cameras rolled. When Andrew Nock telephoned to get the credit lines for the on-air commentators, he asked about Forbes. 'How does Mr. Mathews wish to be listed?' I replied, 'Forbes Mathews, Thompson shooter'. 'Why does he want to be listed that way?' I replied, 'Look at what he does to that target three sequences down'. Enough said. I neglected to tell Andrew that the Cooper WW2 aircraft jacket was not a prop. Mr. Mathews in fact does fly World War Two airplanes. Though I would normally hesitate to mention the sale of one publication in another, in this case it appears appropriate. Some TCN subscribers who do not also subscribe to Small Arms Review might find interest in the following. When the Georgia filming concluded, we assembled some photographs. This writer wrote an article on the filming in the Peach State for Small Arms Review. That article will appear in the April issue of SAR. The issue will debut about the last week in March 1999. You may contact SAR at 702-683-2959 or at www.smallarmsreview.com. We do not have enough space to go into all of the remarkable things done by Reenactors: Early Thirties Crime in Denison, Texas. I have a rough of the 'Gangster Guns' episode. (I gave Greystone my word not to circulate the advance. Don't ask.) I also possess an ace in the hole sent by writer and historian Keith White. I had recommended Reenactors ETC to Greystone based on what I viewed at the Gibsland, Louisiana festival last May (see last issue TCN). Keith filmed the Greystone Communications film crew filming them. From Keith's footage, I knew that 'Gangster Guns' was going to be quite different from the norm and very good.
In addition to Keith White viewers will be treated to fine performances by many other members of Reenactors Early Thirties Crime. Bob Andrews portrays John Dillinger. Donnie Adcock paints a picture of Baby Face Nelson as never seen before. Bob Skelton captures the last moments of Pretty Boy Floyd. Bob Elston captures Frank Hamer's determination. Michelle and Roger Groves portray Bonnie and Clyde. Jimmy Gillman recreates Ted Hinton as he did at Gibsland. Historian Ken Holmes brought the Bonnie and Clyde car and added his knowledge to the reenactment scenarios. Tom Jennings filmed the reenactors in a style that befit the performances. On celluloid, their collaborative effort captures the tone of the gangster era. As a burgeoning screenwriter I appreciated what Tom was doing, in the best sense of the word. The style is film noir (Out of the Past, The Killers, I Wake Up Screaming). He used up angles and obliques, low as well as conventional shots. Some of the film shows color, other sections show only black and white. Tom Jennings then interwove vintage photos, vintage footage, and 1930s reenactments among the film footage shot in Denison. Executive Producer Andrew Nock expressed on several occasions how impressed Greystone was with the work of Reenactors ETC. I am confident that viewers of 'Gangster Guns' will be equally impressed, if not more so. In short, 'Gangster Guns' promises to be entertaining. It will have an interesting look and a well paced format. I promise the faithful readers that it will offer a surprise or two. Win, lose, or draw -- we gave it our best. The History Channel will kick off thirteen new episodes of Tales of the Gun with 'Gangster Guns' on April 11, 1999. Some of you will be at the Knob Creek Spring Show & Shoot. You may be thinking that you may not arrive home in time to view the telecast. Despair not. Remember that 'Gangster Guns' is a History Channel offering. If you arrive home just as the last burst fades to black, the show will begin again in three hours. Greystone Communications and The History Channel have learned the definition of an automatic weapon. Each time Greystone pulls the trigger on a program, The History Channel fires more than once. 'See you on 'Gangster Guns'. Rick Cartledge |
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