T&D Correspondent

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RANCHVILLE -- Three movies filmed in parts of Orangeburg and Dorchester counties will be screened in Branchville, St. George and Mount Pleasant in the coming weeks.

"Long Shot," a western filmed in Branchville and on Charles Kizer's farm in St. George, will be shown at 7 p.m. Friday, July 17, at the old Eatery in Branchville. The late David Carradine, best known for his work in the 1970s television series "Kung Fu" and "Kill Bill" films, plays a prominent role in the movie and spent some time in Branchville prior to his June 3 death. Several of the cast members and writer/director Christopher Forbes will be at the screening.

According to Forbes' Web site, forbesfilm.net, "Long Shot" tells the story of Will Drayton, played by Jim Hilton, who moves West in search of work after serving in the Civil War as a sharpshooter. He ends up working as an assassin before getting married and managing a small cattle ranch. Things are going well, until Will is approached about using his sharpshooting skills to provide security for the local bank. He takes the job and discovers he has been hired to kill the same men he used to work for. Will teams up with U.S. Marshall Ian McHenry, played by Carradine, and they work past their differences in pursuit of justice.

On Saturday, July 18, "Long Shot" and "Perfect Disguise" will be shown at 2 and 7 p.m., respectively, at the Cineburre in Mount Pleasant. "Firetrail" will be shown at 2 p.m. Sunday, July 19, at the Cineburre.

In addition, "Long Shot" and "Perfect Disguise" will be shown at the Lourie Theater in St. George on Friday through Sunday, July 31-Aug. 2.

Kizer's farm in upper Dorchester County was the backdrop for "Perfect Disguise," starring Heather Clark and based on the book by Lydia C. Filzen, under the name Lydia Hawke.

The story takes place during the Civil War and follows 18-year-old Willa Randle, who has lost her mother and brother. Her alcoholic, abusive father is trying to persuade Willa to marry Edgar Dodd, a man many years older than her and also abusive. Willa, who fights off Edgar during an episode of abuse, escapes to join the Confederate Calvary as a young man. Willa feels safer as a solider than she did at home but finds herself in love with her unsuspecting Capt. Jeff Spencer.

Filzen has written several books. "Firetrail," a fictional account of the War Between the States, portrays Sherman's army destroying everything in its path as it burns through South Carolina.

According to a movie summary, "Firetrail" centers on the story of Blake Winberry, a Confederate calvary captain, played by Hilton, who is transferred from the Virginia front and determined to defend his home state. There, he finds his fiancée has left him for a profiteering draft-dodger. Meanwhile, Judith Rogers, played by Lin Laffitte, has lost her husband and home to the war. A desperate journey through South Carolina poses new terrors when a group of marauders threaten to plunder the few possessions and dignity she has left. Blake saves her and offers her the hospitality of his home. Blake asks Judith to marry him, an offer she hopes will bring her stability, but he must leave to take on an unstoppable enemy, against all odds.

Forbes, who directed all three films and has directed many others, is a Civil War history buff. He is also writer and director of "The Battle of Aiken," another Civil War-era film.

"All three movies ('Perfect Disguise,' 'Firetrail' and 'The Battle of Aiken') are being told from a Southern perspective," he said. "One of the reasons people work with me in making these is I am not trying to put together propaganda. I am trying to put together a story, as told from a Southern point of view."

According to her biography on lydiahawke.us, Filzen runs an electrical contracting business with her husband, Larry, and can be found at Civil War reenactments and dog shows on the weekends.

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T&D Correspondent S.W. Shoptaw can be reached by e-mail at swsx5@aol.com. Discuss this and other stories online at TheTandD.com.

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