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Thread: Johnny Bench to make feature film debut

  1. #1
    Maple SERP savafan's Avatar
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    Johnny Bench to make feature film debut

    http://www.springfieldnewssun.com/hp...easyrider.html



    By Kelly Baker Staff Writer

    Monday, April 23, 2007

    Movie producer Philip Pitzer needed a Midwestern town and a well-known baseball great to finish the last scenes of his 3½ year movie project — a prequel to the 1969 cult classic "Easy Rider."

    Pitzer found both on Monday when Hall of Famer Johnny Bench came to Springfield to shoot a scene in Pitzer's upcoming film "Scarlet Cross."

    "I just happened to know of the stereotypical Midwestern town," Pitzer, of Aspen, said. "It's where I grew up."

    On Monday, the Springfield native brought his cast and crew to Evans Stadium to film the fictional story of Peter Fonda's "Easy Rider" character Wyatt Williams in the years before he sought freedom on the back of a Harley.

    After four years of litigating for sequel rights, Pitzer's independent film is scheduled to open around the country in September.

    The movie will be told in "Forrest Gump" style, Pitzer said, with World War II veterans telling their stories in retrospect.

    Monday's scene featured Wyatt's brother Virgil —a 1961 South High School baseball player who is being eyed by major league baseball scouts, played by Bench and Cincinnati restaurateur Jeff Ruby.

    The experience was a first for Bench who played in every Cincinnati Reds game from 1968 to 1975. He retired in 1983 and was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1989.

    Bench arrived at the stadium around noon, under the radar screen of fans. As he exited the black limo, he quickly noticed a Yankees' ball cap worn by a crew member.

    "Hey, the last time I saw that hat we swept you 2 and 0." Bench said referring to the 1976 World Series.

    While he's logged more than 13,000 hours on television and radio, "Scarlet Cross" is Bench's first time on the big screen.

    "I'm sure I'll just be background," Bench said, dressed in a lime green polo shirt, black pants and tennis shoes.

    Pitzer asked Bench to play the part, not as himself, but as a 1960s scout who could capture the spirit of the game.

    "And who better to do that than Johnny Bench?" Pitzer said.

    ——————————

    In Philip Pitzer's version, "Easy Rider" character Wyatt Williams grows up in Springfield. "I had a charmed childhood here (in Springfield,)" Pitzer said. "It's always good to give back."

    If the prequel does well, Pitzer plans to release the sequel in the summer of 2009 — the 40 year anniversary of the original film.

    Local shots for "Scarlet Cross" included:

    Bryce Hill Farms in Urbana

    The home of local Dr. Charles Parsons

    Evans Field

    Cedar Bog In Urbana

    Ferncliff Cemetery
    My dad got to enjoy 3 Reds World Championships by the time he was my age. So far, I've only gotten to enjoy one. Step it up Redlegs!


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  3. #2
    Haunted by walks
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    Re: Johnny Bench to make feature film debut

    Interesting story. Can you name another member of the Big Red Machine to appear in a feature film?

  4. #3
    Maple SERP savafan's Avatar
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    Re: Johnny Bench to make feature film debut

    Pete Rose played Ty Cobb in a movie about Babe Ruth didn't he?
    My dad got to enjoy 3 Reds World Championships by the time he was my age. So far, I've only gotten to enjoy one. Step it up Redlegs!

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    Re: Johnny Bench to make feature film debut

    Quote Originally Posted by savafan View Post
    Pete Rose played Ty Cobb in a movie about Babe Ruth didn't he?
    Good guess, but that was a TV movie.

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    Smooth WMR's Avatar
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    Re: Johnny Bench to make feature film debut

    Wasn't Joe Morgan in a feature film proclaiming the wonders of sabremetrics?

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    Re: Johnny Bench to make feature film debut

    "The experience was a first for Bench who played in every Cincinnati Reds game from 1968 to 1975."

    I would have to think that statement is incorrect.

    Rem

  8. #7
    Strategery RFS62's Avatar
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    Re: Johnny Bench to make feature film debut

    Quote Originally Posted by remdog View Post
    "The experience was a first for Bench who played in every Cincinnati Reds game from 1968 to 1975."

    I would have to think that statement is incorrect.

    Rem
    Yeah, and the 2-0 sweep should be 4-0.
    We'll go down in history as the first society that wouldn't save itself because it wasn't cost effective ~ Kurt Vonnegut

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    SERP Emeritus paintmered's Avatar
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    Re: Johnny Bench to make feature film debut

    I'm not sure if this counts.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-eAs7DM6u_Q
    All models are wrong. Some of them are useful.

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    Member 919191's Avatar
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    Re: Johnny Bench to make feature film debut

    Looks like all that experience in doing The Baseball Buch is paying off now.
    I've been to dinner at Jimmy Buffet's house, and I've eaten it at a homeless shelter. And there's great joy and harrowing terror to be found in both places.
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    Re: Johnny Bench to make feature film debut

    Did Johnny Bench once release a country album, or did I dream that?

    And no I'm not talking about the Tom Seaver "Casey at the Bat" album with Bench.

  12. #11
    Redsmetz redsmetz's Avatar
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    Re: Johnny Bench to make feature film debut

    Quote Originally Posted by remdog View Post
    "The experience was a first for Bench who played in every Cincinnati Reds game from 1968 to 1975."

    I would have to think that statement is incorrect.

    Rem
    You are correct - his peak was 160 games in 1974.

  13. #12
    Churlish Johnny Footstool's Avatar
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    Re: Johnny Bench to make feature film debut

    Quote Originally Posted by paintmered View Post
    I'm not sure if this counts.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-eAs7DM6u_Q
    I don't know which is more awesome -- Pete singing or the fact that Vic "Mel" Tayback is in the commercial with him.
    "I prefer books and movies where the conflict isn't of the extreme cannibal apocalypse variety I guess." Redsfaithful

  14. #13
    Haunted by walks
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    Re: Johnny Bench to make feature film debut

    Tony Perez appeared in "Bang the Drum Slowly."

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    Rally Onion! Chip R's Avatar
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    Re: Johnny Bench to make feature film debut

    Quote Originally Posted by BCubb2003 View Post
    Tony Perez appeared in "Bang the Drum Slowly."

    I guess he was uncredited.
    Quote Originally Posted by Raisor View Post
    I was wrong
    Quote Originally Posted by Raisor View Post
    Chip is right

  16. #15
    My clutch is broken RichRed's Avatar
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    Re: Johnny Bench to make feature film debut

    Quote Originally Posted by Johnny Footstool View Post
    I don't know which is more awesome -- Pete singing or the fact that Vic "Mel" Tayback is in the commercial with him.
    No kidding. That just made my day.
    "I can make all the stadiums rock."
    -Air Supply


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