Page 10 July 19, 2012 TORRANCE TRIBUNE TerriAnn in Torrance Oliver Stone and Ron Kovic. Ron Kovic in front of a picture of Tom Cruise. Ron Kovic signing his book for author Kaylie Jones. The Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Sculpture Garden. Photos by TerriAnn Ferren. A Film for the Ages By TerriAnn Ferren dipping her head into the pond’s cool water is the true story of an all-American boy, Globe or Academy Award--and I just said, For over 100 years, Southern California made me want to cool off the same way. But Ron Kovic, who joins the Marines and is ‘You know your name just sounds like it is has been the center of the film industry. I fought the feeling. sent to Vietnam, gets shot twice--once in the going to be famous someday. It sounds like From the silent film era of Buster Keaton Walking across the courtyard and up the foot that blew out the back of his heel and you are going to win an Academy Award.’ and “America’s Sweetheart” Mary Pickford steps, I entered the lobby area where the film- once through his right shoulder collapsing I was right. When the film fell through the to the dramas, comedies, mysteries and as- makers would be arriving. On one white wall his lung and severing his spine--and comes first time with Al Pacino here in New York sorted film categories of today, there are hung three large pictures of Tom Cruise--as back home paralyzed from the mid-chest with Marty Bregman--and they really wanted some films that are considered art. Ron Kovic. Cruise was unable to attend the down to a divided nation. This is the story to do it, but Oliver made a promise to me Last week, I was invited to theMuseum of event that night, but sent a video greeting of how a horrific, significant event changes and I mentioned it last night. Long ago in Modern Art (MoMA) in New York City, New that was shown before the screening of the the life of one man and transforms him into New York in the late ‘70s when the film York to attend a very special film event.Born film. I asked Mr. Kovic, a Vietnam veteran a proponent and symbol of peace, forgiveness fell through he said, ‘If I ever make it in on the Fourth of July, the 1989 film starring and author of Born on the Fourth of July, and reconciliation. Hollywood, if I ever break through, I’ll come Tom Cruise and directed by the Academy how he felt about this special evening and he After the emotional hit of the movie, Oliver back for you and makeBorn on the Fourth Award-winning Oliver Stone, based on the said, “I feel very honored to be here tonight. Stone pushed Ron Kovic in his wheelchair of July’--and he kept that promise. He made book of the same title written by Ron Kovic, It has come a long way from when I wrote up toward the front of the theatre and helped a promise to me and he kept that promise, was being screened and honored and then the book back in 1974 on a $42 Sears and lift him on the stage for the Q & A. Kardish and that was the film you saw tonight.” placed into the permanent film collection of Roebuck typewriter in about a month-and-a- greeted the two men and began by asking The Q & A went on with Stone and Kovic as the museum. Both Stone and Kovic attended half and now we are going to be screening when Stone acquired the propertyBorn on the they discussed how they wrote the screenplay the special screening, which also coincides the movie at the Museum of Modern Art Fourth of July. “I met Ron at the sidewalk together going back and forth from Ron’s with the release of the Blu-ray edition of tonight.” I then asked him how he felt about café in Venice,” said Stone, “What was the home in Redondo Beach to Oliver’s home the film by Universal. the people who will see the film for the first date?” Turning to Kovic “July 3, 1977…at in Los Angeles and how they chose Cruise On my last visit to New York in the late ‘70s time on Blu-ray and he shared, “I am happy two o’clock in the afternoon,” said Kovic. to play Ron. Kovic revealed how Cruise im- I didn’t see much of it, so I relished this trip to have as many people as possible see this Stone went on to say, “There had been a mersed himself into the part and how he and to cover a very special event and also to see film to get an understanding of what we went script--Martin Bregman, the producer had Tom would go out together in wheelchairs to a bit of this famous city on the “other coast” through in that war Vietnam War and hope- wanted to develop the script with Al Pacino, experience “what it was like to be confined nearly 3,000 miles away. Ernest Hemmingway fully learn the lessons of that war.” Then I who was in his 30s then, to take a shot at this to the chair.” Kovic shared that ever since the referred to a specific time in 1920s Paris asked what was ahead for him and he said, screenplay. The screenplay was impossible at movie came out and how his birthday (July as aMoveable Feast. A film that comes to “I am working on an autobiographical novel times ‘cuz the book is a poetic autobiography 4) and Tom Cruise’s birthday (July 3) are so be considered art is a moveable art form now and have been working on it for about and it is very impressionistic in the way it close together, they have had a tradition of available to everyone around the world--not a year-and-a-half and it will be completed is written. It is a series of impressions back remembering each other’s birthdays every just to the few in any particular city. Maybe when it’s completed.” and forth and I remember messing with it for year with a gift of flowers. That tradition that is why stories told through filmmaking After posing for photographs and being awhile…William Friedkin, who had directed is carried on to this day. Mr. Kovic told me empower, provoke thought, entertain and interviewed, the two honorees headed down The Exorcist, said, ‘You have to make this that Tom Cruise put his heart and soul into inspire us. the hallway to the theatre to see the movie, movie linear. You’ve got to make it straight this film. Indeed he did. The morning of July 5 was hot and hu- with a question and answer period to follow. right from the beginning to the end.’ Ron After the Q. & A., there was a book mid, but the usual high traffic in Midtown A capacity crowd of 400 settled in their seats was instrumental in going to Massapequa signing and gathering with the two honored Manhattan was considerably less due to as the Senior Curator of MoMA’s Film and and getting into his past. It was a struggle- guests taking time to speak with members the Fourth of July holiday. Locals told me Media Department, Larry Kardish, greeted -and for 10 years it didn’t get made. There of the audience. For me, this screening and lots of people had left town to cool off in everyone for this very special occasion. is a whole story in that.” discussion was a genuine night to remember. the Hamptons and the Cape. Honestly, it The lights dimmed and Tom Cruise’s Kovic added, “The first time we met at Not only had I covered a special event, but seemed like a movie just being there. My video greeting began. “I found the film--it the Sidewalk Café in Venice on July 3. I I had the rare opportunity to see the impact hotel was close to MoMA, so I walked the was exhilarating shooting and at times just remember the day--it was such an important of film on an audience many years after the two blocks to the museum at 5:30 p.m. and very profound to have the experience and I moment in my own personal history meeting movie’s release. That is the power of film. arrived early. The screening was to begin at am very proud and honored to have had this Oliver. We had dinner last night. It was my That is why we can see Charlie Chaplin in 7 p.m. and I didn’t want to miss a moment part and to have played this character, and I 66th birthday and I just want to say I was so a silent movie that moves us to laughter and covering this historic film event. The large hope you enjoy this experience of watching happy to be back in New York. I had many see Born on the Fourth of July which can glass doors opened easily and as I walked this film tonight. I can’t tell you how much birthdays out on the island and I have lived move us to tears. into the modern building, I was immediately I wish I was there watching it with you. I out in California for almost 40 years now As I exited the museum that night to head hit with a rush of cool air pushing against remember the first time that I saw the film and it was wonderful to be in New York the back to my hotel, I was once again hit with my hot face. The center of the museum with an audience--just means a lot to me. Fourth of July and be with Oliver. Oliver came the hot, balmy air of summer. My trip to New consists of an open-air sculpture garden and So thank you all very much and I hope it’s all the way from Los Angeles yesterday and York City to view a film being placed in the I decided to investigate. I was surprised by a wonderful evening.” The film began with made it a point to join me for my birthday permanent collection at MoMA was complete. all the people sitting in the sultry heat on the haunting theme by composer John Wil- and it meant a great deal to me. The first The Hollywood/New York connection. Film wire chairs in the garden around the pond, liams. I held my breath as the story unfolded time we met in 1977, I said, ‘You know your crews and cameras are common on the streets sipping cool coffee drinks purchased from a on screen. Touching, moving, disturbing and name, Oliver Stone? It just sounds like it’s of Torrance and throughout the South Bay. vendor in one corner near a clump of trees triumphant, this film moved me deeply. No going to become a…’--no one knew who And every once in awhile, a classic is made that dotted the courtyard. A sculpture by one said a word and I saw silent tears on he was at the time and he had just written that survives the test of time. Born on the Aristide Maillol of a reclining woman nearly many young faces in the audience. The film Midnight Express and hadn’t won a Golden Fourth of July is just such a film. •
Torrrance 7.19.12
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