EURweb |
OSSIE DOES US ‘PROUD’: Late actor’s last film screens tomorrow at Tribeca; ‘L Word’ appearance airs Sunday.
*“Proud,” the last film by the late Ossie Davis, will screen Saturday at the Tribeca Film Festival and is scheduled to premiere Memorial Day weekend in New York, Washington and Los Angeles.
The film’s true story follows the men of the USS Mason, who were the only African-American sailors to take a Navy warship into combat in WWII. Like Ossie Davis, himself a WWII vet, the men served in a segregated military, but found strength in the midst of struggles against racism from their camaraderie and pride in their own excellence.
Ossie Davis’ character, Lorenzo DuFau, passes the story of his time on the Mason on to his grandson (Albert Jones) and two friends, who then become the 1940s sailors in a dramatic movie that depicts the events of the men’s service on the USS Mason. As a destroyer escort, the men shepherded convoys across an Atlantic infested with Nazi U-boats. They faced the storm of the century and were instrumental in saving a convoy. In spite of enduring racist incidents in a segregated Navy, they found an unexpected welcome in Northern Ireland.
In "Proud," Stephen Rea plays the Derry man who welcomes them and Darnell Williams is the war correspondent, Thomas Young, who traveled with the Mason.
The film was financed by designer Tommy Hilfiger, who was introduced to the story by the book and documentary done by Mary Pat Kelly. The events of 9/11 convinced him to finance the film himself. Hilfiger’s daughter, Ally – the recent producer and co-star of MTV’s reality show “Rich Girls,” became the producer on “Proud,” while Kelly signed on to write and direct the film. Davis was the first actor to sign on.
"He blessed the movie with his presence," said Kelly and Hilfiger.
Davis, who died of natural causes on Feb. 4, attended an early test screening of "Proud" in Washington, D.C., with his grandson, Jamal Day, who plays trumpet on the movie score. Davis wore his USS Mason ball cap and told the audience he wore it all the time so interviewers would ask about it and he could tell them about the film.
Meanwhile, Davis’ final four-episode appearance on Showtime’s “The L Word” begins this Sunday. Davis played Melvin, the father of half-sisters Bette (Jennifer Beals) and Kit (Pam Grier) who continues his struggle to connect with his daughters during a visit. Melvin has issues with Bette being a lesbian, while Kit’s alcoholic and unstable history stands in the way of their reconciliation.
Check out King's Ransom starring Anthony Anderson, Jay Mohr, Regina Hall and Donald Faison IN THEATRES NOW!! Enter the Player's Ball Sweepstakes to WIN a hometown screening and see the HILARIOUS trailer at: http://clk.atdmt.com/RBR/go/nlc0270000187rbr/direct/01/
(04-30)
.jpg)
