that Labor Day weekend because of the holiday crowds, which in the movie became the 1971 Gold Cup race crowd. I got acquainted with actors Jim Caviezel, little Jake Lloyd and two wild and crazy guys, Brent Briscoe and Mark Fauser. We all became close right from the start.
Another wild and crazy guy was Tony Steinhardt, who was our technical adviser and the real-life character Briscoe would portray in the movie. And what a character Steinhardt was!
Of course, no less crazy was William Shockley. John Watson Sr. was great and a great jazz trombone player, which a lot of us found out. Mary McCormack was gracious. Chelcie Ross was someone I knew because I had worked with him before. He’s a good man. It was also an honor to work with Paul Dooley, and the infamous Bruce Dern. I learned a lot from them. I enjoyed working with Ken Foley, Vincent Ventresca, Reed Diamond and Jim Andelin.
Then there was the production crew. They were all great and, over our time in Madison, we all became like one big family. But as Shockley told me when, after six years on “Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman” the final “It’s a wrap” was called and everyone went home, there was an empty void and some depression for awhile afterward. So it was with the final wrap on “Madison.”
Another family will always be the people and establishments of Madison. There are the good times with Trish, Chuck and Caroline at Shipley’s Tavern; Shockley and I playing guitars with Rob Houze at Crawdaddy Music; listening to John Watson Sr.; sitting in with Houze and his jazz group at the Broadway Hotel; and the good times at the Ovo Café with Greg Thomas and his wife, Tammy. (Greg did a great job with his scene in our movie).
I enjoyed my stay and the Holiday Inn Express and later the view and hospitality at the Hillside Inn. No less gracious was the Madison Area Chamber of Commerce, which invited me to speak at the 2002 Business Expo.
I’ll never forget the breathtaking aerial view of Madison and the Ohio River as we were climbing to altitude for my skydive to open the air show at the Madison Airport in September 1999.
But what brought us all together was this wonderful American story of hardship, perseverance and triumph. The real heroes are the late Jim McCormick, the crew of the 1971 Miss Madison team, their families and the people of Madison. We were just actors.
My part? I was honored to play the role of Bobby Humphrey. And to you and your family, Mrs. Humphrey, I realize I don’t look at all like your husband, but in seeing him on film and in pictures and being on the actual boat, I got somewhat of the feeling Bobby must have had. And I felt at times he was with me.

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• Frank Knapp is a singer-songwriter, actor and professional skydiver from Nashville, Tenn. He played the part of Miss Madison team member Bobby Humphrey in the movie “Madison.” He wrote this article for RoundAbout.

• For more information, visit the official movie website: www.madisonthemovie.com. To view the movie trailer and message board, visit RoundAbout’s “Madison” movie web page at: www.roundaboutmadison.com.

• Editor’s Note: You can view the movie trailer in its entirety online at:
www.madisonthemovie.com/madison.html. Click on “Madison.”

“Madison” Movie Credits
Made in USA, 2001
Release Date: Late Summer 2004
Distributors: MGM
Runtime: 94 min.
Executive Producers: Carl Amari, Chris Dennis, Steve Salutric, Roy Millonzi
Producers: Martin Wiley, William Bindley
Co-Producer: Lisa Lloyd
Screenwriters: William Bindley, Scott Bindley
Director: William Bindley (Credits: “The Eighteenth Angel,” “Judicial Consent”)
Principal Cast: Jim Caviezel (Jim McCormick), Jake Lloyd (Mike McCormick), Mary McCormack (Bonnie McCormick), Bruce Dern (Harry Volpi), Paul Dooley (Mayor Don Vaughn), Brent Briscoe (Tony Steinhardt).
Additional Cast: Frank Knapp (Bobby Humphrey), Kristina Anapau (Tami), James Andelin (Merle), Reed Diamond (Skip), Mark Fauser (Travis), Richard Lee Jackson (Buddy), Matthew Letscher (Owen Henderson), Cody McMains (Bobby Epperson), William Shockley (Rick Winston), Vincent Ventresca (Walker Grief), John M. Watson Sr. (Walter).
Storyline: A somewhat fictionalized account of a true story about an Unlimited hydroplane driver’s surprise victory in the 1971 Gold Cup at Madison, Ind.
Official website: http://www.madisonthemovie.com

Copyright 1999-2008, Kentuckiana Publishing, Inc.