|
Film Documentary
1953-2003
In celebration of the 50th anniversary of
Maureen Connolly's Grand Slam win`````````````````````````````````````````
Jennifer Spell (on the right) is an independent filmmaker from Brooklyn, New York who has recently completed a new documentary film celebrating the 50th anniversary of Maureen Connolly's Grand Slam win in 1953. Jennifer compiled over 30 hours of interviews. She started out in San Francisco interviewing Maureen's youngest daughter, Brenda.. Jennifer then traveled to San Diego to spend time in Maureen's hometown, filming and visiting the public courts where Maureen learned to play. She filmed her childhood home on Idaho Street, the Balboa Tennis Club and interview former neighbor/friend/tennis partner, Ben Press and many other long-time tennis friends.
Also, while in San Diego, Jennifer filmed and talked to the young future stars at the "Little Mo" West Regionals at the Barnes Tennis Center. From San Diego, Jennifer traveled to Dallas to interview Maureen's oldest daughter, Cindy, Norman Brinker (Maureen's husband); Nancy Jeffett, President of the MCB Tennis Foundation and Carol Weyman, Executive Director of the MCB Tennis Foundation. Jennifer compiled her interviews with Glynnis O'Connor and Billie Jean King after returning to New York. Glynnis O'Connor, who played Maureen in the original television movie, is the narrator of the documentary. Steve Flink with Tennis Week Magazine wrote a feature article on Maureen's 50th anniversary (see link below). The film documentary, "Unforgettable", The Little Mo Connolly Story premiered on
April 25 in Dallas, Texas at the USA Film Festival and also on
May 8 in San Diego, California at the Natural History Museum. Proceeds from both premieres benefited Wipe Out Kids Cancer and the Maureen Connolly Brinker Tennis Foundation. To order a copy of the film, click on "Little Mo" Products on the Home Page.Tennis Week article by Steve Flink
Jennifer Spell and Glynnis O'Connor. Glynnis played Maureen Connolly in the "Little Mo" movie.