By Paul Leach
Correspondent
CLEVELAND, Tenn. — David Swafford says the two years he spent researching the filming of “Wild River” on the Hiwassee River was a lifesaving expedition.
“It’s going to be a lost history if we hadn’t done this, and that’s what keeps me going,” Mr. Swafford said.
As chairman of the Wild River Planning Committee, he has been at the center of the celebratory events planned in Charleston and Cleveland in honor of the film’s 50th anniversary.
The 1960 film, directed by Academy Award winner Elia Kazan and starring Montgomery Clift and Lee Remick, told the story of a TVA administrator who comes to rural Tennessee to oversee the building of a dam on the Tennessee River.
Along with the events slated for early June, there will be a six-week exhibit on the movie at the Museum Center at Five Points. Mr. Swafford also is assisting with a documentary about “Wild River.”
“He is ‘Mr. Wild River,'” said Faye Callaway, president of the Charleston-Calhoun-Hiwassee Historical Society. “All of this is the result of his idea.”
Mr. Swafford’s quest began with a Sunday drive with his mother, when he tried to find some of the old film locations in Charleston. He found none.
Still curious, he attempted to find a locally written history of the movie’s filming and to learn about any significant plans to commemorate its 50th anniversary. Nothing there, either.
Dismayed, he started collecting stories from anyone who would contact him.
“When you talk (to people) about ‘Wild River,’ you would notice a change in their attitude. They would become more upbeat,” he said. “What shocked me was that, in 50 years, no one had recorded this, as much as it means to people.”
The genesis for the documentary began shortly after his first interviews.
“Charleston Mayor Walter Goode told me this funny story about how he got his Social Security card from the movie people. It was so fascinating to me and entertaining, but I couldn’t tell it the same way,” admitted Mr. Swafford. “It dawned on me that we need to make a documentary and record these people’s stories.”
Melissa Woody, vice president of the Cleveland-Bradley County Chamber of Commerce’s Convention and Visitors Bureau, said Life Care Centers of America is producing the documentary.
“They have hired a director and producer and are using their equipment as well. It’s a big sponsorship of the documentary,” she said. “The documentary is important not only to archive these wonderful stories of Hollywood in our hometown to the local audiences, but also to tell the story of the impact of this movie beyond our local market.”
Director Allison Inman, a Nashville-based writer, brings several years of experience with public television documentaries to the set.
“First of all, we want to document this piece of history and record as many stories as we can,” Ms. Inman said.
The documentary will interweave story interviews, the committee planning meetings and the anniversary events. Ms. Inman said the documentary has more to offer, though.
“I really see a more universal story than just a local story,” she said.
She wants to explore people’s feelings about the Tennessee Valley Authority, Southern culture and values, small towns and race, she said. The movie’s subject, the film’s locale and the current documentary efforts offer perspectives that stretch all the way back to the 1930s, she said.
Ms. Inman said 70 percent of the documentary filming will be complete by the time of the anniversary events and her goal is to complete the documentary before the end of the year.
Paul Leach is based in Cleveland. E-mail him at paul.leach.press@gmail.com.