BR’s starring role
Thursday, August 31, 2006
Baton Rouge’s past comes back to life in September thanks to the city’s new role in the movie business and an historic renovation sure to spark memories of the raucous era that put Baton Rouge on the political map.
On Sept. 22, the film All the King’s Men premieres. Starring Sean Penn, Jude Law, Kate Winslet, James Gandolfini and Anthony Hopkins, it’s a study of Louisiana’s populist psyche and the Huey Long-esque personality that galvanized it. The film will play on screens all over the world.
Meanwhile, the Capitol House Hotel is set to re-open after decades of vacancy. Thanks to a $60 million makeover, the 290-room hotel combines the old Hotel Heidelberg and Capitol House and marks the resurrection of an historic downtown landmark where Huey P. Long hung out and the powerful and elite mingled and partied.
To top it off, LSU Professor Richard White has published a new book about Long with fresh fuel for the legend of Huey.
Baton Rouge’s political heritage is front and center this month. Its unique combination of politics combined with its new-found role as a setting for major movies are sure to make September a memorable month.
To mark the occasion, 225 has pulled together a mixture of stories, pictures, essays and reflections about Baton Rouge’s political past and its famous present.
Legends of downtown's new Hilton
Legends and myths from the Hotel Heidelberg and Capitol House Hotel.
From CNN to All the King's Men
James Carville co-produced the film All the King's Men. Why?
We asked you to e-mail us your experiences working on the film All the King's Men. Here are your stories.
LSU prof's book offers intimate glimpse into the shrewdest politician of all
The film is based on the book of the same name, a work that changed one LSU prof's life. He explains how.
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