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Show Page Thursday, December Sun Chronicle 2 18, 1975 STAR STEWART PETERSON as Sam Sutter tries to assist his injured new sister, Jewel Blanch, in dramatic opening scene in family motion picture, Against a Crooked Sky, a film which stars Richard Boone and Petersen, opens Dec. 19 at local theaters. Doty-Dayto- AUTHENTIC SIGN LANGUAGE is used bv veteran actor Henry Wilcoxon as he portrays the Productions mute Indian chief in Crooked a latest family film, Against Sky." CAPTURES Stars Richard Boone (center) and oung Stewart Petersen are trappd by a group of Indians as they search the western frontier for the new family film. y oung boy's sister in Doty-Dayto- Doty-Dayto- n Movie filmed in Utah opens this week locally Writers Eleanor S. Lamb and Douglas C. Stewart had an idea they wanted to write about love, human love, and the greatest sacrifice anyone can make, to give his life for someone he loves. That idea became a short story which became another idea in the mind of motion Dayton which script called Lyman became a Against a successfully countered picture producer Crooked Sky which became an eventual motion picture starring Richard Boone, Stewart Petersen and Henry Wilcoxon. But between the idea and the realization came large quantities of blood, sweat, tears and talent. Producer Dayton, who has HESS Hollywood's motion picture trends by making such family films ps Where the Red Fern Grows and Seven Alone, liked the ingredients of the Lamb-Stewa- rt story... The teenage star of his Stewart previous two films Petersen would be perfect as Sam Sutter, the frontier boy who sought to find his kidnapped sister. For the other two starring roles he would also need special talents. One role was Russian, the sour and dour frontier trapper who unwillingly helps the young boy in his search. The other was Cut Tongue, the disgraced Indian chief who posed an actors that role would challenge have to be played without words, for Cut Tongue had lost his speech through torture. Dayton set out to find one actor who could be Russian and found him in veteran motion picture and television star Richard Boone. The role intrigued Boone, who traces his ancestors back to the famed Daniel Boone. For Cut Tongue, Dayton went again to villagers. Out at the Park Avenue section of Arches a National Monument complete, authentic Indian village was built with the cooperation of the National Park Service. In Burbank, meanwhile, Henry Wilcoxon was researching books on Indian sign language for his co-st- demanding non-speaki- role. He knew Indian practices and spoke some Sioux, but he had to authenticate the hand and face gestures as well as the sand drawings that he would use for communicating his lines. Soon he would meet with Boone to work out each others responses so that Boone would know the featured language as well. Then it was time for Director Bellamy to call out quiet on the set. Lights ... cameras ... action! The 26 cast members flown Jn..,ffom Hollywood , were ready, as were the technical crew of 48 men and women. For the most part the shooting went smoothly, professionally. Occasionally there would be trouble spots. A wind storm caused an eye infection for Wilcoxon but make-u- p skills by Bill Turner took care of that problem. Bloody noses were daily occurences due to the dry heat. A broken Indian sling-stretch- almost caused Wilcoxon injury but he rode out the scene for one of the best action sequences shot. Sudden wind and rain storms broke out but they would pass just as quickly, clearing the air for the dramatic scenery so necessary for director Bellamys work. At one time star Richard Boone showed his appreciation for the Navajos who were bused several miles daily to the setting by planning a ceremonial banquet based upon an old family venison recipe. And one day the curious citizens of Moab showed their of their appreciation visitors by Hollywood challenging the actors and crew to a softball game with their local championship team. The team, an unawed girls, by their star opponents, won easily. all-gir- The sharing of human love, producer Dayton pointed out, was the basis of his film Against a Crooked Sky, and had come alive in the affection between the movie makers and the townspeople. But too quickly the film was completed. The sets were struck. The actors flew back to their scattered homes. The director and producer Dayton headed to the film labs to see the rushes and start the editing processes. another veteran actor, this time Henry Wilcoxon whose acting career has spanned famed English repertory theater and Hollywood film epics. Dayton also wanted the film to be as authentic as possible and so he sent crews out to a number of western settings, looking for the area that would provide the rugged scenery so necessary for Against a Crooked Sky. Finally they found castle Valley and Arches National Park and Dead Horse Point near Moab, Utah. There they could use the mountain settings, the raging rivers, the deeply-beautifvalleys that were the setting to the story. Moabs facilities could comfortably Cash. Its a magical word that opens doors and closes gaps. Because some things, only cash will buy. cash advance can put the cash in your pocket to put someones dream under the tree. Write your own ticket. For cash At any of First Securitys 131 offices. A BankAmericard Member FDIC supply the technicians and actors that would be needed for the film. Some of the citys residents and some of the Indians on a nearby reservation could be used in the film. Moab and the surrounding country were the realization of the original story, Dayton thought. In Moab some of the settings were by skilled craftsmen. At Castle Valley the units were put together and a complete farm set was built. In Moab fifteen local persons were enlisted as and other cowboys, stand-in- s roles. At Blanding 65 Navajo Indians were signed up for roles as warriors and RICHARD BOONE has gun again and travels across the west in "Against a Crooked Skv. t |