'Truth' Opens Hamptons International Film Festival
Director and screenwriter James Vanderbilt, actor Dennis Quaid and producer Brad Fischer presented their new film Truth at Guild Hall Thursday to open the 23rd annual Hamptons International Film Festival.
Truth dramatizes the events surrounding CBS’s airing in 2004 of a 60 Minutes episode that impugned President George W. Bush’s Texas Air National Guard military record. The film is based on the book Truth and Duty: The Press, the President, and the Privilege of Power by Mary Mapes, the 60 Minutes producer who was fired after it was learned that she failed to authenticate documents purporting to prove Bush received preferential treatment. The controversy led to Dan Rather stepping down as anchor of the CBS Evening News.
James Vanderbilt, an experienced screenwriter whose credits include The Amazing Spider-Man, White House Down and Zodiac, adapted the book and he makes his directorial review. Robert Redford, once again portraying a legendary journalist, played Rather, and Quaid played Roger Charles, a former Marine lieutenant colonel who was on Mapes’ investigatory team.
Rather will appear at Bay Street Theater in Sag Harbor on Saturday at 2 p.m. as the festival presents A Conversation with Dan Rather. For more information, visit hamptonsfilmfest.org.