Photo by Debra Maylum From left, Bert, Alan and son, Ruslan, leave the theater with a movie poster.

In the theater

‘Madison’ movie-goers give hometown film ‘thumbs up’

By Debra Maylum
Staff Writer
(May 2005) – Moviegoers filled theaters on Friday, May 22, on the opening night of “Madison.” The Friday afternoon matinee was “much fuller than usual,” said Great Escape Theatres’ Madison 6 theatre employees. By 6 p.m., the theater had already sold 70 tickets to the 7:15 p.m. show. The theater holds about 190 people, manager Stephanie Dionne said.
In honor of the hometown movie, the theater handed out “Madison” posters and key chains to anyone who came to see the film.
MGM released the film in a national “limited” release of about 25 cities. Depending on the film’s success at the box office, more cities could be added later, MGM officials have said. At each showing in Madison, however, the theater was full of viewers excited to see their hometown on the big screen.
David and Beverly Yeager said the best part of the experience for them was seeing people they knew who played extras. “It was a fun movie, and it seemed like they got all of the business fronts,” said David.
In addition to the downtown businesses, the movie clearly showed the beautiful scenery along the riverfront.
“It was weird to see, but I loved how beautiful it looked,” said Bert Batman, who lives in Madison with her husband, Alan, and son, Ruslan, 10. “You take it for granted when you see it every day.”
The Batman family was in agreement on the success of the movie. “I liked it, even though I was for Budweiser,” said Ruslan. Alan Batman added that he enjoyed the great story line.
Dean Cutter of Canaan, Ind., also wanted to see the story told on the big screen. He attended the race in person as a college student at Hanover in 1971. “It was pretty realistic,” he said.
Cutter and his wife, Cathy, were not the only ones who took a road trip in order to see “Madison” in Madison.

Photo by Debra Maylum Anthony Stephens and Suzanna Wheeler-Stephens drove 200 miles from Ashton, Ky., to see the movie in Madison.

Anthony Stephens and his wife, Suzanna Wheeler-Stephens, drove 200 miles from Ashton, Ky., to see the movie on its opening day. The couple honeymooned in Madison when the movie was being filmed in 1999 and could not wait to finally see it. “It puts Madison in a really positive light,” said Suzanna. “It gave an excellent portrayal of the town.”
“I can not wait to send it to my family in Austin and Nashville when it comes out on video,” said Beth Furnish of Madison.
The movie also opened in Owensboro, Ky., on April 22. That is the hometown of the late Jim McCormick, who drove the community owned Unlimited hydroplane Miss Madison to victory in 1971.
“It was a great day,” said Mike McCormick, the son of Jim and portrayed by then-10-year-old Jake Lloyd in the movie. “We want to thank Bob Hughes and Clifty Engineering for arranging to tow the Miss Madison showboat all the way down here for the movie opening.”
The showboat was on display at WBKR radio station in Owensboro’s main thoroughfare, and also at a local car dealership part of the day and then in front of the cinema that night. McCormick and his mother, Bonnie, attended the “Madison” premiere party in Madison on April 17 and have had many telephone calls since the movie opened, Mike said.
“The response has been overwhelming,” he said by telephone April 28. “It was great being back in Madison and seeing old friends. Mom and I loved the movie. It was the best weekend of my life.”

• Editor Don Ward contributed to this report.

• 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

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