Dixon, Ill., locals are thrilled by Dennis Quaid's visit for 'Reagan' premiere, as Hollywood is accused of forgetting small towns.

In the new biopic "Reagan," movie star Dennis Quaid is still in awe of the 40th president's humility, which he portrays onscreen.

""When I entered the Western White House gate, I felt humble, just like him," Quaid said to Planet Chronicle Digital last week."

While discussing his impact on his life and how he would fit into today's political climate, Quaid spoke on the front porch of Ronald Reagan's boyhood home in Dixon, Ill. He also expressed his belief that Hollywood has become disconnected from the small towns that produce stars, lamenting the industry's seeming forgetfulness of hometown values.

Since 1980, the Ronald Reagan Home Preservation Foundation managed and cared for the house where Reagan grew up at 816 S. Hennepin Ave. in the 1920s. In 2020, Young America's Foundation took over as caretaker of the property, which was previously managed by the Ronald Reagan Home Preservation Foundation.

"After visiting Reagan's childhood home, Quaid remarked, "This architecture exemplifies that era of America. The entire town evokes the feeling of 'It's a Wonderful Life.' You can truly sense those values.""

Reagan spent seven summers as a lifeguard at Lowell Park in Dixon, where he reportedly saved 77 lives by cutting a notch in a log near the river.

Quaid witnessed Reagan's humility while filming "Reagan" at Rancho del Cielo, which YAF has preserved and protected since 1998.

"Quaid remarked, "You could sense it in his actions and the areas he inhabited - he meticulously maintained the grass, worked diligently along the fences, and dug the pond himself.""

One particular anecdote Quaid enjoyed sharing was the couple's sleeping conditions.

He chuckled as he described the 1,100 square feet of space they had, which was possibly a king-size bed made of two single beds zip-tied together.

Quaid attended the "Reagan" movie premiere at The Dixon: Historic Theatre after touring his boyhood home.

The locals were ecstatic when a movie star arrived in their community, with one fan shouting, "We're so grateful for your visit to our humble town," while Quaid was busy greeting fans on the red carpet. Another woman exclaimed, "This is an incredible amount of excitement for a small town!"

Was Quaid asked if Hollywood should venture more into small town America?

"Hollywood has a large population of people from various places, and there are many great individuals in the industry. There are numerous churches in Hollywood, and they can be easily located. Hollywood has developed its own unique culture and music scene, but it seems to have lost sight of its hometown values."

He added, "I feel like Hollywood today - they've lost their audience and are desperately trying to find them."

The premiere attracted locals who praised the man of the hour, not just for the bright lights and celebrity, but for other reasons.

"Becky Anderson from Rock Falls, Ill., expressed her excitement about seeing the movie "Reagan" and shared that growing up in the area and living near his birthplace and boyhood home, Ronald Reagan has always been her favorite president."

Sara Ortgiesen, a woman from Dixon who marched in Reagan's inaugural parade, admired Reagan's "integrity," "morals," and conservatism.

She told Fox Digital that he was able to get along with people who may not have agreed with him, could agree to disagree, and manage to get along in that way.

Many other attendees praised Reagan's morals and expressed their desire to see those qualities in the 2024 campaign.

"The local man told Fox Digital that some honesty would be good, and he was really funny, with jokes that I loved."

Others appreciated his storytelling skills.

"One man stated that he admired the honesty and integrity of the individual who could effectively communicate through a humorous story."

"Another local revealed that he was simply a native of Dixon and not influenced by California. He consistently returned to his hometown."

The impression of the former president was further enhanced by playing Reagan, Quaid said.

"Quaid stated, "He was truly authentic, with little artifice. He excelled in communication and expression. His beliefs were rooted in American ideals and served as guiding principles for his governance and life.""

One refrain Reagan particularly liked to communicate was his fight against communism.

Quaid speculated on what Reagan would think of Harris' economic plan being labeled "socialist" by Trump.

Reagan wouldn't have supported price controls because he believed in the free market, according to Quaid.

"The actor stated that Reagan won the Cold War and testified that communists were attempting to seize control of the unions in Hollywood, including the actors, set builders, cameras, and writers unions. He emphasized that this was a challenging task, as they had to first overcome the actors' union."

"Reagan believed in allowing the communist party to come into the country and let them say their ideas, as democracy can handle it and people would see the common sense in things."

The "Reagan" movie not only portrays the president's battle against communism but also depicts his survival of an assassination attempt. Quaid commented on the collective tension in the country during the 1981 assassination attempt and shared his thoughts on the recent attempt on former President Trump's life.

"When Reagan was shot, I felt the same way I did when Kennedy was assassinated. Thankfully, Reagan survived. The first thing that came to mind when Reagan was shot was the Kennedy assassination, which left our nation's spirit in tatters for many years. It was Ronald Reagan who managed to revive that spirit."

Reagan's reliance on his faith resonated with Quaid, as it reminded him of his own beliefs.

"My faith plays a significant role in my life," Quaid stated to Fox Digital. "It encompasses everything that's important, including my family and career. It goes beyond being in movies."

The film "Reagan," directed by Sean McNamara and produced by Mark Joseph, starring Penelope Ann Miller and Jon Voight, will be released in theaters on Friday, August 30.

Planet Chronicle Digital's Nikolas Lanum contributed to this report.