Alone yet Not Alone: Their Faith Became Their Freedom (retitled Massacre at Buffalo Valley for some television showings[2]) is a 2013 American Christian[3] captivity narrative[4][5] historical drama film directed by Ray Bengston, co-directed by George D. Escobar, and starring Kelly Greyson, Jenn Gotzon, and Clay Walker. Adapted from Tracy Leininger Craven's namesake novel, the film gets its title from the German hymn "Allein, und doch nicht ganz allein."[6][7] It dramatizes the true story of three preteen girls, Barbara and Regina Leininger and Marie LeRoy, whom the Lenape forcibly seized in the 1755 Penn's Creek massacre.
| Alone yet Not Alone: Their Faith Became Their Freedom | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Ray Bengston George D. Escobar |
| Screenplay by | James Richards George D. Escobar |
| Based on | Alone Yet Not Alone: The Story of Barbara and Regina Leininger by Tracy Leininger Craven[1] |
| Produced by | Barbara Divisek George D. Escobar Cynthia Garcia Walker Michael Snyder |
| Starring | Kelly Greyson Natalie Racoosin Jenn Gotzon Clay Walker |
| Cinematography | James Suttles |
| Edited by | M. Scott Smith |
| Music by | William Ross Bruce Broughton |
Production company | AYNA |
| Distributed by | Enthuse Entertainment |
Release date |
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Running time | 103 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $7 million |
| Box office | $887,851 |
James R. Leininger, the father of the original novel's author and descendant of the portrayed Leiningers, partially funded Alone yet Not Alone.[8] The film's title song, "Alone yet Not Alone," was nominated for Best Original Song at the 86th Academy Awards. However, the academy rescinded the nomination two weeks later due to alleged tampering from co-composer Bruce Broughton.[9]
Plot
editIn the mid-18th century, the Leininger family immigrated from Germany to Penns Creek, Pennsylvania, where they farmed alongside the LeRoy and Hecklinger families. Nearby, General Braddock dismisses six Indian chiefs attempting to ally with him against George Washington's advice, leading them to support the French instead.
One day in 1755, the Indian brothers Galasko and Hannawoa assault and burn down the Leininger farm when Mrs. Leininger and John are out milling, killing Mr. Leininger and Christian. They capture Barbara and Regina after the girls attempt to hide in a cave and place them with several captured children, including their friend Marie LeRoy. After a few days, Galasko dubs Barbara "Susquehanna" before the Indians depart and divide the captives between two tribes, separating Regina from Barbara and Marie. Barbara attempts to escape by stealing a horse, but gets recaptured and condemned to burn alive after a branch knocks her unconscious until Galasko convinces them to spare her after she promises never to flee again. They travel to the French Fort du Quesne and later the Kittanning village.
Protests regarding the massacre from Benjamin Franklin and the captives' families, including Mrs. Leininger, convince Governor Morris and the Pennsylvania legislature to fund a militia and assault Kittanning. The Indians promptly take Barbara, Marie, and other captives into the forest and decide to execute a woman named Lydia Barrett for attempting to escape during the battle, during which she managed to hide two boys and let the militia rescue them. Not wanting Barrett to suffer fire, a French officer shoots her out of mercy after a scuffle with the Indians. The Indians arrive with the captives a month later at the Moschkingo village and assimilate them into their tribe. Barbara befriends an Indian girl named Hylea, while Marie goes to live with an elderly, abusive woman.
Several years later, Barbara, now a teenager, learns Marie intends to escape with two other captives, Owen Gibson and David Breckenridge, but initially dismisses their plan as unworkable. However, when Galasko proposes marriage to her and gives her Mrs. Leininger's brooch, which he took during the raid, Barbara contemplates her past and agrees to Marie's plans. They abscond at night when the Indians are away before her wedding, and Hannwoa discovers their absence and begins pursuing them. A bear severely slashes Owen's leg after he shoots and attempts to charge it before David scares it away. After the fugitives cross a river with difficulty, Hannwoa finds Galasko returning and informs him of Barbara's escape. Galasko attempts to join his pursuit, but Hannowa, convinced that he wants to protect Barbara from punishment again and steal his credit, murders him in a rage.
When the fugitives arrive at Fort Pitt, which Colonel Mercer garrisons, the British soldiers are unconvinced of their plight until Barbara convinces them by speaking in German. When they attempt to receive them, Hannwoa appears and attacks them, inflicting several casualties before Barbara kills him with a fallen soldier's pistol. After a month at Fort Pitt, the four travel to Philadelphia and reunite with Mrs. Leininger, John, and Fritz Hecklinger. Barbara returns her mother's brooch to her, who informs her that Regina remains missing. Owen and David enlist in the Pennsylvania militia; Marie promises to wait for Owen while Barbara marries Fritz.
Several years later, Barbara and Fritz have had two children when Henry Muhlenberg informs the family on Christmas Eve that Colonel Armstrong has defeated the Indians in Ohio and recovered all war prisoners. They rush to Carlisle Fort and meet Owen, who tells them that David died in the Battle of Bushy Run. Barbara informs him that Marie remains unmarried, and Owen and Marie embrace each other. Unable to recognize Regina among the liberated children, Mrs. Leininger sings "Alone yet Not Alone" to them after consulting Colonel Armstrong, rekindling Regina's memories, and she runs into her family's embrace.
Regina never married and lived with her mother until they died, buried together in Stouchsburg, and the town placed a monument honoring her in their gravesite. Barbara continued living as a farmer in Berks County, eventually had a third child, and named her daughter after her sister. She died in 1805, buried in the Cumru Township.
Cast
edit- Kelly Greyson as Barbara Leininger/Susquehanna
- Natalie Racoosin as Young Barbara
- Victoria Emmons as Marie LeRoy
- Kelly Devens as young Marie
- Hayley Lovitt as Regina Leininger/Tskinnak
- Cassie Brennan as Young Regina
- Robert Pierce as Papa Leininger
- Joanie Stewart as Mama Leininger
- Joseph Gray as John Leininger
- James Hartner as Christian Leininger
- Jenn Gotzon as Lydia Barrett
- Clay Walker as Fritz Hecklinger
- Justin Tully as young Fritz
- Brett Harris as Owen
- Ian Nelson as young Owen
- John Telfer as David
- Joshua Hunter Magers as young David
- Ozzie Torres as Galasko
- Tony Wade as Hannawoa
- Ron Pinson Jr. as Chief Selinquaw
- Carl LeMon as Henry Muhlenberg
- Josh Murray as George Washington
- Barry K. Bedwell as Benjamin Franklin
- James McKeny as Edward Braddock
- Joel King as Robert Hunter Morris
- Douglas W. Phillips as Hugh Mercer
- Paul Ganus as John Armstrong Sr.
- Thurman Bryan as Sergeant Mueller
Release
editAlone yet Not Alone received a limited theatrical release in nine markets on September 27, 2013, and grossed $125,775 (~$169,778 in 2024) in its opening weekend. By the end of its three-week run on October 11, it had grossed $133,546 at the domestic box office, with a per-screen average of $13,396. The film received a wide release on June 13, 2014, eventually grossing $887,851 against its budget of $7 million, making it a box-office bomb.
Academy Awards controversy
editBruce Broughton and Dennis Spiegel wrote, and Joni Eareckson Tada performed, Alone yet Not Alone's namesake title song.[10] "Alone yet Not Alone" received a nomination for an Academy Award for Best Original Song at the 86th Academy Awards. However, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences soon discovered Broughton, former governor and current executive committee member of the academy's music branch, improperly contacting other members of his branch. They thus rescinded their nomination on January 29, 2014.[11] Academy president Cheryl Boone Isaacs claimed that using a position of authority within the academy to promote an Oscar submission "creates the appearance of an unfair advantage."[12]
This incident was not the first time the academy rescinded a nomination. However, it was the first time the Academy cited ethical grounds for it and the first time it did so on a scripted American-produced feature film.[13] Broughton claimed an industry double standard, saying him sending out "70 or so emails" was comparable to Isaacs' involvement in The Artist and The King's Speech as an academy governor.[14]
References
edit- ^ Craven, Tracy Leininger (2001). Alone Yet Not Alone: The Story of Barbara and Regina Leininger. San Antonio, Texas: His Seasons. ISBN 978-1-929241-36-1.
- ^ "Massacre at Buffalo Valley (2013)". Radio Times. Retrieved May 29, 2022.
- ^ Fitzgerald, Jonathan D.; Sessions, David (January 31, 2014). "'Alone Yet Not Alone': Inside the Conservative Christian Movie the Oscars Ousted". The Daily Beast. Retrieved September 27, 2014.
- ^ Walber, Daniel (January 16, 2014). "Oscar-Nominated Film Is Endorsed by Anti-Gay Hate Groups". MTV. Archived from the original on November 27, 2022. Retrieved November 25, 2022.
- ^ Avery, Dan (January 16, 2014). "What's The Anti-Gay Connection To WTF Best Song Oscar Nominee "Alone Yet Not Alone"?". Logo TV. Archived from the original on November 27, 2022. Retrieved November 27, 2022.
- ^ "The Power of a Hymn". Christianity Today. September 21, 2010. Retrieved June 1, 2023.
- ^ Panosian, Diane (January 29, 2014). "Awards Spotlight: Composer Bruce Broughton on How Original Song "Alone Yet Not Alone" Landed an Oscar Nomination". SSN Insider. Archived from the original on April 25, 2016. Retrieved June 1, 2023.
- ^ Bond, Paul (April 7, 2014). "Controversial 'Alone Yet Not Alone' to Be Released in 200 Theaters". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved May 29, 2022.
- ^ Breznican, Anthony (January 29, 2014). "Oscars kill nomination for best song contender 'Alone Yet Not Alone'". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved August 21, 2015.
- ^ Bond, Paul (January 17, 2014). "Oscars: 'Alone Yet Not Alone' Singer Dismisses Critics of Surprise Nomination". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved May 29, 2022.
- ^ Gray, Tim (January 29, 2014). "Oscar Nominee 'Devastated' by Disqualification; Tune Sung by Quadriplegic Singer". Variety. Retrieved January 29, 2014.
- ^ "Academy Rescinds Original Song Nomination For "Alone Yet Not Alone"". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. January 29, 2014. Retrieved May 29, 2022.
- ^ Zeitchik, Steven; Whipp, Glenn (January 31, 2014). "Voices rising amid 'Alone Yet Not Alone's' removal from Oscar running". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 31, 2014.
- ^ Ma, Roger (February 3, 2014). "Oscar disqualified composer Bruce Broughton hits back with open letter". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved February 4, 2014.
