Connie Stevens talks with a reporter briefly during a break in filming recently at the Arrow Rock Country Store. Stevens lived in Boonville in 1951 during the Great Flood and is directing a made-for-TV film based on her experiences that summer. (Kathy Fairchild/Democrat-News) [Click to enlarge]

In the hot and wet summer of 1951, the big news in central Missouri was rain, rain, rain, and more rain.

On July 17, the Missouri River crested at more than 12 feet over floodstage at Boonville, and when it was all over, the river had changed course.

Concetta Ingoglia, 13, of Brooklyn, N. Y., was visiting relatives for the summer and was there to see it all.

Understandably, the event made an impression on her.

More than 50 years later, now better known as actress Connie Stevens, she's back in town, directing her first film from her own original script, based on her summer in Boonville during the flood.

The made-for-TV film, "Saving Grace B. Jones," began filming in Arrow Rock on Friday, Sept. 7, at the Arrow Rock Country Store.

The film crew plans to be in the area for about six weeks, spending time in Boonville and Arrow Rock and finishing in St. Louis.

Stevens is best known for her role as Cricket Blake in the TV series "Hawaiian Eye," and for her pop music recording of "Sixteen Reasons" in 1961.

Today, she is one of the wealthiest women in Hollywood, at the head of her own cosmetics firm, Forever Spring.

During a short break in filming, Stevens said she was very happy to be back in the Mid-Missouri area, especially directing her own script.

Contact Kathy Fairchild at

marshallhealth@socket.net