Information on this page is but a small sample of the total
information contained in Walt Farmer's cdrombook, "Wyoming,
A History of Film and Video in the 20th
Century." Information about that book and his other cdrombook,
"The Making of
Shane," can be obtained by clicking on the above links. (My
thanks to the Wyoming Film Office for providing an official link to this page.)
Click on the date to see the movies made that decade or scroll down as
desired.
While the information is free, please advise the
author if you use it on another website or in a publication. Also, credit to
this author would be expected and a link to this website/webpage included. It
also includes information about Movie Tours of Jackson Hole, a Wyoming film
trivia quiz, links to tourist & other film sites, a list of
documentaries/music videos/TV shows & other media events in Wyoming's
history, & a variety of other relevant information. Visit, learn,
enjoy.
This page contains many small images. To print out
without images, click on this link.
If you want to know more about filming a project in
Wyoming, goto www.wyomingfilm.org
There are a number of places to go to find out more about Wyoming
history in general. If you like to read, an excellent sources of a wide
variety of books about Wyoming and Jackson Hole history are:
The Jackson Hole Book
Trader (talk to Dean @ 800.722.2710).
Films with a + in front of the
description, indicates a film with a location (shot in Jackson area) that can
be visited during the Jackson Hole film
Tour. Films with
a # in front of the description, indicates a film I DO NOT have, but
want. All other films listed are films that I have a copy of in my possession. Please advise if
you know where/how I can obtain a copy.
Here are the movies made in WYOMING. This is
a proprietary list belonging to Walt Farmer. These are films that were
shot all or in considerable part in Wyoming in the 20th century, ending
12/31/00. Color and not rated unless otherwise noted. Films
reviewed by author on a 1-5 scale: 1=poor, 5=superior. BW=Black and
White. While this list should be completely accurate, no claim is made that it
is absolutely so. The author would appreciate any information to make the
listings more accurate and as complete as possible, but I don't believe anyone
anywhere, has a more comprehensive list for Wyoming. If it's a Wyoming
film, it's on this list.
For videos, TV show, news clips, commercials,
documentaries, etc., visit my other Video List webpage.
Pre 1900 productions were mostly very short films from Edison,
Essanay, & others showing trains,tourists at Yellowstone & other
similar B&W silent subjects, most under 1 minute..
#1904 - Wyoming
Roundup. The documentation of a real Wyoming roundup. Shot on
plains north of Rock River on Sam Moore's Forty Nine Ranch. Charles Camp
Pictures / Silent / BW.
#1912 - Charge of the Light
Brigade. Dir. by J. Searle Dawley. Stars: Benjamin Wilson, Richard
Neill, James Gordon. Shot near Cheyenne at Pole Mtn. and the Terry Ranch
south of Cheyenne. Used the U.S. 9th Cavalry (and Buffalo soldiers) from Ft.
D.A. Russell (now F.E. Warren AFB). Filmed in Aug. and released in
Oct. Re 1936 and 1968 versions not in Wyo. Edison Film Co. / Silent
/ BW / 1025 ft.
#1913 - The Indian
Wars, aka The Indian Wars Refought. Dir: Theodore
Wharton and Vernon Day. Stars: Wm. Frederick Cody, Nelson Miles. Shot in the
Black Hills of WY and the Badlands of SD and NE. Recreation of 4 famous Indian
battles that B.B. Cody fought in. The Wm. F. Cody Historical Picture Co. and
the Essenay Film Mfg. Co. / Silent / BW / Only 3 min. remain today.
#1913 - The Curse of the Great
Southwest, aka Curse of the Southwest, aka Life
on the Y6 Ranch , shot on the Y6 Ranch at Albin. Dir: Unk.
Stars: Don Gazzolo, Josephine West, Frank Carter, Charles Irwin, Pauline
Irwin. Shot near Cheyenne and during the Frontier Days Celebration of
1912. Cheyenne Feature Film Co. / Silent / BW / 3 reels.
#1916 - The Man from
Bitter Roots, Dir: Oscar Apfel. Stars: William Farnum, Charles
Whittaker. Shot near Cody and based on a book by Caroline Lockhart.
Scheming villain plots to steal hero's goldmine and his girl. Fox /
Silent / BW.
1917 - The Man from Painted
Post, aka Fancy Jim Sherwoodand
Handsome Jim Sherwood. Dir: Joseph Henaberry. Stars: Douglas
Fairbanks, Eileen Percy, Hoot Gibson, Monte Blue, Fred and Ed Burns, Charles
Stevens. Shot on the Lakeside (Riverside) Ranch in and around Wood's
Landing. Based on short story "Silver Slippers" by Jackson Gregory.
Sherwood is a cattlemen's detective brought to investigate rustling. He
comes in as a tenderfoot from Harvard, meets the schoolmarm, befriends the bad
guy and realizes via a flashback that the bad guy killed his sister. Big
fight to save the now kidnapped girl and get the villain. Fairbanks
Artcraft / Silent / 5 reels / 3* / BW.
1917 - Indian Life,
aka All Indian Movie. Dir: Paul Powell. Stars: Barney Old Coyote,
Ben Spotted Horse, Scratches His Face, and other all Indian cast. Shot
near Sheridan. Silent except for the very pertinent accompanying Indian
music. Previewed at the Orpheum Theatre in Sheridan with the premiere at
the Gem in 1918. Later edited and released in 1920 as Before the
White Man Came. Northwestern Film Co. / 4 reel documentary
w/orchestration and 2 dramatic reels / 2* / BW.
#1917 - The Adventures of
Buffalo Bill, A re-release of The Indian Warsof
1913 on W.F. Cody's death.
#1918 - Heart of the
Wilds, aka Triple
Chevrons and Pierre of the Plains. Dir: Marshall
Neilan. Stars: Elsie Ferguson, Thomas Meighan and Matt Moore. It was shot
near Cody and Garland and YNP. Based on play "Pierre of the Plains" by
Edgar Selwyn and the short story "She of the Triple Chevron" by Gilbert Parker
in "Pierre and His People." Soap opera of bootleg liquor to Indians, the
Mountie that tracks down a murder and gets the girl. Famous Players Lasky
Co. and Artcraft Pictures / Silent / 5 reels / BW.
#1918 - Hell Cat,
The, Dir: Reginald Barker. Stars:
Geraldine Farrar, Milton Sills and Tom Santschi. Shot entirely near Cody
on the Hargreaves Ranch. Half Spanish, half Irish girl falls in love
w/Park Co. Sheriff who is also the enemy of an unscrupulous cattleman.
When rejected, he burns down her home, cohorts are killed and left in the fire,
and he kidnaps the girl who others but the Sheriff think is killed too.
Earns her "Hellcat" name before rescue by Sheriff. Goldwyn Picture Co. /
Silent / BW / 6 reels.
#1919 -The Duke of Chimney
Butte, Dir: Frank Borzage. Stars: Fred Stone, Vola
Vale, Buck Connors, Chuck Morrison and Vesta Philbrook. Shot near
Cheyenne and Pine Bluffs. A travelling salesman of kitchen appliances,
meets a group of cowboys plagued by rustlers and convinces them he's quite a
horseman and hero. He goes after the rustlers, kills their leader and
wins the heart of the heroine. Pathé Picture Co. w/the Fred Stone
Movie Company / Silent / BW / 5 reels.
To order a copy of either cdrombook about all
these films in detail, click here.
1920
#1920 - The Fighting
Sherpherdess, Dir: Edward Jose. Stars: Anita Stewart, Wallace
MacDonald, Noah Beery, Walter Long. Shot near Cody on property of the
book's author, Caroline Lockhart. A shepherdess, falsely convicted,
fights to prove her innocence. Louis B. Mayer Prod. Co. and Anita Stewart
Prod. Co. / Silent / BW / 5 reels.
+#1922 - The Cowboy and the
Lady, Dir: Chas. Maigne. Star: Mary Miles Minter, Tom Moore,
Viora Daniels, Patricia Palmer, Robert Schnable (Not the Gary Cooper/Merle
Oberon version of 1938). From the book of the same name by Clyde
Fitch. Shot at the old Pederson place and elsewhere around Jackson.
Girl married to philandering husband brings him to their Wyoming ranch which is
next door to a dude's (Moore) ranch. Girl and neighbor start a flirtation
as do husband and another girl. When husband is killed, Moore and Minter
suspect each other until the real killer is found. Famous Players Lasky
Co. (Paramount) / Silent / 5 reels / BW.
#1923 - Reno. Dir:
Rupert Hughes. Stars: Lew Cody, Helene Chadwick, Geo. Walsh. Husband and
wife are divorced, but divorce isn't legal in her home state. He kidnaps the
children. Marriage legal in Yellowstone NP. Death in the
geysers. Goldwyn Pictures / BW / Silent / 7 reels.
#1924 - The Lawless Men aka Man from
Wyoming. Dir: Neal Hart. Stars: Neal Hart and Ben Corbett. Shot
near Lusk on the Willson Bros.' Ranch and in Manville. Star is unjustly
sentenced for the killing of the father of the girl he loves. When
released, he tracks down the killer who kidnaps his girlfriend. She's
rescued, bad guy is killed, he's proved innocent. Neal Hart Prod. Co. /
Silent / 5 reels / BW.
#1924 - The Thundering
Herd Dir: Irvin Willat or Wm. K. Howard, depending on
report. Stars: Lois Wilson, Jack Holt, Tim McCoy, Noah Beery and Gary
Cooper. Shot on the Buffalo Ranch in Yellowstone (Cody). Crew also
housed in cabins at Moran. From book of same name by Zane Grey.
Hero joins band of buffalo hunters and falls in love with stepdaughter of an
outlaw who's been robbing the hunters. Indians declare war on hunters,
hero and heroine are separated and her father is killed. Hero saves
heroine from stampede and Indians are defeated. Hero gives up buffalo
hunting, returns to Kansas and marries heroine. Famous Players Lasky Co.
/ Silent / 7 reels or 79 min. / BW.
1925ca - Magic
Yellowstone, filmed by Jack Ellis
Haynes for the Northern Pacific Railway. Life in early Yellowstone
showing wildlife, train arriving at Gardiner, all the lodges of the day with
their music and ballrooms, buses transporting people to geysers & hot
springs, people trampling over thermal features and more. 4* / Silent,
although video has old movie piano soundtrack / 27 min. / BW.
1925 - Pony
Express, The, aka The Thirty First
State, shot near Cheyenne on the Chas. Irwin Ranch. Dir: James
Cruze. Stars: Ernest Torrence, Wallace Beery, Richard Cortez, Al Hart, George
Bancroft, Frank Lackteen, Betty Compson. Melodramatic western about a
Senator establishing his own corrupt western empire. His plans are
thwarted by a Pony Express rider. 60 min. / 3* / Famous Players Lasky Co.
/ Silent / BW.
#1925 - The Yankee
Señor - Scenes shot near Moran. Dir: Emmett Flynn. Stars:
Tom Mix, Olive Borden, Frances McDonald. Lost son finds his Mexican father and
conflict ensues with step-brother before father dies. Spanish dance scene shot
in Technicolor. 5 reels / Fox Films Corp. / Silent / BW &
Color.
1926 - The Devil
Horse, Dir: Fred Jackman. Stars: Yakima Canutt, Gladys
McConnell, Robert Kortman, Roy Clements, Fred Jackman, Jr. Action packed
anti-Indian film that includes horse fights. Shot near Cody.
Pathé / Silent / 3* / BW. (My book has a good number of
B&W images from the film.)
+1926 - Three Bad
Men. Dir: John Ford. Stars: George O'Brien, Lou Tellegen, J.
Farrell MacDonald, Tom Santschi, Frank Campeau. From the book "Over the
Border" by Herman Whitaker. Shot in area of Dead Man's Bar and elsewhere
in Jackson Hole. 3 gruff outlaws become benevolent protectors of young
girl whose father is killed during western settlement period. Fox Film
Co. / Silent / 92 min. / 3* / BW.
#1926 -Warpaint (or 2 words) aka Rider of the
Plains. Dir: W. S. Van Dyke. Stars: Tim McCoy, Pauline Starke,
Chas. French, Chief Yowlachie, Chief Whitehorse (aka Tom Crispin), Karl
Dane. Based on the book by Peter Kyne, shot near Ft. Washakie and in the
Wind River Range (Little Wind River Canyon). One bad Indian, one good
Indian, cavalry, battles, comedy and romance. MGM / Silent / 6 reels /
BW. (My book has a good quantity of images from all 4
McCoy films in WY.)
1927 - Spoilers of the
West. Dir: W.S. Van
Dyke. Stars: Tim McCoy, Dorothy Sebastian, Marjorie Daw, William Fairbanks,
Chief Big Tree and Goes in Lodge. Filmed near Lander and Ft. Washakie,
based on a story by John Thomas Neville. Army Lt. helped by leader of Indian
police, clear squatters and trappers from Indian land, except for a girl and
brother who own the trading post. That's a mistake, they move and Lt
marries the girl. Premiered at Grand Theatre in Lander, 7/24/28.
MGM / Silent / BW / 3* / 6 reels.
1927 - The Red
Raiders, Dir: Albert Rogell. Stars: Ken Maynard, Chief
Yowlache, Ann Drew. Probably filmed near Cheyenne. Army Lt saves
first a stagecoach and then the fort. First National Film Co. / Silent /
BW / 3* / 7 reels.
#1927 -
Wyoming. Same Dir. and stars as
Spoilers... Based on story by Woody Van Dyke. Two boys, one
Indian and one white, friends as children become enemies as adults.
Indians raid wagon train but are repulsed at Ft. Washakie. Lt falls in
love w/wagon train woman. Chief kills his own son to stop the
bloodshed. MGM (See Wyoming, 1940) / Silent / BW / 5
reels.
#1928 - The Glorious
Trail, Dir: Al Rogell. Stars: Ken Maynard and Gladys
McConnell, Les Bates, James Bradbury, Billy Franey and Chief Yowlachie.
Filmed near Cheyenne on reservation land north of the country club at Ft. D.A.
Russell. A working telegraph line crew is slaughtered by Indians but line
is completed despite attacks, by the superintendent (hero). When the
Indians with a white renegade attack again, the telegraph is used to alert Ft.
D.A. Russell for the cavalry. Later, hero marries heroine and settles in
Cheyenne. The Ken Maynard First National Motion Picture Co. / Silent / 6
reels or 65 min. / BW.
#1928 -Cheyenne.
Dir: Al Rogell. Stars: Ken Maynard and Gladys McDonnell and others from
"Glorious Trail." Shot in downtown Cheyenne and at Frontier Days. Hero is
an accomplished rider and wins it all during the Cheyenne "Frontier Days."
Heroine races horses to pay off father's debts and after numerous problems,
hero saves the day in court and marries the heroine. Ken Maynard First
Nat'l Motion Picture Co. / Silent / BW/ 6 reels.
To order a copy of either cdrombook about all
these films in detail, click here.
1930
+1930 - The
Big Trail, aka The Oregon Trail. Dir: Raoul
Walsh. Stars: John Wayne, Marguerite Churchill, El Brendel, Tully Marshall,
Tyrone Power, Sr., Chief Thundercloud, Ward Bond. Shot near Moran and on
the Snake River. Also UT, CA, AZ, OR and MT. John Wayne's first
leading role and reportedly the first time he rode a horse. Pioneering
effort in wide screen cinematography - 70mm "Grandeur." Impressive early
talkie, Wyoming's first. Wagon train on the Ore. Trail encounters
Indians, winter, buffalo, tough terrain and romantic problems. Fox Film
Co. / 110 or 121 min./ 3* / BW. (My book has numerous
images from this film, including recent images at the same locations w/precise
directions to location sites.)
1932 - End of the
Trail. Dir: Ross Lederman. Stars: Tim McCoy, Luana
Walters. Shot near Lander on the Wind River Indian Reservation (Little
Wind River Canyon). Star is railroaded by fellow Cavalry officer as a
gunrunner. He is an Indian sympathizer whose son is killed by the
cavalry, but, he averts an Indian war and is eventually exonerated.
Originally killed at the end, final story has him wounded and probably getting
the Indian girl. Meteor Film Corp. / 3* / BW / 61 min.
1933 -Mr.
Skitch, aka Green Diceand There's Always
Tomorrow. Dir: James Cruze. Stars: Will Rogers, ZaSu Pitts,
Rochelle Hudson, Florence Desmond, Harry Green, Charles Starrett, Wally
Albright, others. Some shot in Y'stone. Based on short story,
"Green Dice" by Anne Cameron in The Saturday Evening Post of 25 Sept.
1926. Destitute family tours to Yellowstone and encounters odd characters
and, the daughter's future husband. Fox Film Co. / BW / 2* / 70
min.
1936 -
Yellowstone. Dir: Arthur Lubin. Stars: Andy Devine,
Ralph Morgan, Judith Barrett. Shot in Y'stone and GTNP. Daughter and
ex-con father reunite in Yellowstone where he's returned to get loot of old
robbery. He's killed by henchmen. Ranger gets the loot, the
murderer, and the girl. Universal / 65 min. / 2* / BW.
+1939 - Down the Wyoming
Trail, aka Wyoming. Dir: Al Herman. Stars: Tex
Ritter, Mary Brodel. Hero helps heroine to stop a gang of cattle rustlers
using a wintering elk herd as cover after being framed as a bad Santa.
Filmed on Nat'l Elk Refuge, Neilsen Ranch, Hansen Ranch, Jackson Town
Square. Monogram Pictures / 59 min. / 2* / BW.
To order a copy of either cdrombook about all
these films in detail, click here. (There is a huge number of pictures in
the book from The Big Trail plus John Wayne and Marguerite
Churchill.)
1940
+1940 - Bad
Man of Wyoming, aka Wyoming. Dir: Richard
Thorpe. Stars: Wallace Beery, Leo Carillo, Ann Rutherford, Marjorie Main,
Lee Bowman, Joseph Calleia, Bobs Watson. Filmed entirely in what is now
GTNP near Moose. Beery and Carillo are on again, off again outlaw pals
tempted by honesty. They befriend a mother and son after their father is
killed by rustlers. MGM / 89 min. / 2* / BW. (Many pics in my
book from this film, and interviews w/Bobs Watson and Ann
Rutherford.)
+1945 - Son of
Lassie. Dir: S. Sylvan Simon. Stars: Peter Lawford, June
Lockhart, Donald Crisp, Laddie. Shot in Jenny Lake, Jackson Lake, Signal
Mountain areas of Jackson Hole. Laddie sneaks aboard master's warplane
and they bail out over Norway (GTNP). Story of their return to
England. First film shot in Wyoming in color. MGM / 100 min. /
3*.
+1946 - Bad
Bascomb, aka Bad Man Bascomb. Dir: S. Sylvan
Simone. Stars: Wallace Beery, Margaret O'Brien, Marjorie Main, J. Carroll
Naish, Marshall Thompson. Also filmed w/in GTNP. Blustery but soft
hearted bank robber leads Mormon wagon train through Wyoming mtns.
Overlong western w/fine action scenes and incredibly syrupy scenes w/Beery and
O'Brien. MGM / 110 min. /2* / BW. (Lot of images in
my book from both Beery films shot in JH as well as lots of
candids.)
+1948 - Battle of the Wild
Stallions, Universal. Little
known, shot near Wamsutter with wild Mustang roundup cowboy Frank Robbins and
his famous horse, Desert Dust.
To order a copy of either cdrombook about
all these films in detail, click here. (There is a huge number of pictures in
the book from all 4 of the above movies, especially Wallace Beery, Margaret
O'Brien & Ann Rutherford.)
1950
+1952 - Wild
North, The, aka in order: The Constable
Pedley Story, Constable Pedley, North Country, The Wild
Land, The Wild North Country, The Big North, North
Country, The Wild Country. Dir: Andrew Marton.
Stars: Stewart Granger, Wendell Corey, Cyd Charisse. Filmed near Jenny
and String Lakes in GTNP, and in ID. Star hides in Canadian wilderness
after he is blamed for an accidental death and a Mountie must bring him
in. Struggle against the winter wilderness, ruffians and wolves.
MGM / 97 min. / 3*.
+1952 - Big
Sky, The. Dir: Howard Hawks.
Stars: Kirk Douglas, Dewey Martin, Elizabeth Threatt, Arthur Hunnicutt. A
rowdy band of fur trappers in the 1830s embark on a back breaking expedition up
the uncharted Missouri (Snake) River. Winchester Pictures / 122 or 141
min. / 3*. First BW, then colorized. (My book
contains the complete film still set, courtesy of Dewey Martin [below are a
few], from RKO, plus many other images & directions to locations.
Dewey has given me several extended interviews about the film & what went
on behind the scenes.)
1952 - Bronco Buster. Dir: Budd
Boetticher. Stars: John Lund, Joyce Holden, Scott Brady, Chill Wills, Don
Haggerty. Shot mostly in Cheyenne area and based on the Peter B. Kyne
story. Two rodeo stars pitted against each other in bronco-busting circuit and
for attentions of a woman. Universal /Int'l / 80 min. / 2*
(Interviews with Joyce Holden & Budd Boetticher in the
book.)
+1953 - Shane. Dir: George Stevens. Stars:
Alan Ladd, Jean Arthur, Van Heflin, Jack Palance, Brandon de Wilde, Ben
Johnson, Edgar Buchanan, Emile Meyer, Elisha Cook Jr. Filmed primarily in
Jackson Hole, WY where now is Grand Teton National Park. Former gunfighter
comes to aid of homesteaders against local cattlemen and their hired gun.
Idolized by homesteader's son with romantic undertones. Surprising number
of flubs but nonetheless a classic western. Cinematographer Loyal Griggs
won an Oscar, + 4 other nominations for the film. One of top 5 grossing
films of '53. (This author has just released [10/00], a cdrombook about
this film. It discusses the film's flubs, history or how it came to be
made, comparisons with the book, it has maps and location sites, many yet
unpublished photographs, behind the scenes stories and anecdotes, reviews,
numerous interviews with people that worked on the film, and more. As of
2006, there are now audio recordings on the cdrombook of interviews of Stevens,
Schaefer and others. For complete information on how to acquire a copy, go to
my webpage for The Making of
Shane. Folks say it's a must have item, or in other words, the
PERFECT Xmas gift.) Paramount Pictures / 118 min. / 3*.
Want to take a tour to the Shane
locations? I can do that for you too. To find out how, click on
this link. (Below is but a small
sample of the hundreds of images in both of my books from this film, including
maps to locations, GPS coordinates, aerials, candids, behind the scenes, Ladd's
family, and hundreds more never before seen.)
1955 - Far
Horizons, aka Two Captains West, aka Blue
Horizons, re-released as The Untamed West in 1961.
Dir: Rudolph Mate. Stars: Fred MacMurray, Charlton Heston, Donna Reed, Barbara
Hale, Wm. Demarest. Filmed in GTNP on Snake River, Dead Man's Bar,
Jackson Lake. Fictional story about the Lewis and Clark (w/Sacajawea)
expedition and the 4-way love affair conflict, and other conflicts w/Indians on
the river. Paramount / 108 min. / 2-3*. (My book
contains many candids provided me by people who visited the sets on the Snake
River.)
+1956 - Jubal, aka
Jubal Troop. Dir: Delmer Daves. Stars: Glenn Ford,
Ernest Borgnine, Rod Steiger, Valerie French, Felicia Farr, Noah Beery Jr.,
Charles Bronson. Filmed on the Triangle X Guest Ranch and Brooks Lake
Lodge and Togwotee Pass areas. Rancher(Borgnine) seeks advice from his
ranch foreman (Ford) about pleasing his wife, but another cowhand (Steiger)
implies that Ford is seducing the wife instead. Foreman has to kill the
rancher and the posse is hot to find him. Columbia / 101 min. / 4*.
(Great candids taken on the Triangle X ranch & in downtown
Jackson of the celebs & an interview with Rod Steiger.)
To order a copy of either cdrombook about
all these films in detail, click here. There are also a large number of
pictures in the cdrombook of Glenn Ford, Rod Steiger, Charlton Heston, Fred
MacMurray, Scott Brady, Stewart Granger, Cyd Charisse, Kirk Douglas, Dewey
Martin, George Stevens, Howard Hawks and Joyce Holden.)
1960
+1963 -Spencer's Mountain. Dir: Delmer Daves.
Stars: Henry Fonda, Maureen O'Hara, James MacArthur, Wally Cox, Mimsy
Farmer. Shot mostly on Triangle X Ranch in GTNP. Farmer w/9 kids that
inherited a WYO mountain, and his dream to build a new homeand send his son to
college. From the Earl Hamner, Jr. book which became a TV series, "The
Waltons." Also re The Homecoming, A Christmas Story.
Warner Bros. / 119 min. / 3*. (I have more images from
this film in my book than any other except Shane. Many are candids provided by
people working on the film & visiting the set, including Fonda's local
girlfriend. Many are in color & there are shots of the locations
taken recently as well. Interview w/James MacArthur.)
+1969 -
Hellfighters. Dir: Andrew V. McLaglen. Stars:
John Wayne, Katherine Ross, Jim Hutton, Vera Miles, Bruce Cabot, Jay C.
Flippen. Some shot near Casper and Jackson. Based on life and
exploits of Red Adair, oil well firefighter. Universal / 121 min. /
2*. (Large number of images from the film from Casper, WY
sources.)
To order a copy of either cdrombook about
all these films in detail, click here. There are a large quantity of images in
the book of John Wayne, Vera Miles, Henry Fonda, Maureen O'Hara, James
MacArthur & Mimsy Farmer.)
1970
+1971 - Homecoming - A
Christmas Story, The. Dir: Fielder
Cook. Stars: Patricia Neal, Richard Thomas, Edgar Bergen, Ellen Corby,
Andrew Duggan, Cleavon Little. Shot in Vermont and at Red Top Meadows
near Wilson, WY. With bad weather, the Walton family worries over
patriarch John being lost on his way home at Xmas. CBS made for TV movie
/ 98 min. / 2*.
+1971 - Mrs. Pollifax -
Spy, aka The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax. Dir:
Leslie Martinson. Stars: Rosalind Russell, Darren McGavin, Nehemiah Persoff,
Harold Gould, John Beck, Dana Elcar. Filmed in Mexico and Jackson
Hole. Bored widow volunteers as a CIA agent and, gets accepted!
Then she and a fellow agent are captured and taken to a remote prison
in...Albania. Russell did the screenplay under a pseudonym and this was her
last film. UA / 110 min. / 2*. (Many images from
the film and interviews with Nehemiah Persoff, John Beck, & Leslie
Martinson.)
+1971 - Wild
Country,The, akaThe Newcomers.Dir: Robert Totten. Stars: Steve Forrest, Vera Miles, Ronny Howard,
Jack Elam, Morgan Woodward. Filmed in Jackson Hole area. Hardships of
farm family that moves from Pittsburgh to Wyoming in 1880s and particular water
difficulties they have with a hard-case cattleman. Disney / 92 or 100
min. / 3*.
1973 - Great American
Cowboy, The. Dir: Kieth Merrill.
Some shot in Cheyenne during Frontier Days. About American rodeo and
competition between Phil Lyne and Larry Mahan. Joel McCrea
narrates. Disney / 89 min. Won Academy Award for Best Feature
Length Documentary, 3*.
1974 - The Legend of Earl
Durand, Dir: John D. Patterson. Stars: Martin Sheen,
Peter Haskell, Keenan Wynn, Slim Pickens, Anthony Caruso &, Albert
Salmi. Shot near Pinedale. A young man who escapes his family,
becomes a great hunter and poaches wild game to feed depression poor folk. He's
arrested, escapes, and the manhunt begins with almost comical results although,
the story is true. Patterson Studios / 90 min. / 3*.
(Many images from the film in the book, including aerials of
the area. Interviews with John Patterson & Anthony
Caruso.)
1975 - Seven Alone. Dir: Earl Bellamy.
Stars: Dewey Martin, Aldo Ray, Anne Collings, James Griffith, Stewart
Petersen. Shot near Cokeville. True account of a boy who leads his
family on a 2,000 mile trek on the Oregon Trail. Doty-Dayton Productions
aka Doty-Dayton Films / 97 min. / 2*. (Interviews with
Stewart Peterson, Lyman Dayton, Dewey Martin and others from this film, along
with many images in my cdrombook.)
1977 -Sweet Creek County
War. Dir: J. Frank James. Stars: Richard Egan, Nita
Talbot, Slim Pickens, Albert Salmi. A retired Sheriff must leave his
quiet ranch to battle a greedy businessman. Imagery Films / 90 min. / 2*
/ PG. (Interview with J. Frank James & a copy of his
screenplay is inserted in my cdrombook.)
1977 - Close Encounters of the Third Kind. Dir:
Steven Spielberg. Stars: Richard Dreyfuss, Teri Garr, Francois Truffaut,
Melinda Dillon, Cary Guffey. Some shot near Devils Tower. Great
Sci-fi UFO mystery and first contact with alien beings. Great special
effects and score. Columbia / 135 min. / 4* / PG. (Again, many images from this film w/current day updates and an
interview with the Academy Award winning Director of Photography in my
book.)
To order a copy of either cdrombook about all
these films in detail, click here. (There are a great many
photographs in the book of Ron Howard, Vera Miles, Slim Pickens, Dewey Martin
& Rosalind Russell.)
1980
+1980 - The
Mountain Men, aka Wind River. Dir: Richard
Lang. Stars: Charlton Heston, Brian Keith, Victoria Racimo, Stephen
Macht. Filmed in Jackson Hole, YNP and at Old Tucson. Fur trappers in a
rather bloody... good guys vrs. Indians movie set in the 1880s. Overly
vulgar, but accurately researched. Columbia / 102 min. / 2* /
R.
+1980 - Any
Which Way You Can. Dir: Buddy Van Horn. Stars:
Clint Eastwood, Sondra Locke, Geoffrey Lewis, William Smith, Harry Guardino,
Clyde the Orangutan. Small time bare-knuckle fighter gets a big-time
brawl while weirdo motorcycle gang & mobsters follow to get their bets
down. Big fight on streets of Jackson while Clyde steals many
scenes. Warner Bros. / 116 min. / 2* / PG. (Hordes
of images from this film, behind the scenes on the streets of Jackson, and an
interview with William Smith & others.)
+1981 - The Pursuit of D.B.
Cooper, Dir: Roger Spottiswoode (2 others). Stars:
Robert Duvall, Treat Williams, Kathryn Harrold, Ed Flanders, Paul
Gleason. Story about the infamous airline hijacker that extorted $200k,
bailed out and was never heard from again. Filmed in Jackson Hole and
Arizona. Polygram / 100 min. / 2* / PG. (Many
images and an interview w/Treat Williams in my book.)
1982 - Endangered
Species, aka Cows. Dir: Alan Rudolph . Stars:
Robert Urich, Jobeth Williams, Paul Dooley, Hoyt Axton, Peter Coyote, Marin
Kanter, Dan Hedaya, Harry Carey, Jr., John Considine. Shot in
Buffalo. Pretentious, but based on real life, about a N.Y. cop's
investigation into cattle mutilations in the western U.S. Aliens?
MGM/UA / 97 min. / 2* / R.
+1985 -Dream West. Dir: Dick Lowry. Stars:
Richard Chamberlain, Anthony Zerbe, Rip Torn, Alice Krige, Claude Akins, G.D.
Spradlin, Fritz Weaver. 2 part, 6 hr. CBS made for TV mini-series about
the life of John C. Fremont and his "Fremont Expedition" and other
travails. Filmed in many places including GTNP, Flocchini Buffalo
Ranch. Sunn Classic Films / 310 min./ 3* / NR. (Many images from the mini-series and an interview with Dick
Lowry.)
1985 - Wild
Horses. Dir: Dick Lowry. Stars: Kenny Rogers, Richard
Farnsworth, Ben Johnson, Pam Dawber, David Andrews, Richard Masur, Karen
Carlson. Shot near Sheridan on the (Frank) Eaton Ranch and Padlock
Ranches. Ex rodeo champ turns back on family to join a wild horse roundup
and expose a bureaucrat's scheme to sell them. CBS TV Movie / 100 min. /
NR / 3*. (Interview with Richard Farnsworth, Dick Lowry,
Richard Masur & others from this film. Many photos from the film
& updated images show in the late 90s in my book.)
+1985 - Rocky
IV. Dir: Sylvester Stallone. Stars: Stallone, Talia
Shire, Burt Young, Carl Weathers, Dolph Lundgren. Filmed in GTNP and Las
Vegas. Avenging a friend's death in the boxing ring, Rocky agrees to a
fight with him in Vegas after training in Siberia (Jackson). One of top 5
grossing films in '85. MGM/UA / 91 min. / 2* / PG.
+1987 - The Wrong
Guys, Dir: Danny Bilson. Stars: Louie Anderson,
Richard Belzer, Franklin Ajaye, Tim Thomerson, John Goodman, Ernie Hudson,
Timothy Van Patten, Biff Maynard. Lame and unfunny comedy about a Cub
Scout reunion gathering that goes bad, and it gets worse with a psychopath once
dissed by the scouts. New World Pictures / 86 min. / 1* / PG.
1987 -Into the
Homeland, aka Swallows Come Back. Dir: Lesli
Linka Glatter. Stars: C. Thomas Howell, Powers Boothe, Cindy Pickett,
Paul LeMat, David Caruso, Shelby Leverington. Shot near Buffalo and
Sheridan. Boozing ex-cop infiltrates a white supremacist group that
kidnapped his teenage daughter. HBO / 95, 115 or 120 min. /
3*.
1988 - Prison. Dir: Renny
Harlin. Stars: Lane Smith, Viggo Mortensen, Chelsea Field, Tom Everett,
Tiny Lister, Andre De Shields, Lincoln Kilpatrick, Ivan Kane. Shot in
Rawlins at WYO Frontier Prison. Spirit of a prisoner executed 20 yrs.
ago, seeks revenge on his one-time guard, now the warden. Lexyn/Empire
Pictures / 102 min. / 2* / R.
1989 - Powwow
Highway. Dir: Joanelle Romero and Jonathan Wacks.
Stars: Gary Farmer, A Martinez, Amanda Wyss, Sam Vlahos, Wayne Waterman, Margo
Kane, Graham Greene. Shot near Sheridan. Cheyenne Indian on a
"spirit" journey to NM, gives a ride to a lifelong Indian activist
friend. Along the way, they're constantly confronted w/Indian poverty and
gov't injustice on the reservation. Warner Bros. and Handmade Films / R /
3* / 91 or 105 min.
1989 - It Nearly Wasn't
Christmas. Dir: Burt Brinckerhoff . Stars: Wayne Osmond,
Chas. Durning, Annette Marin, Risa Schiffman, Ted Lange, Bruce Vilanch.
Filmed in Utah and at Grand Targhee Ski Resort. Santa Claus gives up on
Xmas but saves a dying family and restores his dreams of the Xmas spirit.
Ventura Entertainment Group / 92 min. / 2*. (Interview
with Burt Brinckerhoff included in my cdromobook.)
To order a copy of either cdrombook about
all these films in detail, click here. (There are a large number of images in
the cdrombook of Clint Eastwood, William Smith, Sylvester Stallone, Richard
Farnsworth, Ben Johnson, Kenny Rogers, Charlton Heston and Brian Keith.)
1990
+1990 - Ghosts Can't Do
It. Dir: John Derek. Stars: Bo Derek, Anthony Quinn,
Julie Newmar, Don Murray, Leo Damian, Gerry Spence and Donald Trump.
Filmed in Sri Lanka, Maldives, Hong Kong and Jackson Hole. Softcore
vehicle for Bo Derek. Woman wants the virile but dead spirit of her
former husband, to inhabit a living hardbody. TransWorld Entertainment /
91 or 95 min. / 1* / R. (Many images and stories from the
filming including an interview with Julie Newmar in my
cdrombook.)
1994 - Yellowstone,
aka The Cowboys. Dir: Kieth Merrill. IMAX film about
the wonders and history of Yellowstone. Destination Cinema / 35 min. / NR
/ 3*. 1994 - The Making of Yellowstone. Video
about the making of the IMAX film, Yellowstone. Destination
Cinema / 23 min. (Interview with Kieth Merrill in my
cdrombook.)
1995 - The Great American
West, Dir: Reed Smoot. IMAX film narrated by Jason
Robards. Shot in Yellowstone, Gillette, GTNP and at Devil's Tower. Tells
the story of the settlement of the U.S.'s western frontier. J.Q. Hammons
Film Entertainment / 41 min. / 3*. (Interview with Reed
Smoot in my cdrombook.)
+1997 -Last
Resort. Dir: Lyman Dayton. Stars: Dean
Stockwell, Dave Buzzotta, Scott Caan. Nine troubled teens leave the big city
and its problems for rehab in a wilderness setting. Filmed in Utah and
near Jackson in the Snake River Cyn. Dayton Studios aka Dayton Family
Productions / PG-13 / 3*. (Interview with Lyman Dayton in
my cdromobook.)
1997 - Starship Troopers. Dir: Paul
Verhoeven. Stars: Casper Van Dien, Neal Patrick Harris, Denise Richards,
Dina Meyer. Based on Robert Heinlein Sci-Fi novel of same name. Big
bugs from Klendathu (Hell's Half Acre near Casper) try to destroy earth.
Sony TriStar, Disney / 129 min. / 3* / R. (Huge quantity
of images from the film, including a near complete set of storyboards for the
scenes shot in Wyoming. Interviews with Casper Van Dien, Dale Dye, the
film's producer, and many others that worked on the film. This author was
on the location for some of the shooting.)
(There are a large number of images in the cdrombook of Denise
Richards, Casper Van Dien, Bo Derek and Neal Patrick Harris.)
1998 - Meet...The
Deedles. Dir: Steve Boyum. Stars: Dennis Hopper, John Ashton,
Paul Walker. Considerable 2nd unit shot near Cody on Clark's Fork.
Comedy: Two surfers are mistaken for Yellowstone Park Ranger recruits and work
to save the Park from pesky prairie dogs and a vengeful ex-Park Ranger obsessed
w/stealing Old Faithful before its billionth birthday celebration. Buena
Vista Pictures Int'l. / 93 min. / 1* / PG.
1999 - Wolves. Dir. David Douglas. IMAX, no stars. Story
about the return of wolves to the lower 48 and their historical
interrelationships with humans. Wolfco Productions Inc. / 39 min. /
2* / NR.
Other stars who visited Wyoming:
Numerous Ski films from Warren Miller Films(WMF), Bridger
Productions (BP), Wink Inc. WI), Teton Gravity Research (TGR) and KGB
Prod.
1985 - Steep and Deep - WMF
1987 - Walk on the Wild Side -
WMF
1989 - Jackson Hole: Ski the Best of
the West
1994 - Freedom on Skis - BP
1995 - Endless Winter - WMF
1995 - Adrenalin Adventures -
BP
1996 - Controlled Gravity -
BP
1996 - The Continuum - TGR
1997 - Harvest - TGR
#1998 - Uprising - TGR
#1999 - The Realm - TGR
#2000 - Further - TGR
#2001 - Mind the Addiction - TGR
#2001 - Rush
Hour - TGR
#2003 - High
Life - TGR
#2004 - The
Precious - by Darrell Miller and
SSS
#2005 - Falling
Forward - by Darrell Miller and SSS
#2006 - Trial
and Air - by Darrell Miller and SSS
#2006 - Respect - by Jason Winkler &
WI
#2007 - Sublimation Experiment, The -
by KGB Prod. 62 min.
#2007 - Lost and Found - TGR
#2007 - Steep, by Mark Obenhaus, High
Ground Prod. 92 min.
Other films with nominal or 2nd unit footage
shot in Wyoming include:
#1915 - The Cowpuncher
1937 - The Plainsman
1943 - Lassie Come Home
1946 - Smoky
1964 - Cheyenne Autumn
1965 - The Outlaws IS Coming
1965 - SOLO (Short Feature)
1980 - Star Trek: The Motion
Picture
1985 - UP (Short Feature)
#1990 - Legacy (IMAX)
1991 - Dances With Wolves
1992 - Christmas in
Connecticut
1992 - A River Runs Through
It
1992 - Leaving Normal
1993 - The Vanishing
1997 - Last Resort
Other productions post
2001
#2001 - Mind the Addiction, ski film by
TGR
2001 - Arctic Dance, The Mardy Murie
Story. Narrated by Harrison Ford, 75 min. Mardy, Olaus, &
their love of Alaska & being in the wilderness.
#2001 - Rush Hour,
ski/biking/kayaking/climbing/extreme film from Elevation Magazine w/WY
clips from TGR among others, 75 min.
2002 - The Laramie Project, made for
HBO. Janeane Garofalo. About the death of Matthew Shepard, UW
student murdered for being gay.
#2002 - The Matthew Shepard Story, made
for NBC. Stockard Channing, Sam Waterston.
2002 - Lewis & Clark: Great Journey
West - Nat'l Geographic, made in IMAX format & narrated by Jeff
Bridges. DVD 40 min. + bonus program: The Making of Lewis &
Clark. Used the Snake River south of Hoback Jct.
#2003 - High Life, ski film by TGR
#2003 - Acceptable Risk, a film about mountain
rescues in GTNP by Greg Winston
#2004 - The Precious, ski film by Darrell Miller and
Storm Show Studios
#2004 - The Good, The Bad and the Grizzly - debuted
on PBS Nature series. By
Shane Moore.
#2005 - Falling Forward - Storm Show Studios, ski
film by Darrell Miller
#2006 - Flicka - 20th Century-Fox.
Stars: Tim McGraw, Maria Bello, Allison Lohman. Shot near Sheridan on
Eaton's Ranch where Wild Horses was also filmed. New "remake" of
the famous TV series - story of a girl & a horse.