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Published Tuesday, July 21, 2009 in Local

'Fluke' will be shown free Friday at Dunaway Gardens

By News Staff

The Newnan Times-Herald

"Fluke" -- which includes scenes filmed at Dunaway Gardens -- will be shown at the north Coweta historic site on Friday.

The free showing of the 1995 film -- which starred Matthew Modine, Nancy Travis, Eric Stoltz, Ron Perlman and Collin Wilcox Paxton -- is part of the Powers' Coweta Classics series. The series of free movies, which all have some Coweta County tie, is sponsored by the Powers' Festival, which brings artists and visitors to Coweta County each Labor Day.

The movies offer an opportunity to encourage local residents to attend the annual arts and crafts festival -- and some free, summer, family fun. "Fluke" will be shown at 8 p.m. on an inflatable movie screen.

The film series began July 11 when "Tobacco Road" was presented on the town square in Moreland. "Tobacco Road," a 1941 John Ford classic, was based on one of the best-selling novels by Erskine Caldwell, whose birthplace on the square was open to visitors prior to the film.

About 120 people gathered on the Moreland square -- bringing lawn chairs to enjoy the comedy/drama which starred Charles Grapewin and Elizabeth Patterson as Jeeter and Ada Lester. Others in the cast included Marjorie Rambeau, Gene Tierney and Dana Andrews.

"We are so happy with the turnout. It was a picture perfect evening to be viewing a movie outside," said Carol Chancey, executive director of Coweta Festivals, the coalition of community organizations that sponsors the Powers' Festival.

"Seeing 'Tobacco Road,' the images in the film, with the author's birthplace in the background was inspiring," Chancey said. "It's easy to see the origin of his stories and characters. They could have walked right off the front porch of the museum, his home, and onto the screen in the same evening. It was a little surreal."

Josh Evans, the mayor of Moreland, welcomed the crowd. "This is a great event to have here," he said.

Winston Skinner, chairman of the Caldwell museum committee, spoke briefly about Caldwell. He noted that Caldwell was dissatisfied with Hollywood's treatment of "Tobacco Road" in party because the stark ending of his novel was softened.

Skinner is also assistant news editor of The Times-Herald.

Chancey said she is looking forward to the other movies in the series -- as well as to the Labor Day weekend festival. She described "Fluke" as "a family film about a man who dies and comes back to life as a dog."

Other upcoming films in the Powers' Coweta Classics series are:

* "Murder in Coweta County," Wadsworth Auditorium, Newnan, Aug. 1, 8 p.m. Stars include Andy Griffith, Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash.

* "Fried Green Tomatoes," Main Street at the Gazebo, Senoia, Aug. 15, 8 p.m. Stars include Kathy Bates, Mary Stuart Masterson, Mary Louise Parker, Jessica Tandy and Cicely Tyson.

Chancey said she hopes local people who were extras in when "Fried Green Tomatoes" was filmed at several local sites -- and who were involved with the "Murder in Coweta County" filming -- will attend those screenings. People who have stories they might like to share from those experiences should contact Coweta Festivals at cowetafestivals@charter.net .

Locations in Senoia, Haralson, Newnan and Peachtree City were used in "Fried Green Tomatoes." "Murder In Coweta County" -- filmed mostly in Zebulon -- recounted events from an actual murder. The movie was based on the best-selling book by Newnan native Margaret Anne Barnes.

Powers' Coweta Classics will finish the summer with an Evening of Animation at the Centre for Performing and Visual Arts. Students from the Savannah College of Art and Design campuses in Savannah and Atlanta have produced 19 short animated films.

Chancey said final details for the animated film festival are being made, but she said the event will be held "in late August."

The Powers' Festival is a juried arts and crafts show held at the Powers' festival grounds on Coweta County's western border each Labor Day weekend. The event, which includes entertainment and food, has been a Labor Day tradition for 39 years.

Chancey noted profits from the festival have gone back to the sponsoring organizations. "The net proceeds have been plowed back into these organizations and made a lot of good things possible," she said.

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