Podtalk: Director Andrew Davis to Introduce His 1978 ‘Stony Island’

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CHICAGO – It was another city in another time when Andrew Davis directed his first film “Stony Island” in 1970s Chicago. The film was released in 1978 to acclaim, but faded into the mist of cinema. Andrew Davis is back in his hometown to introduce “Stony Island” at the Gene Siskel Film Center on Friday, November 17th, 2023. For tickets and info, click STONY ISLAND.

Rating: 4.5/5.0

Lovingly filmed on the gritty 1970s streets in the Chicago of Andy Davis, the film features his brother Richard Davis as Ritchie, a white boy guitarist trying to break into a Southside rhythm and blues band that cooks with its own brand of Windy City soul. Based a bit on his brother’s actual circumstances, the film features actual singers and players of the era, including a magnificent performance by Gene Barge as Percy Price, the centerpiece cat in the story who ends up in a fate of celebration.

Andrew Davis on the Red Carpet at the 50th Chicago International Film Festival
Photo credit: Joe Arce of Starstruck Foto for HollywoodChicago.com

The city of Chicago is a beautiful character in the film, as Davis at the time explored the “other side” of the burg … but in those days it was all the other side. The music is transcendent and only was available at the moment, which was captured. The acting is also very naturalistic, and features some up-and-comers – at the time – including musician Susanna Hoffs (soon of The Bangles), Rae Dawn Chong and the inimitable Dennis Franz. The film will be release on Digital through all platforms and DVD on November 17th.

As they say, director Andrew Davis needs no introduction in Chicago and beyond. His mentor was Oscar-winning cinematographer Haskell Wexler, and Davis was part of infamous Chicago history when doing camera work on Wexler’s “Medium Cool” (1968). After debuting with “Stony Island,” he went into action star mode with “Code of Silence” (1985, Chuck Norris) and “Above the Law” (1988, Steven Seagal), before the big splash with the classic “The Fugitive” (1993, Harrison Ford). He went on to direct Arnold Schwarzenegger in “Collateral Damage” (2002, involved in a rework after September 11th, listen to the story in the Podtalk) and the cult adaptation of “Holes” (2003).

Mr. Davis will appear at the November 17th showcase screening, the 45th anniversary to the day of the theatrical release of “Stony Island” and coinciding with the digital and DVD release.

Available November 17th: Scene from ’Stony lsland,’ Directed by Andrew Davis
Photo credit: AndrewDavisFilms.com

In Part One of a Podtalk with Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com, Andrew Davis speaks to the journey to “Stony Island” …

In Part Two, in regard to “Medium Cool,” “Collateral Damage” and Tommy Lee Jones’s “sprinkles on top” …

Trailer, “Stony Island” …

By PATRICK McDONALD Editor and Film Critic/Writer HollywoodChicago.com pat@hollywoodchicago.com