Finally. A movie is being made based on the life of Robert Smalls. One of Beaufort’s most revered sons in history, the courage shown by Smalls during his life is the stuff of legend and has inspired so many.
We’ve been wondering why there hasn’t been a film about Smalls for a very long time.
The Amazon biopic movie, “Steal Away” will feature the true story of his daring escape and rise as a politician in Beaufort during the Reconstruction Era.
And, they apparently got the right guy to direct the movie.
According to IMDb the film will be directed by Charles Burnett of the classic films “Killer of the Sheep,” and “To Sleep With Anger.” Burnett was also an Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences Governor’s Award honoree a few years ago for his remarkable contribution to film and American culture.
Also, Filmmaker and Snowfall actor Malcolm M. Mays has been tapped by Amazon Studios to write a new script for the film. Mays, who wrote the reboot of “New Jack City” for Warner Brothers, is also currently attached to write, direct and produce the feature Flint with John Ortiz and T.I.
Steal Away is bound to be a very good movie, because few life stories tell as well as the life story of Robert Smalls.
Smalls was born enslaved on April 5, 1839 in a cabin behind his owners, the McKees, house at 511 Prince Street in Beaufort. As a young enslaved teen he was rented out to work in Charleston and took up boating and learned the local waters around Charleston.
After the Civil War broke out, Charleston was smack-dab in the middle of it, and Smalls was a crew member aboard a Confederate supply vessel, the Planter.
Just before dawn on the morning of May 13, 1862, Smalls and a crew composed of fellow slaves slipped The Planter off of the dock. Following a plan, they picked up family members at a rendezvous point then slowly navigated their way through the harbor.
Smalls was wearing the white ship Captain’s wide brimmed straw hat to help hide his identity. He knew the proper Confederate coded signals and was able to get through defense positions and even two checkpoints along the way.
Being cleared, Smalls sailed into the open ocean…and right into freedom. Once outside of Confederate-held waters, Smalls and his crew raised a white flag and surrendered The Planter to the Union fleet that was blockading the harbor.
His story was so big that he toured the North and was met by crowds of well-wishers. His escape was symbolic of the Union cause, and the publication of his name and former enslaved status in northern propaganda was big.
After he returned home to Beaufort, he was then elected to 5 terms as a Congressman in the U.S. House of Representatives. Smalls also purchased his former owner’s house, and he was generous to the economically devastated family.
He took care of Mrs. McKee until the day she passed away, right there in the house.
Smalls also authored legislation that made South Carolina the first state to provide a compulsory public school system in the U.S. He was also the founder of the Republican Party of South Carolina and also served as the U.S. Customs Officer here in Beaufort.
A release date has not yet been set for the Smalls biopic film.
With Smalls’ heroics and the legend that’s been created, this is a story over 150 years in the making….and, we can’t wait to see it.
