Tough as nails, gentle as a poet, and determined as a badger, 90-year old Frank Moore loves to fly-fish. A World War II veteran, in 1944 he landed along with some 150,000 other troops on the beaches of Normandy, France for the D-Day Allied invasion. Despite the cacophony of war around him, the avid, young fly fisherman couldn’t help but notice the productive fisheries on the rivers he and his fellow troops crossed as they made their way into occupied France.
Frank’s lifetime accomplishments as a fly fisherman, conservationist and a veteran have earned him many awards, including the prestigious Chevalier of the French Legion of Honor, and recent induction into the Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame. Moore has guided and fished with actors, congressman and executives over his storied angling career. He built and was the long-time proprietor of the world renowned Steamboat Inn along the North Umpqua River. Now, reflecting on his life, he is compelled to return to the rivers of Normandy, this time armed not with a gun, but with a fly rod and reel.
This documentary project will profile Frank Moore’s inspiring and dynamic life history and follow his return to France to fish the rivers that he crossed so many years ago as a 21-year-old soldier amidst the devastation of war. There are few veterans in as good health as Frank; far fewer who have the courage and ability to travel back to France to see the war grounds of their past. In May 2013, the Uncage the Soul Production team will travel to France with Frank and his wife of 70 years, Jeanne, traversing the rivers and World War II landmarks of Normandy. The production team will shadow Frank’s journey, capturing the raw emotion and experience of a lifetime to be found in Frank closing this book he began writing on June 6, 1944.
An award winning film production studio, Uncage the Soul specializes in outdoor adventure documentary, having produced projects featured at the Banff Mountain Film Festival, Mountainfilm, the Wild and Scenic Film Festival, and broadcast on National Geographic and the Discovery Channel. The team is comprised of world renowned filmmakers and photographers, bringing a unique and beautiful perspective to storytelling.
With your support, we can all show our appreciation to this venerable veteran and others like him by making this dream of his a reality, documenting not only his lifetime of accomplishments, but also the beauty that lies in the world of fly fishing, allowing a man to confront his past and embrace his passion in a place that he once helped to free.
How to help
For full details of how you can help please click here to visit the project funding page.
Frank Moore: Mending the Line from Uncage the Soul Productions on Vimeo.