Have you eve
r wanted something so badly that you were willing to work harder than you ever imagined you could work in order to attain it? Maybe so, maybe not, but we have all heard remarkable stories about those who have dreamed big and worked their hearts out to attain some goal.
Recently, USRowing, the national governing body for the sport of rowing in this country, asked rowing clubs across the United States to apply to host screenings for the premier broadcast of an amazing American Experience PBS documentary. The Boys of ’36 is an hour-long documentary based on the best-selling book The Boys in the Boat published in 2013 by author Daniel James Brown. A relative newcomer to the sport of rowing, the Beaufort Rowing Club sponsored the film at Beaufort’s Plaza Theatre. The documentary was shown free of charge on Saturday, July 23, 2016. Members of the BRC (Beaufort Rowing Club) invited friends and associates who showed up to support the club and to satisfy their curiosity about the much talked about and read about eight big guys and one bossy little guy. To give attendees a hands-on experience with a likeness of one of the main characters in the film, the boat, one of the club’s retired eight oared shells comparable to the one in the film was displayed in the theatre’s parking lot.
Why would anyone want to see a documentary about rowing? I am a rower so don’t take it from me, but if you asked any of the non-rowers who sat in the packed auditorium they would tell you they were enthralled from the opening scene. This is no ordinary documentary. This is the story of the University of Washington’s sophomore boat which fought race after race, stroke after stroke, and beat the legendary California and Ivy League crews time and time again. Let us discuss bonus deals first because the 1st complimentary point we get once joining an internet casino. Deposit bonus at Royal Panda is actually a 100% meet, meaning that in case you deposit hundred buck. They proved to themselves and to the rest of the United States they were the boat to challenge the rest of the world, but especially the mighty German eight at Hitler’s Olympic Games in 1936. https://www.cpaymentmethods.com/online-casinos/royalpanda.html
The story focuses on Joe Rantz, a boy forced out of his home by his stepmother. Rantz fends for himself until he finds a sport, a coach, seven crew mates, and a diminutive take charge coxswain. They learned to trust each other and pulled together as one. Joe’s story is everyone’s story who has ever overcome obstacles, a story of true grit and determination. That’s all I’m going to say about Joe Rantz because this story was pieced together from letters and diaries and interviews with many of the crew. I suggest you read the book, watch the documentary, and by all means go see the Kenneth Branagh produced movie when it comes out. The documentary was full of actual footage of races in the United States. It allowed viewers to experience Hitler’s sieg heil Germany through the filtered lens of renowned German photographer Leni Riefenstahl. The footage of the great race makes you want to be there to stand up and cheer for the boys every stroke of the way. I can only imagine how Branagh’s touch will enhance the feature length film. Not to be a spoiler, but I think the actor who plays the big eight’s coxswain was chosen because he, like the real ’36 coxie, has a few tricks up his sleeve.
To prepare you for the real deal when the movie comes out, you and your friends and your children and your friends’ children should try to watch The Boys of ’36 on WJWJ on August 2, 2016 at 9pm. If this doesn’t make you proud to be an American, I don’t know what will.
Martha Thwaite Weeks is a writer – and rower – who lives in Beaufort.
