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LAS CRUCES >> We all know, now, how the 2009 Kentucky Derby ended, but that didn't keep the audience from erupting in screams and cheers and leaping to their feet as underdog Mine That Bird finally came from the back of the pack in a trail of mud and glory at the Las Cruces premiere of "50 to 1" Saturday at Cineport 10.
There was laughter and applause along the way as Mark Allen, portrayed by Christian Kane, and Chip Woolley (Skeet Ulrich) met in a New Mexico bar fight and ten years later reunited at a Ruidoso, NM stable, where Allen and his partner Leonard "Doc" Blach (Wiliam Devane) sent Woolley out to purchase a promising two-year-old gelding.
Mine That Bird hadn't won a single American race when his owners were informed that his Canadian victories entitled the horse to a spot in the Kentucky Derby.
Much of the movie is an inspiring — and sometimes touching and very funny — tale of New Mexico cowpoke underdogs and their dead-last-ranked horse, keeping the faith in a land of wealthy, and decidedly snooty, competitors in the sport of Queens.
And there was more truth than Hollywood license in the movie, cast and crew revealed in a question and answer session after the screening that included Academy Award-winning producer of "Dances With Wolves" Jim Wilson, who produced, directed and shared writing credits with Faith Conroy, and actors Christian Kane, Madelyn Deutch, Hugo Perez and Todd Lowe.
Writer Conroy revealed that the fact-based incidents included an audience-pleasing scene in which the women of Doc Blach's family go to Walmart to purchase straw hats, which they spray paint black and festoon with flowers and feathers to wear at the Kentucky Derby's famed display of designer chapeaus.
"It was raining on Derby day and we have the photographs showing the paint running," Conroy said.
The cast and crew discussed the joys of filming in about 30 locations throughout New Mexico, including Las Cruces, Sunland Park and Roswell.
"I loved coming to Roswell and seeing the signs that said 'Aliens are welcome.' Me and my family are aliens," quipped actor Hugo Perez.
Asked what he liked best about filming in New Mexico, Kane had a quick response.
"The food! I always like being in New Mexico. It's close to my Cherokee heritage. When I come here, I feel close to God," Kane said.
Kane reported that Mark Allen seemed happy with the movie and his portrayal.
"He's a kind of shy guy with a big heart. I hope I portrayed his heart. After the premiere he (Allen) gave me a thumbs up. And I've never seen him smile so much, which meant a lot to me, because that means we did the right thing," Kane said.
And sometimes, life imitates Hollywood, Lowe opined.
"At the end of the movie, Mark Allen had short hair, and at the premiere, we saw he has his hair grown out like this," quipped Lowe, gesturing at Kane's shoulder-length locks.
References to cowboys and New Mexico brought cheers and applause during the screening, especially when the aloof Kentucky Derby announcer proclaimed that the race included horses and owners from "all over the world: Ireland, England, France, Dubai, even New Mexico."
Kane stopped in the Cineport 10 parking lot to demonstrate his roping skills before joining film promoters on a tour bus painted with images of the stars and "50 to 1: Nobody Gave Them A Chance."
"I loved the movie. It was very good. There were cheers and clapping and tears. I actually got to see the race on TV when it happened and now going to the Kentucky Derby is on my bucket list," said Tamra Neal of Las Cruces.
"I liked it. It was really inspiring and heartwarming, seeing the underdog come back to win," said Drake Cardenas of Las Cruces.
"It was awesome. I was an extra at Sunland and I think I saw myself in some of the scenes. It captured the excitement and exhilaration and that's the sign of a good movie," said Casey McCuan of El Paso.
"They did a good job. I loved seeing parts of New Mexico that I know. It was great," said his wife, Kristina McCuan.
Audience members responded to two unique characters that cast members acknowledged as scene stealers: jockey Calvin Borel, who portrayed himself, and Sunday Rest, a talented equine who portrayed rambunctious and somewhat eccentric Mine That Bird with a whimsical humor reminiscent of Mr. Ed and the noble dedication of Roy Roger's horse Trigger.
Wilson said scenes of Borel and Mine That Bird at the beginning of the Kentucky Derby had to be recreated because they were so far behind the pack at the start that there was no available record of the pair.
The film ends with a note about Mine That Bird's post-Derby career, as he went on to win more than $2.2 million in subsequent races before retiring to a ranch in Roswell.
But he'll come out of retirement to meet fans at stops along the movie tour, including a star turn today at Sunland Park.
Writer Faith Conroy, producer-director-writer Jim Wilson and actors Christian Kane, Hugo Perez, Madelyn Deutch and Todd Lowe will be at Sunland Park Racetrack for a meet and greet at 10 a.m. today and will join the hero horse himself, Mine That Bird, in Sunland Park's 5 p.m. Post Parade.
Screenings of "50 to 1" will be at 11:30 a.m., 2:10. 4:45, 7:25 and 10 p.m. daily at Allen Cinema 10 in the Mesilla Valley Mall. For information, visit allentheares.com.
