6 responses to “‘One Rainy Night in 1970’ — Matt Love Talks About ‘Sometimes a Great Movie’”

  1. Grace Castle

    A man in the corner of the Bay Haven has been the subject of many stories over the years because he (or perhaps a collection of “he”) always seem to appear just in time to save the day for someone. When “Sometimes A Great Notion” was being filmed, I was a young reporter/photographer for the Lincoln County Leader in Toledo and the Newport News-Times. I spent many interesting hours on filming sites. The agreement was that I could write about the filming, take photos of the area, but not of the actual filming. I never saw Paul Newman drunk, but I was present early enough in the morning at at least one site to hear the booze orders being given to a “runner” assigned to obtain the day’s supply. (No, I didn’t hear anyone making specific orders for specific actors). It was an interesting and exciting time in Lincoln County and I hope this author found the people with the stories—like former Siletz resident, Dean Fillmore, who could pass as Paul Newman’s twin and did all the logging scenes in the film. Maybe he was the guy in the tavern. But I’ve never seen him drunk, either! As for the guy in the Bay Haven—years after this film adventure, I had become an investigator and was in the Bay Haven trying to get information on where to locate one of the regulars. A nearly impossible task to say the least. I was assured that no one knew where this man lived and only the bartender would admit even possibly knowing him, As I was preparing to leave, a man came out of the corner, walked past me and stood in another corner near the door. As I started to open the door, he reached out and handed me a slip of paper. I found the witness moments later at the address written on that paper for me. I’ve always been a fan of Paul Newman’s work and held him in high esteem, but for the sake of “the Bay Haven Guy” I hope the chainsaw story was true.

  2. Wendy Beckers

    Hey, this is awesome! I actually grew up in the movie house! My dad, Doug Woodall, owned it for about 10 years in the late seventies to late eighties. We have so many stories about that house. I remember my dad rebuilding the drawers in the kitchen because they were all painted on for the movie. The stair case rolled away from the wall so that they could move the camera equipment in there. Door would open to walls. My favorite things were the cane marks on the doors from when Henry Fonda would rap on everyone’s doors in the morning to wake them up. I just loved the house, and I loved the movie. I ordered the Deluxe Package, and can’t wait to receive it. Good luck to you, man.

  3. Patricia Marshall

    I complained to a friend of mine when we were young that the book was dense, hard to read. She agreed, and told me that when Ken walked into the Health Food and Pool store in Springfield (where she was working and reading the book between customers) she slammed it shut and asked him how the hell he expected anyone to get through it. At the time, I thought that was amusingly audacious. Now I wonder how he handled such head-on criticism, but that part of the story is lost. And I’ve since grown to appreciate “Sometimes a Great Notion.”

  4. Brian

    NWBL thanks Grace, Wendy and Patricia for the amazing reader comments. I know the author was tickled–Grace, I think he actually found your original review of the film! Using our highly scientific and strictly controlled three paperclip process, Patricia Marshall was randomly selected as the winner of a limited edition hardcover copy of “Sometimes a Great Movie,” courtesy of NWBL and Matt Love.

  5. Jean Wheatley

    I loved the book,simply because of the history, o Oregon” and of the logging industry, my son-in-law was a logger in the 60s

    the bookwasnt easy to rea, Keseys novels weren’t, but this one was about logging

  6. Chris Wood

    I was there during the filming. Graduated from Toledo in 1970. I lived by the sawmill south of town and used to fish off the floating Stamper sign in the river. My good friend Anne’s dad did the scene where they dumped the logs into the river. Perfect first time and no retakes required!

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