Does Branford Have Connections to Hollywood?

Just a few years ago, downtown New Haven was transformed to look as though it was still the 1950s in the university city. Locals could walk down Chapel and see that Starbucks was offering – supposedly – 5-cent drafts. Very little of the scenery actually made it into the fourth Indiana Jones film, but the level of detail was convincing, even for your average pedestrian – like me.

Do Branford and surrounding shoreline towns have a Hollywood history? It has a connection to at least one film, the 1963 World War II feature, The Great Escape. Do you know how the film is related to Branford?

Do you know any other films that have featured Branford, or have had bits filmed here? Inquiring minds, like this history columnist, want to know!