Savannah (2013)

Drama about the friendship between an Oxford-educated Southerner and a former black slave in turn-of-the-century Savannah.

Director:

Annette Haywood-Carter

Writers:

Ken Carter, Annette Haywood-Carter

Stars:

Jim Caviezel, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Jaimie Alexander

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jim Caviezel	...	Ward Allen
Chiwetel Ejiofor	...	Christmas Moultrie
Jaimie Alexander	...	Lucy Stubbs
Bradley Whitford	...	Jack Cay
Sam Shepard	...	Mr. Stubbs
Tracey Walter	...	Mathias
Jack McBrayer	...	Sir Graham
Hal Holbrook	...	Judge Harden
Simone Griffeth	...	Mrs. Stubbs
George Whitford	...	Little Jack Whitford
Doug Nemeth	...	Cowardly Policeman
Billy Hester	...	Roy McClain
Richard Seng	...	Homer Peeples
Solon Carter	...	Scared Paperboy
Daniel Jones	...	Savannah Sheriff

Storyline

SAVANNAH is the true story of Ward Allen, a romantic and bombastic character who rejects his plantation heritage for the freedom of life on a river. Ward navigates the change of early 20th century America on the wrong side of the law and society, his loyal friend, a freed slave named Christmas Moultrie, at his side. Master of Shakespeare, and the shotgun that provides Savannah's markets with fowl, Ward fights for his rights as a hunter. His charisma and eloquent rhetoric win the heart of a society woman who defies her father to marry him. An elderly Moultrie tells the story of life on the river with his friend to a little boy, who passes the legendary Ward Allen down to the next generation.

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Plot Keywords:

shooting lesson | barbershop | dead animal | animal death | hunt | 

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Taglines:

Based on a true story.

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Genres:

Drama | Family | History | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for brief sexuality.

Did You Know?

Trivia

There is scene shortly after the film flashes to 1922 where Ward and Christmas are discussing the construction of "Imperial." The characters are referring to Imperial Sugar, which is the modern day corporate name for Dixie Crystal, who built their sugar refinery on Savannah's marsh front in 1916.

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Goofs

In the film, Ward Allen died in 1922. He was born in 1856, so he would have been 66 years old, but Jim Caviezel was 44 during filming. Ward Allen actually died in 1931 at the age of 75.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Christmas Moultrie: [hearing a distant gunshot] Boy, that one missed his muster.
Little Jack Whitford: Did he miss?
Christmas Moultrie: Oh, yes sir. Ward Allen, missed his muster.
Little Jack Whitford: Aw, come on, Christmas.
Christmas Moultrie: Uncle John told me the stories.
Little Jack Whitford: Tell me another story, Christmas. The one in the war, nearly killed that Russian.
Christmas Moultrie: Come on now, Jack, I told ya that story a hundred times.

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Soundtracks

Sonata, violin and piano, no. 26, K. 378, B-flat major; arranged
Written by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (as W.A. Mozart) and arranged by Jim Long

User Reviews

A wonderful movie to escape to an oft' forgotten past time and setting!

Go back in time, a couple of decades after the civil war, to Savannah, GA, and meet a largely unknown character choosing to live against the flow of prevailing contemporary attitudes and social mores. Enjoy stunning cinema-photography, a host a familiar actors performing at their best, and sit back and enjoy what the best movies do----tell a wonderful story in a unique way. "Savannah" was truly an emotional journey through primarily the life of one man while also taking time for the viewer to invest in the lives of those whom our protagonist chooses to invite to share in his adventures and way of life. I enjoyed the flow of the movie, enjoying each change of perspective. I contend the director prevailed in accomplishing balance in moving our story along in every way.

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official Twitter

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

25 April 2014 (USA)

Also Known As:

Savannah River - Freiheit am Fluss

Filming Locations:

Savannah, Georgia, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$5,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$15,599, 25 August 2013

Gross USA:

$37,240

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$37,240

Company Credits

Production Co:

Unclaimed Freight Productions, Meddin Studios

Technical Specs

Runtime:

101 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital Soundelux

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1