Knoxville played a supporting role in films with John Turturro, Ingrid Bergman | Know Your Knox

Know Your Knox recently compiled a list of films that were set in Knoxville and filmed in or around the city, such as "All the Way Home," “The Last Movie Star" and "Lolly-Madonna XXX." The strict parameters prompted a lot of emails from impassioned readers championing other films they think should be recognized for their Knoxville ties.

So, in the spirit of giving fans of both film and Knoxville the sequel they clearly want, here are some movies that didn't make the cut last time, but maybe should have.

John Turturro boasts a lot of fans in Knoxville

I consider myself a John Turturro fan, but I had never heard of "Box of Moonlight" before researching these articles. Multiple readers felt very strongly about the 1996 film, judging by the emails I received. This movie got by far the most recommendations.

Turturro might be best known for his quirky roles in "Barton Fink" (1991), "Quiz Show" (1994), "The Big Lebowski" (1998) and "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" (2000). But his performance in "Box of Moonlight" as a methodical and somewhat neurotic engineer on the lam from his life has its own devotees.

Native Knoxvillian Angela Koontz wrote, "I have a sleeper for you to see…'Box of Moonlight'! I saw it ages ago but it always stuck in my head as to the Knoxville links. ... I remember when Dermot Mulroney, who was a big name for me, was in town for a quick cameo scene filmed at one of the strip clubs on Alcoa Highway! His scene is terrific entertainment! I need to rewatch it just for that scene."

Koontz noted "Box of Moonlight" was a low-budget independent film that gained a bit of a cult following. Made for $3.5 million, it didn’t quite hit $20 million in domestic box office.

"It was that kind of movie," she wrote. "Quirky strange but thoroughly deep (and) enjoyable! Perfect independent movie in my opinion."

The indie film, described as a Southern-cartoon gothic "Alice in Wonderland" by Knox News' Doug Mason, was shot primarily in South Knoxville and Blount County, and featured a couple of stars-in-the-making: Sam Rockwell in a breakout role as the free-spirited character The Kid, and Dermot Mulroney, who played The Kid’s arch-enemy, Wick.

The film also gave some local celebrities a little screen time.

"You forgot to include the 1996 film 'Box of Moonlight' ... featuring my favorite anchorman Gene Patterson (ha)," Patterson wrote.

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'That Evening Sun' production had multiple Knoxville ties

“That Evening Sun" was nominated for Know Your Knox honors by Ibbie Muntz, who noted it was produced by Double Jay Creative with Larsen Jay as executive producer, and it won top prizes at several film festivals, including South by Southwest.

The movie was filmed in 2009 entirely in East Tennessee, including West Knoxville and a Blount County farm, and starred Hal Holbrook, Ray McKinnon and Dixie Carter, to name a few. Here's another Six Degrees of Knoxville factor: Dixie Carter went to the University of Tennessee.

The film is based on a short story, “I Hate to See That Evening Sun Go Down,” by Tennessee author William Gay.

"An early part of the story was filmed at Shannondale of Knoxville Independent Living Retirement Center in the summer of 2009," Muntz said. "Residents of the retirement center (including my dad), served as extras in the film. It was a fun time for them."

“That Evening Sun” co-starred Australian actress Mia Wasikowska, who was still a teenager at the time of the filming. She would break out a year after the release of “That Evening Sun” with the title roles in 2010’s “Alice in Wonderland” and 2011’s “Jane Eyre.”

'October Sky' helped to propel Jake Gyllenhaal to fame

Richie Brashears took exception to "October Sky" not being on the list, noting a science fair scene was filmed at Chilhowee Park.

"Jake's character saw a movie at the Tennessee Theater," he added. "A lot of people do not realize how much Tennessee is involved in the movie/TV industry. We are a hidden treasure. Having been born and raised in East Tennessee, I am very proud of it."

Jake Gyllenhaal was just a teenager and fairly unknown when he starred in the 1999 film release from Universal that ultimately grossed more than $32 million at the U.S. box office

The PG-rated movie, which was filmed in downtown Knoxville as well as in Oak Ridge, Oliver Springs and other spots in the area, also starred Chris Cooper and Laura Dern. But it was a breakout for Gyllenhaal, who went on to star in films such as “Zodiac” and “Brokeback Mountain.”

The biographical drama, originally called "Rocket Boys," tells the true story of Homer H. Hickam Jr., a coal miner's son who was inspired by the launch of Sputnik 1 in 1957 to take up rocketry against his father's wishes and eventually became a NASA engineer.

Ingrid Bergman left her mark (literally) on Knoxville after filming here

Multiple readers nominated 1970's "A Walk in the Spring Rain," which starred Ingrid Bergman and Anthony Quinn and which was filmed partially in Knoxville.

"The movie also included many Knoxville residents that were hired as extras, that appeared in certain scenes," Bill Harvey wrote.

Bergman returned for the film's Knoxville premiere at the Capri Theatre, placing her palm print in wet cement in front of the Bearden movie house. Earlier in the day, Bergman had joined Bob Hope and local officials to kick off the 10th annual Dogwood Arts Festival.

Bergman’s slab could still be seen for years at the former site of the theater on Kingston Pike, along with those of other actors and celebrities including Patricia Neal and Tippi Hedren, according to the Knoxville History Project. Sadly, those handprints are gone now, reportedly dug up before the area was paved over for parking.

Movies starring Robert Mitchum, Anthony Perkins and Jimmy Stewart have some local ties

Jack Queener wrote, "I fully expected to find some reference to Robert Mitchum's classic 'Thunder Road.' I know it was mostly filmed in Asheville and Western North Carolina; however, the theme was definitely East Tennessee. Growing up in Campbell County, I knew even as a 10-year-old that having a movie in the theater where the people talked like people around me was significant. The hit song from the movie mentioned Cumberland Gap, Maynardville and Knoxville/Kingston Pike."

In another Six Degrees of Knoxville moment, Mitchum also starred in "Night of the Hunter," written by Knoxville native James Agee.

Roy Schubert got in a deep cut with 1959's "The FBI Story," starring Jimmy Stewart.

"Although not filmed in Knoxville, the opening scene ... purports to be in Knoxville," he wrote.

Several readers nominated 2019's "Light From Light," a drama starring comedian Jim Gaffigan about a recent widower who thinks his wife might be haunting his East Tennessee farmhouse.

"There were many Jim Gaffigan sightings around town during shooting," wrote Richard Dodson. "Its Rotten Tomatoes rating is 93%."

And reader William Shinpaugh nominated 1965 film “The Fool Killer” starring Anthony Perkins and Edward Albert Jr. According to IMDB, the plot revolves around a 12-year-old boy who runs away from his foster home, wanders the countryside and meets various odd characters after the Civil War.

The movie "was filmed mostly at the home of Hugh and Faye Davis in the Hardin Valley area," Shinpaugh wrote. Co-star Salome Jens apparently made the biggest impression on Shinpaugh, who remembers her as "a really nice person."

Know Your Knox answers your burning questions about life in Knoxville. Want your question answered? Email [email protected].

Liz Kellar is a public safety reporter. Email [email protected]. Twitter @LizKellar.

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This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Stars from Ingrid Bergman to John Turturro made movies in Knoxville