Was the Railroad truly in Old Tuscon? It says Denver, Raton and Southern. Its all well painted like it is part of a tourist trap somewhere. The maps show no tracks in old Tuscon - whats the deal?
It is Old Tucson, but remember that Old Tucson suffered a damaging fire in 1995.
http://www.sgha.net/az/oldtuscon/oldtuscon4.html
Actually, it's in Silverton, Colorado -- a part of the Durango - Silverton train service.
shareThe Silverton-Durango Railroad was in several movies.
"Heartbreak Pass" with Charles Bronson
"Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid"
It's a great ride if you're down Durango, Colorado way. You can ride it roundtrip or one way and take a tour bus back. Fly US Airways (old America West airlines) into Durango airport.
CmdrCody
Actually, it's in Silverton, Colorado -- a part of the Durango - Silverton train service.
Are you 100% sure that that was the railway used in the film? Everything that I've read about it indicates Old Tucson, and the film's credits never mention Colorado. I'm not doubting you per se, but it comes as news to me.
You know...the railroad scenes don't look like Durango. I'd better check the shooting scene list on IMDb.
shareNo shooting scenes in Durango.
My bad. Perhaps I should spend 10 dallars or 10 days in the lockup with Senor Naco.
CmdrCody
The train, once owned by MGM Studios, was purchased by Old Tucson; and just enough track was laid so it could make an entrance into town, stopping at the undersized depot. For "Joe Kidd," the tracks were extended to run through the buildings, allowing the locomotive to appear as if it had left the tracks before it crashed through the breakaway sets. When other shots of the train were needed not connected with the town, they would lift both locomotive and cars with a crane and transport them by truck to an unused railroad line nearby. I don't know what happened to the train after the fire. Perhaps it's still in use at the rebuilt facility.
shareInteresting ... did you work on the film?
shareI always thought the train scene at the end was weak. Why did the tracks just end behind the store? How did trains leave Sinola?
shareI always thought the train scene at the end was weak. Why did the tracks just end behind the store? How did trains leave Sinola?
Did they show him shifting it onto the unused track? I'll have to pay closer attention next time I watch it. You got a keen eye. Seen through it right away, did ye? I agree Sturges could have done this part better. Just a little more illustrating that move would have helped a great deal. Maybe some film stock was unusable? It also seemed like Chama changed his mind to give up too quickly and that they could have easily overpowered Joe on the way back to Sinola, especially when Joe & Helen are having their scene.
I know it sounds like I'm nitpicking but it's just that I like the first 90 percent of the movie so much, the surrendering of Chama doesn't really do justice to the rest of the film. It's just always seemed to me like they were in a hurry to finish the film or something and rushed the ending. Oh well. I still like it (as my handle should suggest) and I rank it among my favorite Westerns.
I really enjoy the contrast among the supporting bad guys. All ruthless, but with different personalities. A lot of directors would have had them indistinguishable from each other. Paul Koslo is one of my favorite bit-part players and I really like his performance as Roy Gannon. The actor playing Olin Mingo was good, too, and Lamar was suitably a pain in the a$$ as played by Don Stroud. It's a credit to Sturges and Duval that these lesser characters were allowed to develop some dimension. A lesser director and star would have had Mr. Harlan do all the 'cool stuff.' As Sturges directed however, the film benefits with several developed characters and Duval still trumps all others as the dominant bad guy.
Shut the window, Lamar.
Did they show him shifting it onto the unused track?
By the way, I agree that the narrative development on Joe Kidd eventually seems a bit lackluster. However, one aspect that I appreciate is that the lack of a wholly satisfying conclusion (with Luis Chama merely turning himself in and taking his chances in court) is more true to life than can be found in most movies. In real life and real history, sometimes the solution is not satisfying and triumphant, but compromised and frustrated. Often in life, one must accept a temporary defeat or stalemate in hopes of an ultimate victory down the road. Joe Kidd reflects that reality.
shareThat section was a siding or a switch track. There is an earlier scene where the switch and a section of siding can be seen.
sharethe film was shot in the alabama hills
at lone pine ca.
the r.r. track still stands north of lone pine
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Re Old Tucson
I visited Old Tucson in July of 2006 and it was sad to see the loco and some of the coaches and wagons now in state of disrepair. The loco and a lot of the buildings were badly damaged in the fire. The loco stands isolated on a short length of track and I doubt will ever steam any more. The crane wagon has collapsed in the middle and the coach is falling apart. The size of the town is much reduced and not a patch on what it was when I last visited in 1980. That said its still worth seeing because of the location.
If anyone want some pictures/video I will send.