News Releases
   September 20, 2002
   30 Millionth viewer sets record for "Williamsburg: Story of a Patriot"
   
   The worlds longest running motion picture reached another milestone
   today when the 30 millionth person experienced the film, Williamsburg:
   The Story of a Patriot, the classic cinematic story of the American
   Revolution.
   
   To mark the milestone, the historic viewer received a complimentary
   lodging and meals package at Colonial Williamsburgs flagship hotel,
   the Williamsburg Inn, and other gifts. Colin G. Campbell, president
   and chairman of the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, made the
   presentation to Don and Linda Carpenter from Wisconsin Rapids, Wis.,
   at the Colonial Williamsburg Visitor Center, which houses the Patriot
   Theaters where the film has played daily since 1957 11,134 consecutive
   days to an average daily audience of 2,694.
   
   For nearly half a century, The Story of a Patriot has inspired
   millions of visitors from around the world with the story of our
   nations founding and provided telling insights into how we became
   Americans, Campbell said. It will continue to inform and inspire our
   citizens for generations to come.
   
   The 36-minute film, directed by Academy Award winner George Seaton,
   was produced by Paramount Pictures for the Colonial Williamsburg
   Foundation to illustrate the ideas and the ideals that gave birth to
   the American Revolution and that came to life in 18th-century
   Williamsburg, then capital of Great Britains largest, richest and most
   powerful colony in North America. Through the eyes of colonial
   Virginia planter John Fry, the first leading role for actor Jack Lord
   who later starred in the long-running television series, Hawaii
   Five-O, the audience meets George Washington, Patrick Henry, Thomas
   Jefferson and other patriots who conceived the idea of America.
   
   Williamsburg: The Story of a Patriot is about the history of
   revolutionary America, but the motion picture itself now is a piece of
   history. The film originally was shot in VistaVisiona unique large
   format system which maximized visual and sonic impact and became known
   as Motion Picture High Fidelity. The pioneering movie technology
   included Todd-AO six-channel stereo in one of the first uses of
   surround sound. The twin Patriot Theaters are the only cinematic
   environments ever created for the exhibition of a VistaVision motion
   picture a film, in turn, produced for use in those theaters alone.
   
   The 45-year run of The Story of a Patriot is evidence of its enduring
   value to generations of Americans. Returning visitors to Colonial
   Williamsburg frequently make seeing The Story of a Patriot their first
   stop in this city-sized living history museum.
   The original film currently is undergoing digital restoration. Robert
   Harris of The Film Preserve, Ltd., a New York company specializing in
   the restoration of classic films, is supervising the work in concert
   with Eastman Kodaks CineSite digital facility, Pacific Title/Mirage
   and Todd-AO. Harris successfully has restored several classic films,
   including Lawrence of Arabia, Spartacus, My Fair Lady, Vertigo and
   Rear Window.
   
   The restoration of The Story of a Patriot is being funded in part
   through the generosity of enthusiasts of the film and friends of
   Colonial Williamsburg.
   
   Significant commitments to the films restoration have come from Royce
   and Kathryn Baker of Rancho Santa Fe, Calif., John and Marcia Donnell
   Jr. of Atlanta, Ed and Letitia Joullian of Oklahoma City, Bill and
   Gretchen Kimball of Belvedere, Calif., Ed and Dollie Lynch of
   Vancouver, Wash., George and Abby ONeill of Oyster Bay, N.Y., Dick and
   Lois Vieser of Keene, N.H., and Bob and Marion Wilson of Rancho Santa
   Fe, Calif. The fact that this group comes from across the country is
   an important statement of the films significance, and Colonial
   Williamsburgs far-reaching impact, Campbell said.
   Editors Note: Visuals available upon request. 
   Title: Williamsburg The Story of a Patriot
   
     Length: 36 minutes
   
     Produced by Paramount Pictures for the Colonial Williamsburg
   Foundation
   
     Longest running film in motion picture history 45 years
   
     Special premiere for the Williamsburg community March 31, 1957.
   
     Shown for visitors continually since April 1, 1957.
   
     Seen by 30 million in Colonial Williamsburgs Patriot Theaters
   
     Starring Jack Lord (Hawaii Five-O) in his first lead role
   Director: Academy Award Winner George Seaton
   
     Writer and Director Miracle on 34th Street
   
     Writer and Director Airport
   
     Williamsburg Story of a Patriot is considered Seatons most important
   film
   Writer: Emmett Lavery
   
     Court Martial of Billy Mitchell
   
     The Magnificent Yankee
   Music: Bernard Herrmann
   
     Psycho
   
     Citizen Kane
   
     Cape Fear
   
     Taxi Driver
   Cinematographer: Haskell Boggs
   
     Bonanza
   
     Little House on the Prairie
   
     High Chaparral
   
   For an archival photo of Williamsburg The Story of a Patriot, please
   contact Linda McElroy at (757) 220-7287.
   Media Contact:
   Jim Bradley
   (757) 220-7281