HARTFORD, Conn. — Ahead of the release for a new movie featuring legendary Connecticut boxer Willie Pep, the filmmakers held a special screening for Hartford residents Wednesday.
The biopic is titled "The Featherweight," following the story of Pep, a two-time World Featherweight boxing champion, the filmmakers said. Hartford residents saw the movie in a screening Wednesday, two days before a wider theatrical release on Friday.
"Set in the mid-1960s in Hartford, Conn., "The Featherweight" presents a gripping chapter in the true-life story of Italian-American boxer Willie Pep (James Madio)—the winningest fighter of all time—who, down and out in his mid-40s and with his personal life in shambles, decides to make a return to the ring, at which point a documentary camera crew enters his life," a movie synopsis included. "Painstakingly researched and constructed, the film is a visceral portrait of the discontents of twentieth-century American masculinity, fame and self-perception."
The crew, including members from Connecticut, spoke on how it felt to have their hard efforts pay off and their experience filming in Hartford.
Donna Collins, the executive producer, said, "You know the expression, it takes a village? Well, it took a city to make the Featherweight. It took an awful lot to get here, a lot of people, as you heard, the city of Hartford rolled out the welcome mat for us, with over 250 local actors and crew members all working together again, along with the city and all the organizations. We hope we got it right. I think we did."
Steve Loff, the film's writer and producer, said that it was a "dream come true" to make the film and credited support from Hartford.
"This was an incredible city to film in," Loff said. "Everyone was welcoming. It was very easy to get things done. So, I would highly recommend to anyone else come to Hartford to make your movie."
Madio, the actor who plays Pep, spoke on the "determination, the spirit and the tenacity" of Willie both inside and outside the ring.
"I hope that's the message that I think anybody can get out of this," Madio said. "You know, he faced a lot of challenges. I feel like when I came to Hartford, I couldn't think of a better place to film than Willie's hometown, and this film would not be what it is without Hartford and the surrounding areas and each and every one of you that'll help bring Willie's story into cinematic history."
Below are the dates for showings in Connecticut theaters:
- Real Art Ways, Hartford - Sept. 18-26
- Westbrook Cinemas 12, Simsbury - Sept. 20-26
- Apple Cinemas Brass Mill, Waterbury - Sept. 20-26
- Regal Waterford 13, Waterford - Sept. 20-26
- Holiday Stadium 13, Wallingford - Sept. 20-26
- Madison Art, Madison - Sept. 20-26
- Metro Movies 12, Middletown - Sept. 20-26
- Riverview Cinema 8, Southbury - Sept. 20-26
- Bethel Quad, Southbury - Sept. 20-26
- Riverview Cinema 8, Bethel - Sept. 20-26
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