Here, in no particular order, is one movie-lover's highly subjective
list of 15 movies with great views of the American Southwest. I've
selected some reviews which mention the scenery, and for each movie I
have provided a link to the Internet Movie Database's list of filming
locations.
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Koyaanisqatsi (Navajo Reservation & Grand Canyon, Arizona)
"Here is a film without any actors and no dialogue, a film that
depends on fast-changing and remarkable real-world images to redefine
the word 'documentary'. Koyaanisqatsi begins with an image of an
ancient rock wall painting, and moves from there to untouched nature –
showing spectacular scenery from the air and the ground, first
peacefully slowly, and then with an increasing pace and sense of
urgency."
Apollo Guide: Koyaanisqatsi
http://www.apolloguide.com/mov_fullrev.asp?CID=318&Specific=56
Internet Movie Database: Koyaanisqatsi, Locations
http://us.imdb.com/Title?0085809
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Retroactive (Mojave Desert, California)
"George Mooradian's impressive widescreen desert location photography
will be compromised completely in a panned and scanned rental release
but nevertheless this is one you must check out - you'll not see a
better action road movie this year. This has classic cult-movie
potential but I hope it gets (because it deserves) a wide audience."
Dark Star Reviews: Retroactive
http://www.darkstarorg.demon.co.uk/fr0004.htm
Internet Movie Database: Retroactive, Locations
http://us.imdb.com/Locations?0117468
========================
Gas, Food, Lodging (New Mexico)
"Hidden beauty emerges in the desert of 'Gas, Food, Lodging'...as
explored by director-writer Allison Anders, this desert oasis of
trailers and adobe haciendas takes on a mystery, even an
enchantment...With the guidance of an English rock-hound named Dank,
acted as a desert-rat hippie by the versatile Robert Knepper, Trudi
discovers the beauties of the desert in caves where crystals glow
magically under ultraviolet lights. Away from the town of Laramie,
N.M., which mankind has more or less despoiled with tacky little
buildings and trailer parks, nature holds out its secret glories.
The need to discover hidden beauties of life, beyond gas, food and
lodging, reverberates through Anders' film, as one of her major
themes... throughout Anders paints on the screen, with her
cinematographer, Dean Lent. Sparkling geodes and sudden flights of
birds offset the shots of trailer walls plastered with images of rock
and film stars."
Academic Resources for Computing and Higher Education Services
http://www.arches.uga.edu/~bbl80/JC/miscnews.htm
Internet Movie Database: Gas, Food, Lodging, Locations
http://us.imdb.com/Locations?0104321
========================
The Hallelujah Trail (New Mexico)
"The Hallelujah Trail was probably a victim of bad timing more than
anything else for it followed in the wake of the much more successful
Western comedy, Cat Ballou (1965). After all, how many Western spoofs
do audiences want to see in one year? While The Hallelujah Trail might
suffer in comparison to the former film, the New Mexico scenery looked
breathtaking on the massive concave screens and the film's quirky
sense of humor gave rise to other comedy-Western hybrids."
Turner Classic Movies
http://www.turnerclassicmovies.com/ThisMonth/Article/0,,1025%7C1030%7C%7C,00.html
Internet Movie Database: The Hallelujah Trail, Locations
http://us.imdb.com/Locations?0059250
========================
True Grit (Colorado)
"John Wayne earned his only Academy Award in this film by playing a
gruff one-eyed U.S. Marshall hired by a teenage girl to kill her
father's murderer. For the most part, it's a fine family film full of
excitement and adventure. The wonderful scenery is a plus."
Don Ignacio's Movie Reviews
http://members.tripod.com/donignacio/movtruegrit.html
Internet Movie Database: True Grit, Locations
http://us.imdb.com/Locations?0065126
========================
The Milagro Beanfield War (New Mexico)
"Director Redford has let the magnificent scenery of New Mexico play a
large part in this tale; the contrast between what is and what could
be – destruction of that natural beauty – strengthened by the
memorable cinematography of Robbie Greenberg."
Tampa Bay Wired
http://www.tampabaywired.com/lifestyle/article.asp?authorid=42&articleid=790
Internet Movie Database: The Milagro Beanfield War, Locations
http://us.imdb.com/Locations?0095638
========================
The Searchers (California, Colorado, Utah)
"For anyone who is a fan of John Wayne (big or little) this is a must.
This movie puts him in his classic role, a big, tough American cowboy
and is he good at it. This is the most complex character Wayne had
ever played. The scenery is the best. Filmed in Monument Valley, it
has great Indian scenes, beautiful backgrounds, and a realistic plot."
Internet Movie Database: The Searchers, Locations
http://us.imdb.com/Locations?0049730
========================
Geronimo: An American Legend (Utah)
"A thought-provoking epic western chronicling the U.S. Army's attempt
to subjugate the great Apache people to reservations. A strong
performance by Wes Studi who plays the fearless Warrior. Patric plays
Charles Gatewood, the U.S. Cavalry lieutenant charged with bringing
Geronimo in, Hackman plays General Crook and Duvall is a veteran
Indian Scout. Magnificent scenery in Moab Utah. Rich and Majestic."
Modern Sound Pictures
http://www.modernsoundpictures.com/WESTERN.html
Internet Movie Database: Geronimo, Locations
http://us.imdb.com/Locations?0107004
========================
Silverado (New Mexico)
"Shot in New Mexico, the cinematography is outstanding... Presented in
the original widescreen(2:35.1), the desert vistas,and and mountainous
scenery are breathtaking."
Amazon.com
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00000JZI9/002-6191556-6473600?vi=glance
Internet Movie Database: Silverado, Locations
http://us.imdb.com/Locations?0090022
========================
Wild Wild West (New Mexico, Idaho)
"The only thing that looked really good was the Southwestern setting
of the end. This was shot in New Mexico and Arizona probably up around
the four corners area with what looks like a big dose of Monument
Valley. Momument Valley was made famous in Westerns by its first use
in Stage Coach."
Demas Group
http://www.people.virginia.edu/~jnd/a-z/w.htm
Internet Movie Database: Wild Wild West, Locations
http://us.imdb.com/Locations?0120891
========================
Brighty of the Grand Canyon (Arizona)
"Exciting family film based on the well-known book about a small burro
in the Grand Canyon and the lonely boy who adopts him and becomes his
friend. Joseph Cotten and Dick Foran star; beautiful scenery."
Movies Unlimited
http://www.moviesunlimited.com/musite/product.asp?sku=SC5615
Internet Movie Database: Brighty of the Grand Canyon, Locations
http://us.imdb.com/Locations?0061424
========================
The Naked Spur (Colorado)
"Psychological Western about simmering distrust between hardened
bounty hunters pursuing outlaw. Stewart's neurotic antihero may
surprise casual viewers, though its gorgeous scenery and hard-driving
action will appeal to most Western-lovers."
Reel.com
http://www.reel.com/movie.asp?mid=5704
Internet Movie Database: The Naked Spur, Locations
http://us.imdb.com/Locations?0044953
========================
Cat Ballou (Colorado)
"Hilarious, sad and yet inspiring, "Cat Ballou" features the perfect
mix of social commentary and parody to make the movie work. Bolstered
by beautiful images of the Wild West and larded with a variety of
enjoyable characters, the movie strikes exactly the right balance
between seriousness and hilarity."
Internet Movie Database: Cat Ballou, Locations
http://us.imdb.com/Locations?0059017
========================
The Rounders (Arizona}
"Two aging, no-account cowboys (Ford and Fonda) dream of giving up
their bronco-busting ways to open a bar in Tahiti where they can watch
the world go by. But they have a habit of blowing all their money on
women, whiskey, and bad bets. An ornery unbreakable horse may be the
key to changing their luck. Mild-mannered comedy with beautiful
Arizona scenery."
Internet Movie Database: The Rounders, Locations
http://us.imdb.com/Locations?0059661
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The Greatest Story Ever Told (Arizona, California, Nevada, Utah)
"[Director George Stevens] decided that he did not want to film on
location in Israel because he thought that the landscape was too
different from what it was in the first century because of war and
erosion. He decided that filming in southern Utah would be more
appropriate... Stevens also felt that the scenery would be so
beautiful that the wonders of "God's country" could not help but lift
people's spirits to the divine. According to the critics, this plan
also backfired on him. Instead of lifting people's spirits towards
God, the scenery served as another distraction and Jesus often gets
lost against Rockies and "big sky" behind him or the Grand Canyon
below."
Shawn Willox's Home Page
http://www.geocities.com/willoxst/GreatestStory.html
Internet Movie Database: The Greatest Story Ever Told, Locations
http://us.imdb.com/Locations?0059245
========================
One of the many useful features of The Internet Movie Database is the
ability to search by location, and learn which films were shot in
various places. Here are some links that you may find interesting:
http://us.imdb.com/LocationTree?Utah,+USA
http://us.imdb.com/LocationTree?Nevada,+USA
http://us.imdb.com/LocationTree?Arizona,+USA
http://us.imdb.com/LocationTree?Colorado,+USA
http://us.imdb.com/LocationTree?New%20Mexico,+USA
========================
My strategy in researching this question mostly consisted of racking
my brain for memories of beautiful Southwestern landscapes in movies
that I've seen. Once I picked a movie, I searched the Internet Movie
Database for its location, and I performed a simple Google search
using the movie's title and the search term "scenery."
========================
I hope my choices will lead you to some interesting movies with
awesome depictions of the beautiful American Southwest. Many of these
films (such as "Koyaanisqatsi" and "Cat Ballou") are wonderful in
their own right, even without the grand views. A few (such as "Brighty
of the Grand Canyon" and "Wild Wild West") are not so great, but the
scenery helps to compensate for cinematic excellence (it must be
pointed out that, in addition to the sumptuous backgrounds, "Wild Wild
West" also has the advantage of showcasing the hills and valleys of
Salma Hayek.)
If anything I've said is unclear or incomplete, or if you have any
questions, please request clarification before rating my answer, and
I'll gladly offer further assistance.
Best regards,
pinkfreud |
