In Savannah, speculation is heated. What really happened at Mercer House on May 2, 1981? A volatile young hustler is shot dead in the study of one of Savannah's most respected businessmen. How could a gracious, socially prominent man like Jim Williams get mixed up with someone like Danny Hansford? What was the true nature of their relationship? Was Jim Williams guilty of murder, or of a double life that collided in tragedy?

Morbid fascination and curiosity about the eccentric characters in Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, many of whom still live in Savannah, has created the biggest tourist industry the city has ever seen. Kevin Spacey, who plays the tragic Jim Williams and John Cusack, who plays the writer, will be among the many celluloid and real-life celebrities on hand for the premiere of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, the movie based on the nonfiction bestseller. Directed by Clint Eastwood, the much anticipated movie will premiere tonight in Savannah.

It all started with "The Book," as it is known in Savannah, and we don't mean The Bible. The old South setting is a hotbed of smoldering passions and double-edged relationships, peopled by unforgettable characters who clash with the outraged gentry of the city's oldest families. And it doesn't hurt that Savannah is a historically important city of breathtaking beauty.

Realtor Diane Gunnin knew them all -- the gracious, enigmatic Jim Williams; the laconic Joe Odom and his sexy girlfriend, Mandy; and drag queen extraordinaire Lady Chablis. In fact, "The Book" hit so close to home for Gunnin, pardon the Realtor pun, that she feared she would find her name in print, too!

Find out in this exclusive interview with Gunnin, by Agent News Editor Blanche Evans, how midnight falls in Savannah's garden of good and evil.

A.N.: Are the people of Savannah really as eccentric as they are portrayed in the book?
D.G.: First of all, we are not "Gone With the Wind" on drugs, as the movie trailers suggest! Savannah is really a very gracious city. It is a very old city with families that have been here for generations. We are known as the Hostess of the South for our hospitality.

A.N.: Give me an example of Southern hospitality, Savannah-style.
D.G.: For one thing, the way we treat tourists, whom we view as guests. We love them and want them to stay, and we make sure they know it. I ran into one woman who was here during an unseasonable cold snap. She had ducked into a shop to get out of the wind, and the shopowner said, "Where is your coat?" She said she was from Florida and didn't bring one. The shopkeeper loaned her a coat to use while she was here. She showed me the coat. That is hospitality.

A.N.: Why is that kind of hospitality unique to Savannah?
D.G.: We are the end of the line -- not a place that is the on the way to somewhere else. So people who come to visit are expected to stay for a while. And we are situated in a very beautiful part of the country. It is an area famous for huge live oaks with the Spanish moss hanging down. There is nowhere else like it. It is like time stands still here. There is all the time in the world for socializing. Having house guests is a way of life.

A.N.: Your tourism has grown quite a bit.
D.G.: The Book has made a tremendous difference. We have people coming from all over the world. There are tour companies that will take you on the "Midnight Tour." It is unbelievable. People fall in love Savannah. Kevin Spacey liked it so much here that he made a large donation to one of our schools.

A.N.: Do you think Savannah is portrayed accurately in the book?
D.G.: There are many who feel this is not the true Savannah, that the book shows the city in a disparaging light. I felt it was depicted fairly, at least as far as the people I knew. There is a TV station doing a story on fact or fiction between the book, the movie, and real life.

A.N.: You mean there are differences?
D.G.: Yes. Mandy Nichols -- not her real name -- who is played by Clint Eastwood's daughter in the movie was Joe Odom's mistress. She still lives in Hamilton-Turner House, where she lived with him. In the movie, she has an affair with the writer, played by John Cusack, but that didn't happen in real life.

A.N.: How do you know?
D.G. The writer traveled in different circles. He wasn't interested in women. How do you think he got access to all the information about homosexuals for the book?

A.N.: Do you believe Jim Williams was guilty of murder?
D.G.: Not if you knew him. He was one of the most gracious gentlemen. He would have abhorred anything ugly or scandalous. He would be turning over in his grave over this movie thing. He hated movies being shot in Savannah and having dirt poured over the streets and things. He once hung a Nazi flag off his balcony to keep Mercer House from being used in a shot while a movie was being made in Chattaqua Square. He didn't like to see Savannah defiled in any way. I really felt he was hounded to death. Three trials! Where else would a case go to trial three times! There are many who felt Spencer Lawton just had it in for Jim becuase he was gay.

A.N. What has happened to some of the people you knew?
D.G.: The Lady Chablis has gone on to become one of the most famous entertainers around. She wrote a book of her own, called "Hiding My Candy." I read it. It was really good. Sonny Seiler, Jim's attorney, is still practicing law. He raises the UGA bulldog, UGA V, the mascot for the University of Georgia. His dog is the fifth generation, I think. Joe Odom passed away without ever marrying Mandy. She recently filed bankruptcy and has fallen on hard times.

A.N.: What is the town doing to prepare for the premiere?
D.G.: Every room is full. There are plenty of tickets being given away on the radio. Everyone is excited about the soundtrack coming out. I understand Clint Eastwood actually sings on it, and so does Kevin Spacey. Every night there is a countdown to midnight. We are still waiting to hear if other celebrities will come. I can't imagine the premiere without The Lady Chablis!

Published: November 20, 1997

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