Movie producers cut most of the Charleston scenes from
Ridgill said, “I promised God if I ever got out of that com-
the movie. Yet, when filming moved to Romania for the
munist country, I’d never go back.”
majority of the movie, Ridgill declined offers to join. He says he visited Romania in 1985 in search of Arabian horses
Yet, the decision to stay home did not end his star sight-
and a man toting a machine gun shadowed his every move. ings. Ridgill said Actress Renée Zellweger wanted to ride a horse so she and a movie producer arrived at Black Bottom Stables. Ridgill saddled a gentle horse and took the actress and producer to the round pen. According to Ridgill, Zellweger, climbed on, looked over and asked, “Ok, so how do I make him go?” “Just kick him in the sides a little,” he answered. She shook her head and said, “Oh no, I can’t do that. That wouldn’t be nice.” Ridgill said he looked at the producer and muttered, “You take over. I’ll teach her to ride, but I’m not leading her around.” After leaving the pen, Ridgill heard laughter. He said, “I looked out and he’s running back and forth in the This page Bill Ridgill on the set of the movie “Cold Mountain”
pen while leading the horse and she’s in the saddle, laughAZALEA MAGAZINE / FALL 2011
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