Hollywood actor Rock Hudson travels down Putnam Street in Marietta during the premiere of the film ‘Battle Hymn’ on Feb. 14, 1957. (Photo provided by Art Smith)

Nearly 70 years since its premiere in 1957, the film “Battle Hymn” will return to the big screen at Peoples Bank Theatre at 2 p.m. Sunday.

The theatre will host the event as part of the statewide initiative, Ohio Goes to the Movies. From February to October, the initiative encourages the public to watch and enjoy movies and observe the filmmaking process. The initiative is tied to the nation’s America 250 celebrations.

The screening of “Battle Hymn” is free to the public and will include a ’50s themed automobile, local food trucks, a veterans flag ceremony, and a guided discussion about the history of the film.

On the day of the premiere all those years ago, Rock Hudson, who was considered to be one of the biggest stars in Hollywood at the time, arrived in Marietta for the world-wide premiere movie event.

Putnam Street was lined with throngs of people who watched as Hudson made his way through town. The day was eventually considered one of the largest attended events in the city’s history.

In 1957, The Times reported there were 25,000 people who attended the event and were present along the parade route through the city.

Before “Battle Hymn” hit the big screen, it was a book published by Marietta native Dean Hess. Hess was a Marietta College graduate and World War II fighter pilot who would go on to earn a master’s from Ohio University and a Ph.D. at The Ohio State University.

His 1956 novel was about efforts to relocate young children during war. The premiere of the movies was scheduled on Feb. 14, which was also Founders Day for Marietta College.

It was reported Hess would later use the proceeds made from the novel to fund an orphanage near Seoul, Korea. Hess died March 2, 2015, at his residence.

For more information about the event visit peoplesbanktheatre.com