Savannah (film)

{{Infobox film

| name = Savannah

| image = Savannah_2013_movie_poster.jpg

| caption = Film poster

| director = Annette Haywood-Carter

| producer = {{plainlist|

Annette Haywood-Carter
Randall Miller
Jody Savin

}}

| writer = {{plainlist|

Annette Haywood-Carter
Ken Carter

}}

| based_on = {{based on|Ward Allen: Savannah River Market Hunter|John Eugene Cay Jr.}}

| starring = {{plainlist|

}}

| music = Gil Talmi

| cinematography = Mike Ozier

| editing = {{plainlist|

John David Allen
Jonathan Alvord
Dan O'Brien

}}

| studio = {{plainlist|

Unclaimed Freight Productions
Meddin Studios

}}

| distributor = Ketchup Entertainment

| released = {{Film date|2013|08|23}}

| runtime = 101 minutes

| country = United States

| language = English

| budget =

| gross =

}}

Savannah is a 2013 American historical family drama film directed, produced and written by Annette Haywood-Carter. It is based on the true story and the book Ward Allen: Savannah River Market Hunter by John Eugene Cay Jr.{{cite web|last=Jagernauth|first=Kevin|title=Review: 'Savannah' Starring Jim Caviezel & Chiwetel Ejiofor|url=http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/review-savannah-starring-jim-caviezel-chiwetel-ejiofor-20130818|publisher=Indie Wire|accessdate=December 12, 2013|date=August 21, 2013}} It stars Jim Caviezel, Jaimie Alexander, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Jack McBrayer and Sam Shepard. It was released by Ketchup Entertainment on August 23, 2013 in the US.{{cite web|title='Savannah' interview with star Jaimie Alexander|url=http://ketchupentertainment.com/news/savannah-interview-with-star-jaimie-alexander/|publisher=Ketchup Entertainment|accessdate=December 12, 2013|date=August 21, 2013}}

Plot

Narrated by a 95-year-old Christmas Moultrie as he recalls his friendship long ago with Ward Allen in Savannah, Georgia back in the early 20th century. Ward was born into privilege in the mid-1800s but settled for a life of duck hunting, which found him in front of Judge Harden often. He was also found quite drunk, a point of tension with his wife Lucy, who married him to spite her father, who wanted her to marry Sir Graham. Their marriage is later tested by his hard-drinking ways, his devotion to his hunting, and her breakdown after a stillbirth.{{cite web|last=Cheshire|first=Godfrey|title=Savannah Movie Review & Film Summary|url=http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/savannah-2013|publisher=RogerEbert.com|accessdate=December 12, 2013|date=August 23, 2013}}{{cite web|last=Genzlinger|first=Neil|title=Drunk, Ornery and With a Gun in His Hands|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/23/movies/savannah-a-true-story-from-the-south-of-long-ago.html?_r=0|work=New York Times|accessdate=December 12, 2013|date=August 22, 2013}}

Cast

Jim Caviezel as Ward Allen{{cite web|last=Leydon|first=Joe|title=Film Review: 'Savannah'|url=https://variety.com/2013/film/reviews/savannah-review-1200587010/|publisher=Variety|accessdate=December 12, 2013|date=August 22, 2013}}
Chiwetel Ejiofor as Christmas Moultrie, a former slave, becomes fast friends with Ward
Jaimie Alexander as Lucy Stubbs
Jack McBrayer as Sir Graham, wealthy man Mr. Stubbs set Lucy up to marry
Sam Shepard as Mr. Stubbs, Lucy's overbearing father
Bradley Whitford as Jack Cay
Hal Holbrook as Judge Harden
Tracey Walter as Mathias
Simone Griffeth as Mrs. Stubbs, Lucy's mother
Stratton Leopold as John Elliot Ward

Production

Annette Haywood-Carter signed on as the director and also helped produce the film, along with Randall Miller and Jody Savin. With the film based on the book Ward Allen: Savannah River Market Hunter, Haywood-Carter co-wrote the screenplay with Kenneth Carter. Gil Talmi signed on to do the music for the film while Mike Ozier was in charge of cinematography and John David Allen with editing. Ketchup Entertainment released the film, with Unclaimed Freight Productions producing in association with Meddin Studios.

Filming started in early 2011 and took 21 days to shoot. The film was shot at various Savannah locations.