The Trial of Major Reno

[elisabeth]

Does anyone have any further news on this drama documentary?

www.majorreno.com/

From the trailer, it looks very good indeed. Yet its website's been saying for two years that it'll be broadcast "soon", and they're positively turning away orders for DVDs -- no sign of any DVD being in existence.

Anyone got any contact or influence with the producers? If so, it'd be great if they could be leaned on to bring out a DVD. Or, since they don't seem to be getting the advertising they want, perhaps they could be persuaded to put the film out on PBS (or the BBC ... please?). It's very selfish of them to sit on it like this. It's not just the likes of us who'd enjoy it, I'm sure; it's bound to be great courtroom drama, even for those who care nothing about Custer/LBH.

[crzhrs]

Elisabeth:

I saw this at least 1 year ago, probably more and have never heard/seen any more on it.

I even e-mailed Ron Nichols (blurb said he praised the script) about it but he never got back to me.

As far as I know nothing as ever been done on it since it was posted on the web. Too bad, it looks like it may be very interesting.

[elisabeth]

Glad you tried, anyway ...

It does look promising, doesn't it. And the worst of it is that while it's out there, no-one else will feel they can attempt the same thing. Maddening, as it could make a great movie, along the lines of Officer and a Gentleman or whatever. Nothing beats military trials (of whatever kind) for drama. They're really being dog-in-the-manger about this. Well ... can only hope they finally do something with it ...

[crzhrs]

Just got this from Sandy Barnard:

Tom,

To the best of my knowledge, that film was never released. It was shot a good number of years ago. The producers used both Ron and the late Brian Pohanka as talking heads, but it has never surfaced as far as I know. Ron, of course, is my chief source.

I have copied him on this reply of mine, so maybe he can piggyback any additional info he may have.

>> Sandy

[crzhrs]

Just in:

Sandy is correct, the film has never been released. The last time I talked to the producers, which was several years ago, they had not found a sponser for the film. I know they spent lots of money producing the film and I guess they wanted to get some of their money back. I'm sorry I can't give you any later information. Both Brian and I enjoyed being advisors for the film.

Ron
___________________

Tha't too bad. The film looked quite interesting and with the people on it may have been factual, depending if you are pro/anti-Reno.

Oh well . . . maybe it will turn up some day.

[elisabeth]

Thanks for the info ...

I'm tempted to say they'll hardly get their money back by keeping the film hidden from sight; a DVD release would at least get them something. But who knows. Maybe there's some contractual commitment, e.g. with Heston, that insists on a nationwide TV screening before they can do anything else with it.

Will just have to keep waiting and hoping, I suppose.

[crzhrs]

Yes . . . kinda hard to think they'd sit on it when they could release it and make some money. With all the interest in the LBH/Custer ya gotta think there would be a decent market for it.