Ragged Edges

       Ragged Edges

Suzanne Marsh

“CUT” Yelled Stan Blocker, director and co producer of the film Ragged Edges. Difficulties were an everyday occurrence on the set. It was almost as if the movie were cursed or so Stan was beginning to think. Ragged Edges was an academy award winning material, Stan wanted to make it the best it could be. The film had a cast of super stars that was costing the studio mega dollars. Sam thought about the story line as he yelled CUT, a story of the worn torn south, during the Civil War period. Costuming had taken forever to cover all the costumes the characters were wearing. The ragged edges concept was the brainchild of writer Martha Tweksbury. The story was about her ancestors, based on family records and bible. The scene they were working on today was the third day at Gettysburg. Filming on location was difficult for the cast, some could not sit a horse correctly. Star of the movie William Billings, Colonel John Trent, the leading role, was thrown from his horse. Billings as Stan noted was afraid of horse, after several takes with Billings on the ground more than in the saddle Stan had an idea:

“Bill, I am going to have the horse owner lead the horse, he won’t be seen but it has to be

better than ten takes with you landing on the ground every time.”

“Stan, I appreciated that my butt is sore.”

The last take, Bill stayed on his horse, it was Pickett’s Charge. After that the crew was being flown to Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, where the scenes were to be shot with Mary Trent and the family. It would entail a great deal of preparation.

Boone Plantation was the sight of the location. The crew began to set up cameras and lighting before the cast left Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The female lead Meg Trainor sat quietly on the plane, studying her lines. She wanted to return home to her family in Texas. The story line centered around Mary Trent, on the Trent Plantation. Canons were being set in place, muskets were checked to be sure there was no live ammunition. Wardrobe, was busy attempting to get the wrinkles out of the blue silk dress. Meg, loved the color blue, and had put her foot down when it came to colors of dresses she would wear. Her contract said blue, green or red; wardrobe began looking for silks in those colors. Then came the fittings, Meg had gained weight since the first fitting, she worried if they could make her dresses fit correctly. She got the surprise of her life when she attempted to fit into a green silk dress. The waist was narrow by today’s fashion but she knew that already. The wardrobe woman helped put the dress on. It did not fit properly. Wardrobe had no idea but knew the gown had to fit for the first scene. Then wardrobe had a brilliant idea, a corset. She found one in a trunk at the plantation. Flying back to Meg’s dressing room she smiled:

“Miss Trainor, I think I found something that will solve the problem of the waistline of this

dress.”

“Fine, what is it?” The woman displayed the corset:

“What in the hell is that thing?”

“It is a corset Miss Trainor, I found it in a trunk here at Boone Hall.”

“Have you any idea how to put one of these things on?”

“Why Miss Trainor, I have been in wardrobe for almost twenty years. Yes of course I know

how. It will pull your waist in and make it tiny.”

“Well, then lets have at it.”

The corset soon became a tug of war between the wardrobe mistress and Meg Trainor:

“I can’t breath in this damn thing!”

“Miss Trainor, if you have to wear that dress you are going to have to put up

with the corset.”

“I understand that but can’t we do something with the things that keep poking me in the ribs?”

“Those Miss Trainor, are what they call stays, and no there is not much we can do about those.”

This was not in her contract Meg thought glumly. The very thought of having to wear that corset was unbearable. Finally, Meg was dressed, her huge hat in place matching gloves, shoes, and parasol. She wdid indeed feel the part of Mary Trent. She wasn’t sure about several of her lines but she continuously rehearsed until she had them down. The set was a marvel, the Boone Plantation was so very elegant. The rosewood furniture, the grand piano she was supposed to play “The Bonnie Blue Flag” on was absolutely gorgeous. It was more a piano forte but it would work in the scene. The scene with Mary, playing with her small son Sam. The baby begins to scream, Meg hands him over to his mammy:

“Great take Meg. Now go and sit at the piano, there is a great deal of sunlight so you should

have no problem seeing the notes.”

Meg nodded, the dress did make her look as if she had a small waist until she sat down at the piano, the blue silk dress ripped just under her arm pit. Stan yelled:”CUT” the called for wardrobe. Stan was beginning to think this take would never happen. Wardrobe, quickly stitched the sleeve back where it was supposed to be. Once again the cameras began to roll. Meg sat at the piano, her brunette hair streaming down her back. She placed her hands on the keys, no sound: “CUT” yelled Stan:

“Meg, why aren’t you playing “The Bonnie Blue Flag”?

“Simple, Stan, no sheet music or guide to how to play it for real, I need my double

she knows how to play a piano.”

Stan, was beginning to think the picture was jinxed but he had to finish before the end of the month.

“Take two” the clap of the wood sounded harsh to Meg and she jumped.

Her double Sandy Mayhew sat at the piano, she played “The Bonnie Blue Flag” through several times, then sang it. Meg, thought it sounded great, Stan began to wonder why he had cast Sandy as Meg’s double, she obviously had more talent than Meg.

The final take of the day was the scene with Meg and Bill as Mary and John Trent:

“Mary, I can’t stay long, my company is waiting my return.”

“John, you just got here, don’t leave, we need you here. Little Sam is growing up so

quickly, you won’t even know him when you return.”

“Mary, honey, I think we are losing the rebellion, we don’t have the man power or the

canon. We have no shoes to march in, my men have been barefoot since Gettysburg,

when the Yanks stopped Hill from entering Gettysburg to find shoes. My men are

starving. I think in another month, the end of the Confederacy will be here.”

“John, how perfectly horrible, I have some food hidden away, you can take that.”

“Mary, I have got to go now. I will return I promise you on my father’s honor.”

“Meg, Bill, that is a cut and take. I have no doubt now that the movie will be up for

several awards.”

Meg and John exchanged glances as they walked off the set.