Pendragon Pictures announces that director Timothy Hines and producer Susan Goforth are in pre-production for the film “Annie Oakley”, the biopic of one of the most famous marksmen who ever lived and who could shoot left or right-handed without ever missing. Hines and Goforth's previous films include 10 Days In A Madhouse starring Christopher Lambert with 80's supermodel Kelly Le Brock, and Tomorrow's Today, Academy Award nominee Burt Young's last picture, and Kelly Le Brock in a charming cameo. The filmmaking team has a wilderness survival comedy The Wilde Girls starring Cali Scolari, daughter of Emmy Winner the late Peter Scolari, Lydia Pearl Pentz and New York's favorite standup comic Teddy Smith, due in theaters March 28th 2025.
Annie Oakley (pictured above rearing a horse while riding sidesaddle) will be portrayed in the film with her true adventurous spirit and magnetism.
Although Annie Oakley’s story has been done many times in movies with Annie Oakley famously portrayed by Hollywood’s biggest stars including Jamie Lee Curtis and Doris Day starring in Irving Berlin’s movie musical Annie Get Your Gun, a version of Oakley’s life has yet to be made that tells the whole truth.
Above: Frank E. Butler and Annie Oakley, shown in an advertisement for the Wild West Show.
The Hines and Goforth film will explore Annie Oakley’s challenging upbringing, including her early years working in an asylum after her father’s death and her experience of being conscripted as a virtual slave to a vicious couple who tortured her both mentally and physically, and kept her in servitude by forging letters to her family. These hardships not only built Oakley’s strength but also fueled her determination to become the world’s most skilled sharpshooter, with no equal.
Above: Hunkpapa Lakota War Leader and Spiritual Leader Chief Sitting Bull. Chief Sitting Bull adored and admired Annie Oakley so greatly he adopted her as his daughter.
Hines' picture will also delve into the depth of Oakley’s relationship with Chief Sitting Bull, the renowned Native American leader who famously defeated General Custer, as well as her rise to fame in Buffalo Bill Cody’s Wild West show. Oakley’s love story with fellow marksman Frank E. Butler, her husband of over 50 years, will be a central element, capturing his deep devotion to her. It’s said that, upon her death, Butler was so heartbroken that he stopped eating and passed away 18 days later, eventually being laid to rest beside her ashes.
"Annie Oakley was the quintessential self-made American, a woman of incredible resilience and grit,” praises producer Susan Goforth, “Rising from a devastating childhood, she used her skill and sharp wit to build a life and a legacy that went far beyond the Wild West. This movie will inspire audiences around the world with Annie's true personal story of responsibility, self-sufficiency, opportunity, suffering and success."
“Annie, who's real name was Phoebe Ann Moses, understood the power of self-promotion and seized it. She was a pioneer not only in her craft but in her savvy understanding of image and reputation, explains director Timothy Hines. “Joining Buffalo Bill's Wild West show, she carved out the myth of the Western woman, embodying strength with a lady-like grace that resonated deeply with audiences across America.
Above: Portrait of Annie Oakley the greatest sure-shot. “Any woman who does not thoroughly enjoy tramping across the country on a clear frosty morning with a good gun and a pair of dogs does not know how to enjoy life.” ― Anne Oakley
“Annie Oakley had this incredible ability to blend modesty with allure in her costumes," adds Hines. "She never revealed any skin—not even her ankles—but her outfits were fitted in a way that hinted at her shape. She’d wear leggings under shorter skirts, adding a sense of elegance even as she moved dynamically through the arena. Annie captivated the men in her audience by presenting a beauty they could admire without guilt—ladylike and demure, yet undeniably compelling."
Filming is set to begin in late summer, with on-location shoots across Ohio, South Dakota, Minnesota, Montana, New Jersey and Wyoming. Each location holds historical significance, from Oakley's Ohio hometown and Chief Sitting Bull's residence to key venues from Buffalo Bill's Wild West show.
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Company Name: Pendragon Pictures
Contact Person: Susan Goforth
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Phone: +1 310-480-0837
City: Los Angeles
State: CA
Country: United States
Website: www.pendragonpictures.com
