HURON — A new live-action production of “The Little Mermaid,” will have its upper midwest premiere this afternoon at the Huron Luxury Cinema and theater owner Jeff Logan has a special guest who will be in attendance.
“We are really excited to have actor/producer Armando Gutierrez agree to come to Huron and greet fans prior to the first showing of the film,” Logan said Thursday.
Movie fans will recognized Gutierrez’s name, as he was a member of the team that produced “Walt Before Mickey,” which also premiered in Huron.
“We will have the red carpet again,” Logan said, “and we’ll have the old-style uniforms for our ticket taker, our ushers and concession workers. There will also be a mermaid in the lobby.”
Logan said that Guiterrez will be on hand when the theater opens at 3:30 p.m., for photos and autographs, then will introduce the film and answer questions prior to its 4:10 showing.
This new production is a different twist on the ancient tale - or tail. It is based on the same Hans Christian Anderson fairy tale as the well known 1989 Disney animated feature, but there are no Alan Menken and Howard Ashman songs taking place.
The look of the film is very lush and luxurious, Logan said, for which he credits the director of photography. “The deep, rich colors are really pronounced in the film,” he said.
Gutierrez plays the role of the ringmaster for the circus where Elizabeth (Poppy Drayton) is a mermaid sideshow attraction. It’s no stretch to say that he is not a good guy in the film. “No, he’s not,” Logan said, “which is really against type as he is a very pleasant person in real life.”
Drayton is a young actress who has primarily worked in small television series or made for TV movies, but her co-star, William Mosely, is recognizable to movie fans, as he played the role of Peter, the older brother in the Narnia series of movies.
Blake Harris co-directs the film with Chris Bouchard. Harris is also writing and directing a live-action version of Anastasia, which Gutierrez is producing. Bouchard is well known in the movie industry as a visual effects creator.
The movie is rated PG, and is aimed at a family audience, Logan said. It was made for the AMC Theater chain and premiered nationally last week at AMC theaters. The Huron showing this afternoon will, however, be the first such showing in a six-state area.
“The Little Mermaid” is set to play for one week in Huron.
COURTESY PHOTO This still photo from the Conglomerate Motion Picture Corp., shows actress Poppy Drayton playing the title role. Special events are planned prior to the South Dakota premiere at 4:10 p.m. this afternoon at Huron Luxury Theater.
