Background actors, left, wait for the signal to begin a scene as the crew stands ready to shoot on South Market Street near the Royal Theatre. Vintage Christmas decorations were placed on display windows of nearby businesses to depict the 1950s era of the film, which currently is being called “The Last Ride.” Vintage vehicles provided by area classic car enthusiasts made the shooting of the movie possible, a member of the production staff said. The marquee of the Royal Theatre was also changed to a 1950s-era film title, “Monkey Business,” which starred Ginger Rogers and Cary Grant.

Shooting for a major motion picture has been taking place this week in Downtown Benton.

The movie’s working title is “The Last Ride,” which depicts the final days of country music icon Hank Williams’ life.
Harry Thomason, an Arkansas native who has been successfully involved in television and movie production for many years, is the director.
Williams spent some of the last days of his life being chauffeured in a 1951 Cadillac convertible en route to a concert he never reached.
Henry Thomas, who played Eliot in “E.T.,” is portraying Williams in the film.
Thomason of Mozark Productions is directing the film that is co-produced by locals Tim Jackson and Josh Miller of Category One Entertainment.
When shooting was done Wednesday on South Market Street in the block that includes the Royal Theatre, the theater’s marquee was changed to make it applicable to the time frame of the movie. The side of the marquee that was visible to the cameras showed that the film “Monkey Business” starring Cary Grant and Ginger Rogers was playing.
Adjacent businesses were decorated with Christmas wreaths and other holiday decor appropriate to the 1950s.
Vintage vehicles from area classic car enthusiasts — and some of their owners — were used in several downtown scenes.
Other scenes were shot on South Market near the Union-Pacific Railroad crossing.
Also involved in the project is Jim Roberson, director of photography for “The Last Ride,” who has an Arkansas connection.
Roberson, who has been involved in the movie business for many years in California, played basketball at McClellan High School during the period that the film’s director, Harry Thomason, was the school’s football coach.
Thomason and his wife, Linda Bloodworth-Thomason, have been involved in many movie/television projects, including the popular sitcoms “Designing Women” and “Evening Shade.”
The staging area for the movie crew has been the parking lot of the Benton Adverting and Promotion Commission Office across from Benton Municipal Complex.
Members of the Dixie Car Club and other car enthusiasts from Arkansas have been heavily involved in the project. According to Dub Cornett of the production staff, the movie couldn’t be made without the cooperation of these individuals.
“Benton has been great,” Cornett said. “We love it when the people in a small town come out and get involved. They have been a critical part of this.”
Cornett, who said he grew up in a small town in Virginia, enjoys visiting smaller communities.
Among the many area residents involved in the making of the movie is Mondi Madden, a Benton resident who works at Angles Salon in Little Rock.
“I’m doing the hairstyles for the movie,” she said, “and I’m having a great time.”
The first day of shooting on Tuesday in Little Rock “was the longest day I’ve ever experienced, but it was so much fun,” Madden said.
Gerald Haley of Benton, a Dixie Car Club member who drove his 1952 Oldsmobile in some of Wednesday’s scenes, said he especially enjoyed the experience.
“This is a lot of fun,” Haley said. “Everyone my age should go see this because they’ll remember a lot of this period.
“Hank Williams is someone I remember and I can’t want to see the movie,” he said.
Looking across the street toward the marquee of the Royal Theatre, Haley said he would “like to see it shown right there.”
Dorsey Williamson of Little Rock, who drove his bright blue 1950 Buick in some of the scenes, said this was his first time for him to participate in this type of experience.
“It’s been a lot of fun,” he said.
Terry Rollans, a Little Rock resident who brought his red 1950 Chevrolet for Wednesday’s shooting, was observing as a near mishap occurred while it was being driven by one of the actors.
Asked if he were disturbed by that, Rollans dismissed the incident, noting that he had been struck by lightning four years ago “and I don’t get upset about material things.”
Rollans also was helping keep the Cadillac running for the scenes. Some mechanical problems were occurring in the vehicle.
If I can climb on it, I can ride it,” Rollans said, “ ... and if I can find a key and turn it on, I can drive it.”
Rollans pointed out that he vehicle he brought for the shooting had belonged to his father, who was “a big Hank Williams fan,” which made the experience special to him.
“He died while on stage playing his guitar ... ,” Rollans said. “He was doing what he enjoyed. He’s the reason I’m here ... “
Miller and his associate, Holt McConnell, praised Jill Jones, executive director of the A & P Commission, for her assistance with the project.
“She has been great,” both said.
No release date has been set for the movie.