While Edisto Island is not exactly the movie capital of the world, there have been some fairly significant movies filmed on the Island. Some of the Island’s most prominent appearances include:
1.) The Patriot (2000) – In 1776, South Carolina widower and legendary war hero Benjamin Mart (Mel Gibson) finds himself thrust into the midst of the American revolutionary War as he helplessly watches his family torn apart by the savage forces of the British Redcoats. Unable to Remain Silent, he recruits a band of reluctant volunteers, including his idealistic patriot son Gabriel (Heath Ledger), to take up arms against the British. Fighting to protect his Family’s freedom and his Country’s independence, Martin discovers the pain of betrayal, the redemption of revenge and the passion of love.
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Edisto Island served as the beach slave scene. The threat of Hurricane Floyd caused filming delays but never actually hit any of the filming locations.
2.) Ace Ventura – When Nature Calls – All-righty then! Ace Ventura (Jim Carrey) returns in this sequel to the surprise smash hit of 1994. In Africa, a rare white bat has been kidnapped, causing strife between two tribes. Of course, the rubber-faced Ace, who’s afraid of bats, is sent to find the missing creature, resulting in the kind of mayhem, chaos and silliness that only Ace can create.
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Botany Bay Plantation environment closely resembled the tropical landscape, and used for all the jungle scenes, as well as the African village scenes.
3.) The Notebook – Two young lovers (Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams) are torn apart by war and class differences in the 1940s in this adaptation of Nicholas Sparks’ best-selling novel. Their story is told by a man (James Garner) who, years later, reads from a notebook while he visits a woman in a nursing home (Gena Rowlands). Nick Cassavetes directs this heart-tugging romance about the sacrifices people will make to hang on to their one true love.
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The house that served as Frank Calhoun’s (Sam Shepard) homestead is located on Edisto Island.
4.) Animals with the Tollkeeper – Henry, a New York taxi driver (Tim Roth) takes three French filmmakers to New England, where he gets so obsessed with a beautiful woman, named Fatima (Mili Avital), to the point of getting a job with her unbearable mother (Barbara Bain) in order to get near her.
Photo Courtesy: www.filimadami.com
This movie was filmed in Beaufort County, Edisto Island, and Varnville.
