Remembering 9/11: 'Man In Red Bandana'

NYACK, NY — The story of a local hero from the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks at the World Trade Center is now a documentary showing in theaters across the state and the country. “Man in Red Bandana” by Matthew Weiss had its world premiere Sept. 6 at the Lafayette Theatre in Suffern.

The film is about Rockland native Welles Crowther, who helped save at least 20 people in the South Tower. It was written and directed by Weiss, narrated by Gwyneth Paltrow and produced by Verdi Productions, Magna Entertainment & RDZ Productions. (For more information on this and other neighborhood stories, subscribe to Patch to receive daily newsletters and breaking news alerts.)

Crowther, 24, was an equities trader with Sandler O’Neill & Partners, 2 World Trade Center, 104th floor.

He escaped to the 78th floor where he found and led a group of victims down to safety. He went back again and again into the burning building to help others get out. His body was not found until 2002, with the bodies of firefighters heading back up to rescue people who were trapped.

He had been a member of Empire Hook & Ladder Co., No. 1, Upper Nyack for six years (and a junior member before that). He was a graduate of the class of 1995 at Nyack High School.

The movie about the mysterious rescuer who 9/11 survivors kept describing had its world premiere in Suffern Sept. 6. There is a showing at the Palisades Center in West Nyack Sept. 14 but it is already sold out.

Here's where else it's playing in New York and New Jersey theaters:

• Showcase Linden Boulevard Multiplex Cinemas, Brooklyn, NY: Sept 8-14
• Bow Tie Cinemas Fine Arts, New City, NY: Sept 8-14
• Bellmore Playhouse, East Meadow, NY: Sept 8-14
• Elwood Cinema, Elwood, NY: Sept 8-14
• Jacob Burns Film Center, Pleasantville, NY: Sept 13
• AMC Loews Webster 12, Webster, NY: Sept 14
• YMCA Boulton Center For The Performing Arts, Bay Shore, NY: Sept 13
• Valley Cinemas, Little Falls, NY: Sept 8-14
• New Vision Cranford Theater, Cranford, NJ: Sept 8-14

Learn more about him and the work that goes on in his name at the Welles Remy Crowther Trust Fund. You can order a copy of the documentary here.

Watch the trailer: