Coolest Silverado movie location

[PHArchivist]

Maybe...

There are a LOT of extremely cool locations out there.

But I receently found a long-sought after location of one of my favorite scenes of one of my favorite films of all time.

You old guys will nail this immediately...

Be sure to fully open the first one.

 

[Larry Young]

Re: Coolest movie location ever?

Nothing beats Lake Mead and Vasquez Rocks in Larryland.

 

[EvilRocketeer]

Re: Coolest movie location ever?

Bonanza?

 

[Jedifyfe]

Re: Coolest movie location ever?

What's this from Rob?

 

[jarvis]

Re: Coolest movie location ever?

Looks like the Rio Grande? Silverado?

 

[EvilRocketeer]

Re: Coolest movie location ever?

The River Wild

 

[Jannix Quinn]

Re: Coolest movie location ever?

Well the label says PHARCHIVIST, but I've never been to that country.

 

[PHArchivist]

Re: Coolest movie location ever?

Looks like the Rio Grande? Silverado?

Exactly... The Rio Grande between Los Alamos and Sante Fe.

 

[PHArchivist]

Re: Coolest movie location ever?

This is of course from the opening scene in Silverado, just after Emmet (Scott Glen) opens the door of the cabin after killing off three thugs in the opening gunfight (filmed entirely from within the cabin, more or less as Emmet's POV).

It was one of the most effect film openings I have ever experienced, written and directed by the same artist that wrote Raiders of the Lost Ark.

Back in the day, watching this on the big the screen, for the first time ever, was simply stunning. You began closed in, inside the cabin with Emmet. The gunfight ensues (and you have no idea where you are), and when over, he opens the door to this stunning vista of which you feel as if you are about to virtually fall in.

Fantastic film making...


I found the location (with some help for IMDB) while on a driving tour of the southwest. The family was staying in Santa Fe (50 miles SE of the location), so I got up early, made the drive out, and found the overlook.

As with many movie locations, it is not as remote as it appears. All around the ridge is park infrastructure (picnic tables and awnings, roadway, an overlook platform), though I do not know if this infrastructure existed in 1984. Also, immediately prior to arriving at the overlook, there is a large municipal sport complex and residential neighborhood. Turn your back to the ridge, and you're looking at baseball diamonds and houses.

 

[PHArchivist]

Re: Coolest movie location ever?

My image (with my egocentric watermark!) is obviously stitched together from two images. Tough to duplicate the VistaVision (or whatever) cameras used in the film with just a point-and-shoot digital. Clearly the two images do not line up perfectly.

Also, my images are not in the precise location as the filming camera. The ridge runs roughly north/south, and I was about as far south as I could be while still with in the "acceptable" area of the overlook park. I believe - based on studying the geography and angles - that the exact location was a bit farther south than where I was (by maybe 50 yards give or take). And it is possible that the filming camera was perhaps elevated.

Interestingly, in the story, Emmett - in recounrting his ambush - states "I had to get up anyway...!" suggesting the opening scene occurs in the morning. My shots were taken at about 8:00 AM, and clearly the sun (in front, and to my left a bit) effected the color of my images. In the film, the vista appears back lit, strongly suggesting the scene was shot in the afternoon, perhaps even late afternoon. The illusion of film!

 

[RelicMaker]

Re: Coolest movie location ever?

Great find, Rob! I love seeing pics of movie locations to see how much has changed, if any..
I'll have to check this place out next time I drive through Santa Fe.

..but, I'm not sure if it's as cool as "The Goonies" - Ecola State Park, Cannon Beach, Oregon!thumbsup

 

[PHArchivist]

Re: Coolest movie location ever?

Great find, Rob! I love seeing pics of movie locations to see how much has changed, if any..
I'll have to check this place out next time I drive through Santa Fe.

..but, I'm not sure if it's as cool as "The Goonies" - Ecola State Park, Cannon Beach, Oregon!thumbsup

Was there in 2008. Very cool spot. I even found the bend in the road where Josh goes flying off on the kid's bike. Trees even match up!

 

[Jedifyfe]

Re: Coolest movie location ever?

I can say that I have never seen this movie. But cool find Rob!

 

[Sigma-LS]

Re: Coolest movie location ever?

I have the Enterprise Edition of Panaview Image Assembler for my outcrop work in geology. I can stitch the photos you have together into a more seamless panorama if you want and if you have some overlap between the photos.

As a western fan. I gotta say that rocks.

Pans are pretty quick to make. Here's an example of an uncropped one I had from my Master's site. Photobucket crunches it down but the regular version is 14mb and high res.