ST. GEORGE — Veteran, environmentalist and former Republican Congressman Pete McCloskey will be in St. George for two screenings of the documentary film about himself, “Pete McCloskey: Leading from the Front,” Friday at the Electric Theater in St. George and Saturday at the Zion Canyon Theater in Springdale. Both screenings begin at 7 p.m.

The documentary narrated by Paul Newman tells the colorful story of McCloskey, a true political “maverick,” a Marine war hero, a leading peace advocate during Vietnam and an environmental activist.

“We believe that this important film sheds light on a time when, perhaps, our political and civil discourse took a higher road despite divergent opinions” DocUtah Executive Director Phil Tuckett said.

Watch the film trailer above – click  to play.

In Korea, McCloskey won the Navy Cross, the Silver Star and two Purple Hearts, all in the span of just a few days. Because he saw the horrors of war, McCloskey has spent the rest of his life fighting for peace coupled with his other passion, the environment.  He was the lead author of the Endangered Species Act and the co-founder of Earth Day.

“I was honored to make a film about Pete’s life because he embodies all the qualities of a true patriot,” the film’s producer and director Rob Caughlan said.  “He is truly an American character in the best sense of the word. We are delighted to present this film to the wonderful communities of Southern Utah, where so many veterans reside, and just days after the 2016 celebration of Earth Day.”

Both McCloskey and Caughlan will attend the St. George and Springdale showings for filmmaker chats afterward.

According to The Video Project:

McCloskey’s story offers an example of an authentic hero who dedicates his life to public service and follows his conscience, despite the prevailing political winds. The documentary cuts through contemporary biases based on ideologies and party affiliations to open a unique window onto an important span of our nation’s history. In so doing, it enables that history to illuminate present day politics and issues in a new, even refreshing light.

Film critic David Wiegand  wrote in the San Francisco Chronicle: “It was probably inevitable that McCloskey’s outspokenness would lead to his (eventual) defeat in politics, but as he once said to an interviewer, ‘What this country needs is politicians willing to lose.’”

The screenings are part of a monthly series, DocUtah@TheElectric, brought in advance of the September DocUtah International Documentary Film Festival.

 Event details

• What: Two screenings of “Pete McCloskey: Leading from the Front”
• When: Screenings at 7 p.m. on each of the following:
  • Friday, April 29, at the Electric Theater, 68 E. Tabernacle St., St. George
  • Saturday, April 30, at  Zion Canyon Theater,145 Zion Park Blvd., Springdale
• Tickets: $10 | available at the door for both screenings | St. George screening advance purchases available at Dixie State University at the Jennings Building; from professors Phil Tuckett and Christina Merrill; or by telephone 435-652-7574 | Springdale tickets may be purchased in advance from the Bumbleberry Inn

Upcoming films at the Electric Theater

The film, is the fourth in the DocUtah@TheElectric series. Next up are the following:

May 27: “Off the Rez”

Directed by Jonathan Hock, the documentary, which won an ESPN “30 for 30” award, follows former Oregon high school basketball star Shoni Schimmel and her family’s journey from the Umatilla Indian Reservation to Shoni starring on the basketball court.

 June 24: “The Day After Trinity: J. Robert Oppenheimer and the Atomic Bomb”

The film is directed by Jon H. Else. Scientists and witnesses involved in the creation and testing of the first atomic bomb reflect on the Manhattan project and its fascinating leader, J. Robert Oppenheimer.

 July 29: “The Great American Cowboy”

Directed by Kieth Merrill, this Oscar-winning film tells the exciting true story of this vanishing American and his special kind of freedom.