Catherine Harris, whose sculpture by Dave Poulin is pictured here, is a hero in an outstanding new film.

“Underground Chautauqua: Three Freedom Trails,” a film that premiered at the Fredonia Opera House in November, has been cited in a recent review by the “Underground Railroad Free Press.”

“One county sets a new standard,” said the “Free Press.” It went on to praise Chautauqua County’s researchers, saying, “One was the late Douglas Shepard, a professor of English at SUNY Fredonia, who after retiring, spent the rest of his life investigating the history of Chautauqua County. ”

Shepard’s collaborator Wendy Straight is the writer and producer of the 47-minute film. Visual production and narration by Nicholas Gunner showcase the county’s origins and the growth of the abolition movement in southwestern New York State.

Two other narrators are Saundra Liggins and Jennifer Hildebrand, the two professors at SUNY Fredonia who developed the Underground Railroad coursework there. The fourth narrator is Elijah Toro, a Dunkirk and Fredonia native, who is now with Optimax near East Rochester.

The “Free Press” said, “The enormity of the extent of the Underground Railroad in the county and the amount of local research done on it came to light with the premiere of this expertly done work.

“From its research base to its narration, to its interactive map, to its special effects, the production quality of this film is outstanding. We’ve seen nothing else that come close to its 1,100 historical figures, extensive historical detail, and visual appeal.”

Regarding the interactive map, which was the basis of the film, the “Free Press” said, “Hover over an individual site on the map, and a pop-up will inform you of the site’s history. The project also demonstrates the value of public-private partnerships.

“It didn’t hurt that the film project has been guided by an All Star team,” the review said. “Three key people involved in the film are past winners of Underground Railroad Free Press prizes.

“Wendy Straight won the 2013 Leadership Prize for mapping and writing on the Underground Railroad. Nicholas Gunner won the 2015 Advancement of Knowledge Prize for creating the interactive map.

“Judith Wellman,” whose work was also cited in the film, “was awarded the 2015 Leadership Prize for her research career and for creating the Wellman Scale, the now accepted standard for evaluating Underground Railroad site claims.”

The film “Underground Chautauqua Three Freedom Trails” is now available by typing its name at YouTube. The interactive map, which also includes a link to the film, is available at Chautauqua County Historian Michelle Henry’s website.