Nationwide DVD Launch of Valley of the Heart's Delight coincides with
Anniversary of Notorious California Lynching
www.valleyoftheheartsdelightmovie.com
20 November 2009, San Francisco, CA: Seventy-six-years ago, the media and the governor of a state provoked the public to commit an appalling crime: “The crowd is gathering! Lynching tonight in St. James Park,” KQW radio station in San Jose, California broadcast incessantly on November 26, 1933. The previous day, then California Governor James “Sunny Jim” Rolph stated: “If they lynch those fellows, I’ll pardon the lynchers.,” On the night of the lynching, Rolph canceled a trip to the Western Governors’ Conference in Idaho to prevent Democratic Lieutenant Governor Frank Merriam from calling out the National Guard. The day after the media horrifically documented the vicious spectacle, Rolph publicly repeated his promise to pardon the lynchers. Royce Brier of the San Francisco Chronicle won a Pulitzer Prize for his eye-witness coverage.
On a bone-chilling Sunday four days before Thanksgiving in 1933, a mob estimated from 5,000 to 15,000 men, women, and even children jammed St. James Park in San Jose to cheer (the roar of the mob could be heard ten miles away), an assault on the Bastille-like Santa Clara County jail and the lynching of two men accused of kidnapping and murder—two men that Bay Area screenwriter/producer John D. ‘Miles’ Murphy depicts as innocent in his critically acclaimed film, Valley of the Heart's Delight. If there was any doubt that the San Jose lynchings were a shameless media event, the following day, San Francisco –Bay Area newspapers sold 1.2 million copies, twice the daily publication.
A special director’s cut DVD version with two and one half hours of bonus material including personal interviews with the stars and principal crew, and a behind the scenes look at the actual making of the period noire film (98 Minutes, Indican Pictures, www.indicanpictures.com), is available online December 1st, and at retail outlets nationwide on January 10, 2010.
“Two local men were convicted in the court of public opinion and executed by their fellow citizens,” says Murphy, underscoring the fact that the film is based on the sole eye-witness account of the actual kidnapping of Brooke Hart, the scion of a wealthy San Jose retailer. “These lynchings remain singular in American history because both the “jury” and the executioners included the governor of a state, law enforcement, local elected and public officials, business and civic leaders, the press and a mob estimated between 5, 000 and 15,000 of the victims’ fellow citizens. For over three-quarters of a century, in what is now known as “Silicon Valley,” thousands of lynching participants, some alive today, ruthlessly keep their involvement private in an unspoken conspiracy of silence.”
The kidnapping and murder, subsequent manhunt, and media frenzy ignited a firestorm of suspicion and rage in idyllic, Depression-era San Jose. In Valley, a principled young reporter takes on the powers-that-be in an attempt to prevent the lynching of two men he believes are innocent. A non-fiction account of the real-life kidnapping and subsequent lynching authored by Murphy: Jury Rigging in the Court of Public Opinion (www.juryrigginginthecourtofpublicopinion.com) documents the innocence of the two men.
Valley of the Heart’s Delight inspired critical acclaim following its Northern California theatrical premiere:
“Like the Ox Bow Incident and (Fritz Lang’s) Fury, a strong, unforgettable look at mob rule...powerful, great period detail. A fascinating …story of money, murder, muckraking and mobs.”
--Jan Wahl, KCBS Radio/KRON TV (3 out of 4 stars / “hats”)
“A heartbreaking and disturbing period piece about power, corruption, and media manipulation. Tautly directed, beautifully shot…. “Riveting performances by three of the finest character actors in the business: Pete Postlethwaite, Bruce McGill, and Tom Bower.”
--Michael Snyder, Sirius Radio/ Six Degrees Magazine
“Reminiscent of a Raymond Chandler novel. The cinematography is crisp and excellently detailed…taut and well-paced. All film noir conventions are carefully put in place.”
--Albert Goodwyn, Bay Times
Valley of the Heart's Delight stars Gabriel Mann, Bruce McGill, Diana Scarwid, and Emily Harrison, with Tom Bower and Pete Postlethwaite. Directed by Tim Boxell from a screenplay by Miles Murphy, Valley is produced by Miles Murphy. Scott Rosenfelt and Billie Grief are executive producers. Director of Photography is Hiro Narita, A.S.C. Production design is by Douglas Freeman. Editing is by Jay Boekelheide. Costume design is by Cathleen Edwards. The Theme is by Richard Gibbs, with a score by Nicholas O'Toole. Line Producer is Richard Quan. The film was honored for Best Cinematography by the Boston International Film Festival, the Silver Remi Award from the WorldFest Houston Film Festival, and was showcased in the Newport Beach Film Festival.
December 1st, the Valley DVD will be available online at: NETFLIX, CDuniverse, Amazon, Yahoo, Hotmoviesale, and Shop.Com. On January 10, 2010, Valley of the Heart’s Delight will be available at Amoeba, DVD Empire, Fry’s, Movies Unlimited, and Target Stores nationwide.
