Norwich audience enjoyed Hallmark Friday movie night
Norwich — With popcorn, candy and snacks at the ready, Café Otis turned into a movie theater Friday night for the television premiere of the Hallmark Christmas movie “Holiday for Heroes,” shown on a large screen high on the wall.
About 15 people watched carefully for background scenes of familiar buildings, neighborhoods and sites. The Norwich ice rink decked out in holiday glitz during a romantic skate-date, Norwich City Hall, the Water Street neighborhood in Stonington, Noah’s Restaurant, the Red Barn at Mitchell College and even the inside of the Norwich city manager’s office.
“Here it comes!” Norwich City Planner Deanna Rhodes said as the movie started up. “I feel like a little kid.”
In the movie, the countdown to lighting the town of Branford Christmas tree started at 5, rather than the countdown from 10 that Norwich uses. But the plaza in front of City Hall was the same. Rhodes, wearing an elf hat, and a few other viewers cheered with the TV crowd when the lights came on.
“It’s the best!” said Stephanie DeGrazio. “Our neighborhood is in it, Water Street in Stonington. So that’s really fun. And Noah’s Restaurant. I used to live in Stonington, and now I live in Norwich.”
“I remember when they were filming,” said Ann Isa, mother of Café Otis owner Nancy Isa.
“It’s great,” said Marie White of Gales Ferry. “It’s a fun thing to do on a night out.”
Movie producer Andrew Gernhard grew up in Norwich and lives in Gales Ferry. He has used local sites for other movies, including an adaptation of author Wally Lamb’s Christmas story “Wishin’ and Hopin.'"
In the movie, Branford is a military base town, and the hyper-energetic lead character, Audrey Brown, is trying to salvage the annual Holiday for Heroes party for local service members after the town canceled the party when the troops were unexpectedly delayed in their deployment and couldn’t come home.
But one soldier did come home, her brother’s sergeant, who had struck up a pen-pal relationship with Brown. He tries to help as they also try to work out their now in-person relationship.
“It’s hilarious how everybody is so over-the-top happy in this movie,” Robert Bell said. “Norwich looks beautiful, as always.”
"Holiday for Heroes" will air again on the Hallmark Movies & Mysteries Channel at 11 p.m. Sunday. For additional airing times, go to www.hallmarkmoviesandmysteries.com.
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