We were heartbroken to learn of the passing of Mary Blanchard Bowe on September 12, 2021. Mary starred in our documentary along with her lifelong friend Dorset Anderson, and the entire crew got to know and love her during the course of filming the project. We filmed with Mary in Vietnam and all around the US over the span of more than a decade. We also had the opportunity to screen the finished film with her at festivals in Santa Monica and San Diego, CA, where she got to experience applause, appreciation and love from audiences who were moved and amazed by her story, her bravery, and her love for the soldiers she went to Vietnam to support.
We are particularly proud that Mary was able to share the stage and spotlight at the GI Film Festival as we won best documentary feature. She said it made her feel like a movie star. She was and is. She was also our very first cinematographer, as she documented her time in Vietnam with priceless 8mm film clips, which she generously let us use in the documentary. Seeing glimpses of 22 year old Mary and Dorset in Vietnam in their powder blue dresses was one of the initial things that inspired me to make a documentary about the Donut Dollies.
Her generosity in life, and on camera, touched us all in so many ways. We truly couldn’t have made our film without her, and we will be eternally grateful for all that she did and all that she was.
Our hearts goes out to Mary’s family during this difficult time. We’ll post additional info here as it becomes available.
Norm Anderson
Director
The Donut Dollies Documentary
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