'The Maiden Heist' art-caper film heading to DVD

Four of Hollywood's most beloved stars--Morgan Freeman, Christopher Walken, William H. Macy and Marcia Gay Harden--team up in the made-in-Boston film "The Maiden Heist," heading straight to DVD on Tuesday, Oct. 27.

"The Maiden Heist" DVD is loaded with bonus features, including a director, writer and producer commentary, deleted scenes, a bloopers reel and making-of featurette.

Initially unveiled at the American Film Market in Santa Monica last November to strong reviews, locals got a sneak peek at a screening in March at Worcester's Hanover Theatre.

"The Maiden Heist," formerly known as "The Lonely Maiden," stars Walken, Macy and Morgan Freeman in a comedy of errors following three museum security guards and their attempt to steal artwork after it's been transferred to another museum.

The Worcester Art Museum's Renaissance Court and art galleries were transformed into the film's scene of the crime back in December 2007. Boston locations include South Boston's Murphy's Law and the fire-destroyed The Grecian Yearning in Allston.

Click here for the latest on "The Maiden Heist."

'The Maiden Heist' show will go on in Worcester

Contrary to a report in the daily paper, Christopher Walken and William H. Macy, stars of the made-in-Boston flick "The Maiden Heist," will offer a sneak peek of their art-heist comedy at Worcester's Hanover Theatre at 7:30 p.m. March 7, 2009.

Yep, the show will go on. But, it may be your only chance to see the film on the big screen ... at least for awhile.

Fears that the Hanover Theatre gala was canceled were fueled after Yari Film Group's Emily Lambert e-mailed the Globe saying, "I don't anticipate any screenings of 'The Maiden Heist' in the near future."

While the sneak peek in Worcester is still a go, Yari Film Group's releasing arm, which was forced to file Chapter 11 back in December, has sent the film's producer Rob Paris scrambling to find a new distributor.

“I have no doubt we will find ourself with a wonderful new distributor,” he tells the Worcester Telegram. “It’s not a question of ‘if.’ It’s a question of ‘when’ and ‘who.’ ”

"The Maiden Heist," formerly known as "The Lonely Maiden," stars Walken, Macy and Morgan Freeman in a comedy of errors following three museum security guards and their attempt to steal artwork after it's been transferred to another museum.

Proceeds from the movie gala will benefit The Worcester Art Museum. The WAM's Renaissance Court and art galleries were transformed into the film's scene of the crime back in December 2007. Boston locations include South Boston's Murphy's Law and the fire-destroyed The Grecian Yearning in Allston.

Paris along with the film's director Peter Hewitt and screenwriter Michael LeSieur are also scheduled to attend the premiere.

Click here for tickets, ranging from $30 to $200 for VIP access.

Photo credit Yari Film Group

'The Maiden Heist' premieres at Hanover Theatre

Christopher Walken and William H. Macy, stars of the made-in-Boston flick "The Maiden Heist," are slotted to offer a sneak peek of their art-heist comedy at Worcester's Hanover Theatre at 7:30 p.m. March 7, 2009.

Initially unveiled at the American Film Market in Santa Monica last November to strong reviews, the screening in March will mark its world premiere with a national release scheduled for May 2009.

"The Maiden Heist," formerly known as "The Lonely Maiden," stars Walken, Macy and Morgan Freeman in a comedy of errors following three museum security guards and their attempt to steal artwork after it's been transferred to another museum.

Proceeds from the movie gala will benefit The Worcester Art Museum. The WAM's Renaissance Court and art galleries were transformed into the film's scene of the crime back in December 2007. Boston locations include South Boston's Murphy's Law and the fire-destroyed The Grecian Yearning in Allston.

The film's director Peter Hewitt, producer Rob Paris and screenwriter Michael LeSieur are also scheduled to attend the premiere.

Click here for tickets, ranging from $30 to $200 for VIP access.

UPDATE: "I don't anticipate any screenings of 'The Maiden Heist' in the near future," Yari Film Group's Emily Lambert e-mails the Globe saying that the made-in-Boston flick "The Maiden Heist," slotted to be unveiled at Worcester's Hanover Theatre at 7:30 p.m. March 7, 2009 , may not see the light of day.

Made-in-Boston films impacted by YFG bankruptcy

"What Doesn't Kill You," the made-in-Boston flick by Brian Goodman and starring Mark Ruffalo, Ethan Hawke and Amanda Peet, was slotted for a larger re-release by Yari Film Group in 2009 after a limited showing in NYC and Los Angeles on Friday, Dec. 12.

However, after the YFG announced this past week that their releasing division was forced to file Chapter 11, the Los Angeles Times reports that the film is now on the hunt for a new distributor.

"What Doesn't Kill You" has earned rave reviews this past week from USA Today and the New York Times. "South Boston is the new Bronx," writes USA Today's Claudia Puig, adding that the film is "a terrific character-driven tale about small-time criminals."

Also, the release of "The Maiden Heist," another Yari Film Group release shot in Boston and starring Morgan Freeman, Christopher Walken and William H. Macy, could be negatively impacted by the news that YFG is filing Chapter 11.

"Heist"--a comedy of errors following three museum security guards and their attempt to steal artwork after it's been transferred to another museum--was shopped around at the American Film Market in Santa Monica, Calif. this past November. Buzz surrounding the film is extremely positive.

As mentioned in Loaded Gun, the third made-in-Boston YFG feature "The Governess" starring Jennifer Lopez is unaffected by bankruptcy news with filming slotted for early 2009.

Click here for more information.

Southie bar makes big-screen comeback in 'Heist'

First, "Gone Baby Gone" now "The Maiden Heist."

Murphy's Law, the colorful black-and-red neighborhood pub in South Boston at 837 Summer St. known for its quirky collection of bar decor including old superhero characters and barbie dolls, makes its big-screen comeback in "The Maiden Heist."

The Southie watering hole first served as a film location for the Ben Affleck-directed "Gone Baby Gone" in 2007 when Casey Alleck's character Patrick and gal pal Angie (Michelle Monaghan) strike a deal with Lionel McCready (Titus Welliver) to investigate the kidnapping of a little girl.

Once again, the Southie locale will make a movie cameo in "The Maiden Heist," formerly known as "The Lonely Maiden." The made-in-Boston flick, and starring Morgan Freeman, Christopher Walken and William H. Macy, is a comedy of errors following three museum security guards and their attempt to steal artwork after it's been transferred to another museum.

"The Maiden Heist" is slotted to make its world premiere at the American Film Market in Santa Monica on Wednesday, Nov. 5 with a repeat screening Sunday, Nov. 9.

Click here for the latest on "The Maiden Heist."

Grecian Yearning appears in made-in-Boston flick

The Grecian Yearning, a quintessential greasy spoon that served up old-school breakfast food on Harvard Ave. in Allston before being destroyed by an electrical fire on June 10, 2008, will make a comeback of sorts next month.

The mom-and-pop diner served as a film location for the movie "The Lonely Maiden"--now called "The Maiden Heist"--a made-in-Boston film starring Morgan Freeman, Christopher Walken and William H. Macy.

"The Maiden Heist" is slotted to make its world premiere at the American Film Market in Santa Monica next month--giving those yearning for The Grecian Yearning a chance to see the diner in all of its former glory.

The scene featuring the Grecian Yearning was shot in late November 2007.

Owner Nicholas Katsarikas and his wife, son and daughter all got to participate in the film shoot, playing — what else — the chef, cashier and wait staff at the diner.

Click here for the lowdown.

(Photo of Christopher Walken and Morgan Freeman in THE MAIDEN HEIST, a Yari Film Group release. ©2008 Yari Film Group Releasing.)