Henry Thomas starring in ‘The Last Ride’. Shooting on Hank Williams final days film underway in Benton, Arkansas

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Henry Thomas starring in ‘The Last Ride’. Shooting on Hank Williams final days film underway in Benton, Arkansas

February 19, 2010 by ahankwilliamsjournal

The news is out that filming of a biographic movie of Hank Williams’ final days is underway in Benton Arkansas. The movie is directed by well-known TV and film director Harry Thomason. His wife Linda Bloodworth- Thomason is also a prominent figure in Hollywood.Their credits include Designing Women and Evening Shade on TV. The movie is tentatively called ‘The Last Ride’.

You may recall that I wrote about this project earlier and a commenter on that post explained to us that shots of a vintage 1951 Cadillac were being taken in the Oak Hill West Virginia area. Thomason was involved in the West Virginia shoots although there are different producers mentioned for the two projects. Jeff Queen from Alabama was the first producer, but this film is being co produced by Tim Jackson and Josh Miller of Category One Entertainment in central Arkansas. They are both Arkansas natives as is Thomason. The movie is being produced under a new Arkansas film production incentive program.

I have also written on plans for a full scale Hollywood style biography of Hank Williams, but I haven’t seen any recent news on that one. You would have to expect that there couldn’t possibly be three new films on Hank’s life.

The production company has transformed downtown Benton, changing store fronts, and signs and bringing in a fleet of local vintage automobiles. The Benton Courier newspaper has a good write-up and picture here.

Henry Thomas played Eliot in ET many years ago, Here’s a picture of him as he looks now beside a picture of Hank.

Here are links to my previous posts.

The major motion picture announcement.

Here’s the link to the earlier ‘Last Ride’ post based on the announcement of a film by an Alabama company.

This post also contains a lengthy comments section with a video from Jake Penrod, and a post and link to the Harriman Tennessee Princess Theatre project which was involved in the vintage auto filming which took place around Oak Hill West Virginia.

30 Responses

on February 19, 2010 at 1:01 pm The death of Hank Williams: Film will examine lonely final days « A Hank Williams Journal

[…] Here’s my post on the latest news on the film ‘The Last Ride’ being filmed in central Arkansas. (February 19, […]
on February 19, 2010 at 4:13 pm Amy

I’ve got some snapshots of Henry in his Hank costume during the Benton shoot if you want them (just got them today)… One of the behind-the-scenes guys said they are going to be here for 2 weeks for exterior shots and then back in April for interior shots.
on February 20, 2010 at 9:24 pm Melissa

We got to hang out on set today Henry and the crew we very nice HEnry took time to pose in pics with my 9 year old son everyone was awesome!!! we have some get set pics if you want them
on February 21, 2010 at 1:24 am Kay Henderson

I was thrilled to see all the action on the streets of downtown Benton . I have a business on Market St. and kind of felt a part of things. I wish i could have had some kind of job to do ! I regret that i did not have my camera hope i get another chance in April , the gas station they transformed was awesome, my Mom was 16 in 1952 and use to tell of times hanging out on the town square. I guess all the 50’s stuff gave me an idea of what it might of looked like back then! I would have loved to do the Hair and make-up or at least helped. I’v been so excited about all this ( maybe i missed my calling) i would love to be involved in this business in some way!!!
on March 2, 2010 at 11:35 am Cedric

I was an extra and filmed a few scenes in Little Rock. I had a great time getting to know the cast and crew.
on March 3, 2010 at 11:11 am Bennie J. Gardner

I have always been a big fan of Hank Williams, Sr. I think he is the greatest and would love for other people to get to know more about him. Ralph Moore and I traveled with some of his Drifting Cowboys and got to hear first hand stories about this great guy. We did the Final Journey, from Georgiana, Al. to Oak Hill, W.Va. We talked and met a lot of people. Ralph wrote 2 books about this experience and things we found out that was never told.
I would love to hear more about the movie and will
certainly be interesting in seeing it.
on March 8, 2010 at 8:43 pm Keith Cooper

My grandpa’s red car is in the movie. When they were shooting in Benton they had a black guy and a white guy. They said that woulde’t work so they put in my grandpa. When they wereshooting in Little Rock, I was in it to on a driving sene
on March 8, 2010 at 8:46 pm Keith Cooper

If ya’ll have a question call 501-840-1145 thats my grandpa or 507-249-7837 That’s me iof we don’t answer leave a voice message. Thank You!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
on March 24, 2010 at 8:23 am Becky Alexander

I was an extra in the filming of “The Last Ride” this past Sunday and Monday at a bar in North Little Rock. It was a blast and let me tell ya….I have a new found respect for actors. If anyone knows where you can find more pictures from those particular days please let me know. My camera was broken. I was the girl who got to slap this poor guy 15 times!!! I looked like an older version of “Mary Poppins” in the scene!!!
on March 29, 2010 at 1:25 pm Dennis Oxley

I’m the poor guy that Mrs. Alexander was slapping! She’s no “Mary Poppins,” but a pretty good actress with a mean right hand! It was great fun though. All the background and production folks were great. Yes, if you’ve got some pics you can share from the bar shoot in NLR, please do.
on March 29, 2010 at 1:44 pm ahankwilliamsjournal

Thanks for all the interesting comments on this.

If anyone has photos please email:

johnwaugh@yahoo.com

John
on May 6, 2010 at 12:44 pm Larry W. Moore

Thanks to Sonny Fowler for the use of his restored 1949 Chevy Wrecker (Hook). Sonny is a fine gentleman.
Larry
on July 11, 2010 at 5:36 pm G Carrico

I am anticipating any follow up info on the movie the Last Ride.
on September 1, 2010 at 1:17 pm Bryan Harp

I believe it will be a good movie. I was researching when it might be coming out too and found this site.

I was Henry Thomas’s (Mr. Wells) stand-in for lighting and small stunt work during the movie set. Hope everyone gets the chance to go see it and maybe they will have a movie premiere in central Arkansas.

I would be glad to answer any questions or share my pictures I have taken on the set at:

bryanharp@sbcglobal.net

Have a great one and as Harry Thomason said, he wants to shoot more movies in Arkansas, we just need more tax incentives.
on September 12, 2010 at 10:11 pm Beecher O'Quinn jr

Some one said that when Hank Williams was found dead in the back seat of his car in OaK Hill W Va on jan 1 1953.That
there was only one other man in this car with his body.Not so my friend.there was another man a taxie driver from Bluefield,West Virginia his name is Donald Howard Surface.
I have talked with one of his daughters ,the policeman that was there,the local newspaper in Oak Hill published the story that said Mr. surface was there at that time and also one of Mr.Surface family members also said that was true.
when 4 other people tell the same story than it sounds like the truth to me.Ialso have photo’s of Mr.Surface and his family.If you do this movie about Hank .and do not include this information about Mr.Don Howard Surface.than this movie
will not be the true story about Hank Williams life. If interested contact Beecher O;Quinn Jr 101 Cripple Creek Rd.Watauga,Tn 37694 or call 423-542-5543
on September 13, 2010 at 8:13 am ahankwilliamsjournal

Thanks for your comment Beecher. You sure add a lot to these issues.
I’m still not sure and I guess we’ll never know whether the death was just medical decline, drug and alcohol induced, or whether physical violence was involved.
I’ve never really studied this topic in any depth.
Thanks again for you input.
on January 18, 2011 at 7:33 am Geni Logan

Hello, I too was an extra and have some pictures on my facebook page if anyone is interested.
on January 18, 2011 at 7:34 am Geni Logan

Has anyone heard when they will be releasing the movie?
on January 18, 2011 at 8:42 am ahankwilliamsjournal

Hi Geni:

The link below is the last post I wrote about the pending release of the movie.

Thanks for visiting and commenting.

John W

https://ahankwilliamsjournal.wordpress.com/2010/12/15/hank-williams-movie-the-last-ride-starring-henry-thomas-showing-signs-of-life/
on January 19, 2011 at 5:43 pm timlh

thought you might be interested…

https://www.fredthompsonshow.com/blog?action=viewBlog&blogID=69201237590334947
on January 31, 2011 at 12:31 am Megan W

If anyone has any photos of the day they shot in North Little Rock at the bar, could they send me some as well? I’d really appreciate it. I stood in for Kaylee Cuoco that day. Thanks!
on February 7, 2011 at 1:19 am priscilla kellebrew

when does the movie come out were i can go see it my grandmother is sick but loves hank williams and wants to see the movie we live in little rock arkansas
on March 6, 2011 at 2:14 am Priscilla

When can I bye the movie and were
on March 6, 2011 at 8:41 am ahankwilliamsjournal

Hi Priscella

Looks like opening in June, then we don’t know if it goes to theatres, TV or DVD.

https://ahankwilliamsjournal.wordpress.com/2011/02/19/the-last-ride-hank-williams-movie-to-open-in-june/

John
on March 11, 2011 at 9:56 am Benjamin Gaither
on March 14, 2011 at 3:38 pm Taxiedriver movie | 007devices

[…] Henry Thomas starring in 'The Last Ride'. Shooting on Hank … […]
on March 26, 2011 at 10:36 am Bunn

Is this the movie that Kix Brooks (formerly of Brooks & Dunn duo) has a part in? I thought the name of it was gonna be “Thriftstore Cowboy” Do I have the right movie?
on March 26, 2011 at 2:24 pm Priscilla

when does it come out in the theaters in arkansas my nana wants to know
on March 26, 2011 at 2:49 pm ahankwilliamsjournal

Priscilla

Likely won’t come out in theaters until after playing Little Rock Film Festival in June.

John
on May 14, 2011 at 7:43 pm SherryGorman

My nephew, Ryan, played Hank Williams as a young boy playing craps on the courtyard steps in the movie. I can’t wait to see it.