Historic Moments -- Rotary’s great Hollywood adventure

By Susan Hanf
Rotary International News -- 15 February 2010

I n 1953, the RI Board of Directors authorized the production of a film featuring several Hollywood heavyweights to celebrate Rotary’s golden anniversary.

The 1955 movie titled The Great Adventure featured film actor Edward Arnold ( Annie Get Your Gun, Diamond Jim ) and television star Jim Backus ( I Married Joan ), now widely recognized for his role as Thurston Howell III on Gilligan’s Island .

Arnold played the lead, Dr. Grayson, a Rotarian who hosts a barbecue for six Rotary Foundation Fellows (now called Ambassadorial Scholars). Backus played Larry Matheson, a friend of Grayson’s whose questions about Rotary lead into segments describing the founding of the organization, The Four-Way Test, and what it means to be a Rotarian.

Sujata, of the famous East Indian and Tibetan dance team Sujata-Asoka, played the role of scholar Usha Rani Tagore. She and the other scholars reminisce about their homelands -- Australia, Brazil, India, Japan, Scandinavia, and Scotland -- in flashbacks that illustrate the local significance and unifying ideals of Rotary clubs around the world.

The film was written by Leo Rosencrans, produced by Jerry Fairbanks Productions, and directed by Harold Schuster ( My Friend Flicka, The Tender Years).

Filming began in Hollywood in April 1954. English, French, and Spanish versions of the movie were distributed on 16 mm film to clubs and districts for use during and after the semicentennial year.

The 30-minute movie is included in English on The Rotary Heritage Collection DVD (020), available for purchase at shop.rotary.org.

For more historical information about Rotary, visit Rotary History and Archives or the Rotary Global History Fellowship.

14 Comments:

At 9:34AM on 9 March 2010, Dudley Valentine wrote: I agree with some of the above comments. It would be really helpful to our cause, if in the fulness of time, a greater understanding in the ways of Rotary were to be shown in Feature Films.

At 10:58AM on 8 March 2010, Hassan Singh Mejie wrote: It should enhance further the image of Rotary, if some prominent movie moguls could be motivated to script a mention of Rotary, it's humanitarian and world peace efforts in it's forthcoming movies with some well known stars. Also one could look at some well known movie star or stars' to be Rotary Ambassador.

At 11:03AM on 8 March 2010, jpbarreca wrote: This is great about Rotary. But it does not give a big interest in the club. And it does not give a great pershective on the club.

At 8:49AM on 4 March 2010, Sheromie Vittachi wrote: I had just been noticing how Rotary is mentioned many times in an HBO series called "Big Love" It is a great way to pique people's interest about Rotary and service

At 8:49AM on 3 March 2010, Ndohnwie Immaculate N wrote: Some clubs were not formed at time,but now exist,some members only belong now, it shall be more interesting with the new clubs and new members.

At 8:49AM on 3 March 2010, Sukh Mohinder Singh R.I. Distt 3010 wrote: Certainly time to look at making a new movie about Rotary,its activities, service projects and highlighting Rotary's diversity of membership and its role in promoting world peace and understanding. May help in bringing in new members especially the younger ones.

At 4:53PM on 2 March 2010, Charlotte DiPaola wrote: I agree, we do need a more current version that is more reflective of the diverse faces of Rotary now.

At 4:54PM on 2 March 2010, Kathy Lane wrote: Definitely time for a new movie ; )

At 8:29AM on 26 February 2010, Raza Jaffri, AG designate District 3272 wrote: It would have been great if this film was available on YouTube in 3 parts. In these times, the ability to send a web URL to a potential new member is very important. Many prospects carry smartphones and can view YouTube videos on the go or on their computers at their own convenience rather handling DVDs.

At 9:02AM on 23 February 2010, Sattar A. Shaikh wrote: It is high time that we produce a film on Rotary activities. We celebrated Rotary century in 2005 and it is not too late to make a film on Rotary activities of the century. District 3270

At 11:05AM on 22 February 2010, PPRtn. Arun Bhargava from Rotary District 3030 wrote: As we have already completed 107 years we must again produce a movie, we must show about Rotary activity around the world, and what impact we have made in the community.I am proud to be a Rotarian.

At 12:14PM on 17 February 2010, Anneliese D'Souza wrote: It is intriguing to learn about RI's rich and evolving history and the impact Rotary has made worldwide. I am proud to be a Rotarian.

At 9:16AM on 17 February 2010, vishwazith. k. jadhav. p.p. R. C. south. R. I. Dist. 3160 wrote: very good long back rotary has used film media as a mode of communication.

At 11:02AM on 16 February 2010, P D G Yogananda S R R I D 3190 wrote: Good to learn that Rotary has thought of the film medium way back in the 50's.

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