Posted by Joe Rogers on February 15, 2011 at 10:52 AM
Watched the old John Wayne classic "The Searchers" last night and saw a scene that John Ford filmed at the North Window MV. Amusingly, the setting for the movie (c.1955) was the Llano Estacado or the High Plains of Texas. You couldnt get away with that today, of course. Otherwise a good flick....and I loved seeing the spires of MV which for some reason evoke a spirital pull on me. Guess it was due to all the "oaters" I watched as a kid. CC alway welcome.
Joe Rogers
Posted by Bob Falcone on February 15, 2011 at 11:53 AM
Nicely done!
Using MV as a substitute for Texas isn't much different than when Ford used MV as a back drop for "My Darling Clementine" (Tombstone, about 400 miles away).
Posted by Joseph Kayne on February 15, 2011 at 12:26 PM
I just love the old westerns. That's kinda like using the San Juans for the setting of True Grit, which took place in Arkansas. Still one of my favs.
Posted by Paul Martin on February 15, 2011 at 11:18 PM
I love watching all the old Ford films for just this type of scenery. Nice!
Posted by John Mumaw on February 16, 2011 at 7:22 AM
Classic view well composed. No nits from me, Joe!
Posted by Paul Wegemann on February 16, 2011 at 8:33 AM
It's a pretty scene, and nicely composed. I bet it makes a nice B&W too.
Posted by Morris McClung on February 16, 2011 at 6:14 PM
There are strong arguments by others that "The Searchers" is the best movie ever made. Lot's of references to the character development, his isolation, and other motifs. Great movie. Excellent shot!
Posted by Dan Walters on February 16, 2011 at 7:54 PM
Really nice color!
Posted by Darren Huski on February 17, 2011 at 8:35 AM
John Ford movies and John Wayne movies are both great. Get John Wayne in a John Ford movie and you have greatness beyond great!
I will say I have always preferred Stagecoach to The Searchers for each of their best movies. Both used Monument Valley and both were set elsewhere. That might not work for all movies but it works for these.
Posted by Lynn Scott on February 17, 2011 at 10:52 AM
Excellent shot!! Love the area and the movies made :)
Posted by Stan Rose on February 18, 2011 at 12:23 AM
Looks good, Joe!
Posted by Joe Rogers on February 18, 2011 at 11:24 AM
Thanks all for your comments. I must say in defense of Mr Ford that there is a great spread of canyon country on the Llano Estacado near Amarillo called Palo Dura Canyon that is 120 miles long, 18 miles wide, and approximatly 600 feet deep that was a santurary for the Comanches for thousands of years. The US army under Randall McKenzie persued and accounted for their final defeat in Palo Dura in the 1870s.
Joe Rogers
Posted by Steve Robinson on February 19, 2011 at 1:38 PM
I visited Monument Valley in Dec 2009 and some time afterward I watched a John Ford western shot there. I realized that he wouldn't be able to do that today as the landscape was pristine at that time. Very nice composition on your image Joe.
Discussion
13 repliesJoe Rogers
Using MV as a substitute for Texas isn't much different than when Ford used MV as a back drop for "My Darling Clementine" (Tombstone, about 400 miles away).
I will say I have always preferred Stagecoach to The Searchers for each of their best movies. Both used Monument Valley and both were set elsewhere. That might not work for all movies but it works for these.
Joe Rogers