"The movie "Prancer" remains the only major motion picture that has ever been filmed here ...," said Utica native Scott Anderson, now of Princeton.
Anderson, who was an infant during the filming, said because he and his family lived on Clark's Hill, which is seen in the film's finale, he started archiving local stories and photographs from Utica's Hollywood moment a few years ago.
"I have heard several recounts about the production, crews and actors while growing up in Utica and, now that I have children of my own, I have grown very fond of the movie," said Anderson. "I have collected much trivia about it and have even made contact with the movie's main actress – Rebecca Harrell Tickell – who played the young girl Jessica.”
"Prancer" tells the tale of an 8-year-old girl who is grieving with her father and brother over the death of her mother. The movie follows the despondent Jessica as she finds an injured reindeer she comes to believe belongs to Santa Claus' legendary team. Her determination to protect and nurse the animal back to health for a return to the North Pole before Christmas Eve is revealed onscreen with humor, conflict and empathy.
In the film's finale, Jessica's father (played by veteran actor Sam Elliott) suggests they take Prancer to Antler Ridge (in reality, Devil's Nose at Starved Rock) which, he says, would be the perfect place for Prancer to return to Santa. The father and daughter haul Prancer to Antler Ridge via truck where he disappears into the night.
Following his tracks, Jessica and her father are not so surprised to see the tracks vanish at the edge of a cliff. The soft sound of sleigh bells can be heard drifting down from the night's sky before a streak of light (Prancer) is seen rising to meet St. Nick's sleigh. Prancer and his fellow flying reindeer fly across the full moon as Jessica says her farewells to Prancer with the hopes he will always remember her.
Anderson said, in the film's final moments, "you can see Starved Rock's Lover's Leap in the background." Most of the film's other scenes were shot in Three Oaks, Mich.
Upon the film's release, movie critic Roger Ebert praised the movie and Harrell's performance: "And what really redeems the movie, taking it out of the category of kiddie pictures and giving it a heart and gumption, is the performance by a young actress named Rebecca Harrell, as Jessica. She's something. She has a troublemaker's look in her eye, and a round, pixie face that's filled with mischief. And she's smart – a plucky schemer who figures out things for herself and isn't afraid to act on her convictions.”
In a recent phone interview from her home in Ojai, California, Rebecca Harrell Tickell, who played Jessica when she was 9 years old, said she has fond memories of her short time spent filming scenes in Utica and nearby Starved Rock.
"I did think at the time that the film was going to be a big deal," Harrell said. "It was a lot of work and long days, but I had so much fun (making that movie). Your town (Utica) made me famous." On a technical note, she said the Utica and Starved Rock scenes were shot in the daylight and later, transformed into night shots in post-production for the final cut. She said, "I remember how peaceful – how quiet – the park was while we were shooting there. It was so beautiful. However, I also remember how nervous I was running around near those cliffs, jumping over rocks with Sam (Elliott).”
Now a filmmaker herself, Harrell, 39, said, "I feel deeply connected to Illinois (because of this film) and it will always have a piece of my heart. It was a special time in my life and I am always surprised how many people recognize me (from "Prancer"). Working on this movie taught me that anything is possible, even Christmas magic.”
"Prancer" changed my life and put me on the right path to make films as an adult that touch people's hearts," said Harrell. "I carry with me the many lessons I learned when I was a child from the cast and crew working on this movie. Films can change the world.”
Local memories of "Prancer"
Retired Starved Rock Site Assistant Superintendent Don Petre remembers how excited everyone at the park and in Utica were to have the filmmakers in the community. He remembers how the production looked around the village for small props like ear muffs and gloves.
"It was a big buzz around town and the park when they were here," Petre recalls. "It meant a lot to the locals to be a small part of such a big production. Watching the cast, crew and cameras create movie magic was mostly a neat and positive experience that people here still talk about to this day. My family and I love watching the movie whenever it is on television.”
Actor Sam Elliott was a fan favorite during his short time filming in Utica, signing autographs and mixing with the locals. Molly Spears Williamson was 14 at the time and still has vivid memories of the production and meeting Elliott.
"My mother took a photo of me and him together," she said. "He was very nice, very kind and very personable. He spent a lot of time talking with everybody like he was one of us (from Utica)." "Honestly, I didn't understand the enormity at the time (of meeting such a famous actor), I was more interested in seeing the animal playing Prancer," recalled Williamson. "I got up close and got to pet the animal. I also remember it was kind of neat to see the crews spraying fake snow on the street and up along Clark's Hill.”
Williamson said she was amazed how long it took the crews to film the few scenes for the finale, which lasted only a few seconds in the film.
"Looking back, I still feel excited and proud our little town was part of making that movie," she said. "It's a great family film that I now watch with my family each year.”
Williamson's mother, Colette Spears, of Utica, said she knew nothing of the film's production coming to the village until she saw crews setting up near her home on Clark's Hill 30 years ago.
"I was surprised to see all these people and these fans blowing fake snow on the hill," recalled Spears. "I took a photo of Molly and Sam Elliott together and I remember him as being cordial and very approachable. It was pretty cool. It is a memory we won't forget.”
Laughing, Spears said, "And now, after all this time, I can't tell you how many (video) copies of 'Prancer' I have in my house. It is kind of shocking to know about how popular the movie has become. It has such a cute ending.”
Longtime Village Trustee Mary Pawlak called Utica's brush with Hollywood so many years ago was "phenomenal and such an exciting time for us here.”
Recalling the days, Pawlak said, "I remember walking up Clark's Hill watching the crews throw these huge sacks of instant potato flakes into huge fans to create the snow on the road and trees for the movie. It was blowing everywhere and was so beautiful. Those flakes lasted longer – maybe a day or so – than one would have thought.”
Pawlak said, "The actor Sam Elliott was very congenial and very easy to talk to while everyone waited for the filming to start. I remember how the mayor, (the late) Joe Carey rode with Sam (in a vehicle) up the hill. I don't think Joe even knew who Sam Elliott was at all. At the time, of course, no one had any idea that the movie would become this (Christmas) classic that it has become."