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John Marshall film shot on Blennerhassett Island

A movie crew visited Blennerhassett Island on Sept. 12 as part of a documentary being developed about John Marshall, the fourth chief justice of the U.S. Supreme Court.

Plans call for the 90-minute documentary “Rediscovering John Marshall” to be completed next spring, said Lyn Rappaport Reid, coordinating producer. The producers hope the film will appear first on the big screen and later on television.

The interest in Blennerhassett Island involves a case brought before Justice Marshall that is featured in the movie: Aaron Burr’s treason trial. Seven cases brought before “Marshall’s Supreme Court (or adjudicated by Marshall as a circuit judge)” are discussed in the documentary.

Burr, of course, is linked with Harman and Margaret Blennerhassett of Blennerhassett Island fame.

Burr was acquitted of treason in an 1807 trial. He was vice president during U.S. President Thomas Jefferson’s first term.

The movie crew filmed on Blennerhassett Island for several hours, but not inside the reconstructed mansion, and a drone was used to capture aerial shots, Reid said.

“Blennerhassett Island is beautiful,” said Reid, on her first visit to Parkersburg.

Reid, who lives in the suburbs of Washington, D.C., also was impressed with the Blennerhassett Hotel, where the film crew stayed. “It is a fabulous hotel,” noting she enjoyed the restaurant and seeing “old letters in the lobby.”

Reid was grateful for the assistance provided by the West Virginia Film Office and C.A. House Music in Parkersburg. The film office was “a joy to work with,” she said.

C.A. House Music “saved our day” by providing sound equipment for film recording after the production crew mistakenly left its equipment at home, Reid said.

Richard Brookhiser, author, editor and columnist, is the narrator/host for “Rediscovering John Marshall.” He was one of the film crew members visiting Blennerhassett Island.

Brookhiser discussed his book “John Marshall: The Man Who Made the Supreme Court,” published last year, on Sept. 11 at Marshall University during its Amicus Curiae Lecture Series. The documentary is based on Brookhiser’s book.

Marshall University was named after Chief Justice John Marshall.

A “documentary summary” provided by Reid states that John Marshall is the longest serving and most influential chief justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, serving from 1801 until his death in 1835.

“The documentary examines the life and work, through select legal cases, of the man who single-handedly lifted the Supreme Court from a relatively insignificant institution to the third pillar of America’s federal government and the final arbiter of legal matters in the U.S.,” the summary states.

“The documentary will show the continuing impact Marshall has on the work of the Supreme Court, and how his vision for the Court is as important for America in the 21st Century as it was at the start of the 19th Century,” according to the summary. Justice Marshall was concerned about politics becoming involved in the Supreme Court under President Andrew Jackson, just as this issue has been raised in modern times, the producers noted.

The documentary is designed so each of the seven court cases can be shown separately to law school students, Reid said.

Filming also has taken place in New Orleans, Valley Forge, Pa., Williamsburg, Va., Richmond, Va., and other locations. Filming is scheduled to end on Oct. 10.

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Brothers Dave and Larry Phillips, former all-state football players at Parkersburg High School, were among the 1979 Big Ten championship football team members recognized during the Sept. 7 Ohio State University football game at Ohio Stadium.

The Phillipses were defensive linemen on the Buckeye team that was undefeated in conference play in 1979 and lost to the University of Southern California, 17-16, in the Rose Bowl that season.

Dave Phillips, who lives in Katy, Texas, said this month’s event in Columbus was a great opportunity to visit with some Buckeye teammates he had not seen in 40 years. He figures about 65 members of the 1979 team and coaches attended the stadium program. Team members gathered for dinner the night before and tailgated together at the stadium on Saturday.

Dave said it was special to enter Ohio Stadium field to cheers from the crowd and teammates exchanging high fives as cellphones recorded the celebration. Several thousands seats have been added to the stadium since he played at Ohio State, Dave said.

Larry Phillips, who lives in Columbus, graduated from Ohio State, while Dave graduated from Morehead State University, where he also played football.

Dave and Larry spent Sunday, Sept. 8 at the home of their sister Brenda Rhodes in Wood County visiting with family members. One of the guests was Buddy James — Dave and Larry’s football coach at PHS.

Contact Paul LaPann at plapann@newsandsentinel.com

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