Submitted Photo Nick Saxton, right, plays Charles Bannon in “End of the Rope,” a film about the 1931 Bannon case in McKenzie County. He is shown with hair and make-up assistant Liza Eger on the set of the film.

Minot’s Oak Park Theater will be among seven select theaters in North Dakota to premier “End of the Rope,” a crime thriller set in McKenzie County in western North Dakota in 1931.

The film is based on the infamous Charles Bannon case and tells the story of a town that rises up to take justice into its own hands when a family mysteriously disappears from the town of Schafer. The film is based on the history book “End of the Rope,” written by the late Dennis Edward Johnson.

“End of the Rope” was shot on location in Burleigh and McKenzie counties in August 2021 and was produced by local production companies, Canticle Productions and DN Cinematics, in collaboration with Minneapolis director Charlie Griak.

The project began with the work of Executive Producer Johnson, a Watford City native. Outside of his law practice, Johnson also was known as a tremendous historian and storyteller, and he committed years to researching the story of the Charles Bannon case. His book, “End of the Rope” is now in its third edition. Johnson and producer Daniel Bielinski worked closely as the project developed. As an executive producer of the film, Johnson was on set nearly every day of filming, helping to solve logistical problems and even making a few cameo appearances in the film. The cast and crew reported they appreciated his endless kindness, generosity and passion for the story. Johnson died Nov. 25, 2021.

It was a priority to use as much local talent as possible for the production. Brad Reissig, associate professor of Scenic and Lighting Design and Theater Arts at University of North Dakota, was the production designer for the film. Rooth Varland, professor of Theater and costume designer at North Dakota State University, was the costume designer and wardrobe supervisor. Several students from the University of Mary and NDSU served in various roles both on and off-screen.

“End of the Rope was a massive production to put together,” said Bielinski. “We had a cast of hundreds. We re-built the town of Schafer in the middle of a Watford alfalfa field. We had more than 30 pre-1931 automobiles in the movie. The list goes on. That such an ambitious film was possible is a testament to the tremendous amount of support that poured out in the past couple years, especially from McKenzie County. There were so many folks who offered their time and talents to the project, and we are excited to be able to show them the final product.”

Previous work from Canticle Productions and DN Cinematics includes “A Heart like Water,” which is now available for streaming at AHeartLikeWater.com, and “Sanctified,” which premiered in theaters across the region in October 2022 and was nominated for Best Feature Film at the Twin Cities Film Festival. “Sanctified” will be released on streaming platforms this summer.

“End of the Rope” will premiere in theaters throughout the region beginning this spring. The premiere schedule (also available on the website www.endoftheropefilm.com) is as follows:

March 24/25 – Six Shooters Cinema in Watford City

March 31 – Fargo Theater in Fargo

April 1 – Chester Fritz Auditorium in Grand Forks

April 14 – TJ Agnes Theater in Williston

April 15 – Oak Park Theater in Minot

April 21/22 – Grand Theater in Bismarck

April 28 – Belfield Theater in Belfield

The Red Carpet Premiere screenings will be interactive events with cast and crew. Merchandise will be available, and sets and props will be on display.

Following the premiere screenings, the films will play in at least 40 theaters across North Dakota and the surrounding region for a limited theatrical run. For more information about tickets and screenings, visit endoftheropefilm.com. For updates, follow the film at www.facebook.com/EndoftheRopeFilmND.