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Show Moab Happenings r April 1998 13B J la. by Kari Murphy, Executive Director, Moab to Monument Valley Film Commission With over 100 feature films here over the last 50 years, and on the average of 75 commercials filmed here a year, you would be hard pressed to watch TV these days and not see Moab andor Monument Valley on the screen during the commercials or perhaps even during the movie you are watching. It has often been said that director John Ford discovered Monument Valley, yet still others believe it was John Wayne who brought the area to John Fords during the nineteen forties include Kit Carson, Billy the Kid, The Harvey Girls, My Darling Clementine, Fort Apache and She Wore A Yellow Ribbon. The last three were directed by John Ford. It was 1949 and Ford had just completed his fourth picture in Monument Valley and was looking for a change of scenery. Someone suggested that he consider the magnificent landscapes around Moab-- . While scouting the area Ford met with attention. George E. White, who not only owned a ranch and had his own livestock, but worked for the road department and knew the area quite well. Looking Actually, it was director George Seitz who first called Lights! Camera! Action! in the land of the monuments when he filmed The down river past Fisher Vanishing American in 1925. But it was Harry Goulding who, in 1938, film the brought Towers and the Priest and the Nuns butte, with the LaSal Mountains as a backdrop, Ford exclaimed, Thats the greatest sight Ive ever seen! and declared that Wagon Master industry to stay in southeastern Goulding ' ? of Life, Suncliasers, Riders of the Purple Sage, Breakdown, Passion in the Desert, and Treasure of Dos Santos. For Over 130 cast and crew were and 50 locals were hired as their cattle, wagons, and took little time for the local a complete list of all the films shot in southeastern Utah, call the Moab to Monument Valley Film Commission at or write to Kari Murphy, Moab to Monument Valley Film Commission, 50 East Centerl, would Monu- ment Valley w'hen he visited in the 9 2 0 s and hoped to someday make it his home. During his early trips to the valley, i J he helped the Navajo Indians prevent a shooting war with the neighboring Piutes. In gratitude, the Navajos I i allowed him to homestead a small piece of reservation t land right in the middle Wagon Master was a big hit on the screen as well as was captivated by - Moab. Monument Valley area include: Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, Thelma and Louise, Back to the Future, Tall Tales, To Wong Foo, This Boy 's Life, Geronimo, City Slickers II, Lightning Jack, Pontiac Moon, Larger Than Utah. with the local folks. brought into Moab extras, as well as household items. It the the so hard, Goulding decided sigmficatTinancial impact to the community duiing areas pioduclion, but the Navajo to sell the 1 "i 4 I valuable most commodity - its Moab, UT 84532. For real mot ie bulls w ho would like to learn more about the area filming, a book entitled Where God Put The UV.w, a Valley Movie L. Bette Stanton, Moab Film Ihsioiy, written by Commissioner from 1982 to 1996. The title is a direct quote from John Wayne. While liming The Comancheros in Moab, the Duke was asked W'hy he was tilming on location instead of a studio set, and he remarked. TV you can make on the backlot, but Moub-Moniime- promotional scenery. His goal was to convince Hollywood to film a in movie Monument Valley. Harry and his wife, Leona (whose was Ben Johnson an d Ward Bond making nickname to headed Mike) California with some photos, a bedroll, and their last $60. It was a tough sell, but finally the movie makers (with John Ford in the directors seat) decided to take the risk and the result of this challenging venture was the 1939 release of the feature Stagecoach , the first and perhaps greatest western classic ever produced. It was destined to make Monument Valley synonymous with The Old West. Features produced for the big screen, for the real outdoor dramas, you and there is have to do where God put the West no better example of this than around Moab. The book can be purchased at shops throughout southeastern Utah or at the Moab to Monument Valley Film Commission, next to the Moab Information that aspects followed spectacular I. in to realize the economic value of the film industry. Not only was there a .Nation ? filmed here businessmen monuments. In the 930s when the Great Depression hit be proved . invaluable, us they still do today. While filmmaking is not the major livelihood in Grand San and Juan counties, it is a . . Center. significant Wagonmaster (1949) contributor to the economy. Films also add a touch of color to the economic foundation and provide worldwide exposure, enhancing tourism. The number one goal in southeastern Utah is to acquire a diverse and stable economy, while maintaining a quality environment, and the film industry is inclined to assist in this goal. Recent features filmed in the Moab and Arches Helicopters Filming Service South Hwy 259-463- 7 Moab, Utah 84532 7 Fax (435) (801) 191 259-474- 295-382- 4 (in Salt Lake City) Complete Helicopter Production Services Location Scouting Film and Commercial Support Aerial Helicopter Camera & Picture Ships SAG Pilots Spb the Film Locations of Moab Thelma Flights: John Wayne Photography Scout on availability from $80 to $200 per person-base- d & Louise Photography Scout Canyonlands Photography Scout |