Western genre movies are completely entertaining as the films cover all the aspects like action, comedy, romance, and thriller. There are so many Western films, but John Wayne’s movies are the ones that one must not miss out on. So, in this article, I’ll explain one of his movies, The Shootist (1976), and where was The Shootist filmed.
American Western film The Shootist is based on the novel of the same name written by Glendon Swarthout. Miles Hood Swarthout and Scott Hale wrote the screenplay for the movie. Don Siegel directed the film. It is a critically acclaimed movie with an IMDb rating of 7.6/10. If you always note the filming locations of Western dramas, now get ready to learn where was The Shootist filmed.
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Where Was The Shootist Filmed? Everything You Need To Know!
The story revolves around the gunfighter John Books, who is in the final stage of cancer. But he soon finds another way to not go through the pain. It was John Wayne’s last movie before his death, and the legend definitely offered a worthy movie to the audience.
Without any doubt, western genre movie locations are always splendid even though it looks like the same settings in all Western films. In most Western movies, horses, guns, beautiful landscapes, and ranches are commonly seen. So, with its picturesque locations, the old Western-style makes it interesting to watch.
So, where was The Shootist filmed? After a long discussion, the production team of The Shootist decided to film the movie in Nevada and in studios. The film’s principal photography began on January 13, 1976, and continued till April 5, 1976.
Now, without any delay, let me tell you where was The Shootist filmed.
Carson City, Nevada | USA
The major filming of The Shootist was done in Carson City, the capital of Nevada. This city has numerous parks, historical attractions, and mountains. So, the production team decided to film some vital film sequences in this region. In Carson City, the team utilized one of its attractions Washoe Lake State Park, for filming.
Because of the many attractions, popular movies like Misery, The Mustang, An Innocent Man, and Lady Cocoa were filmed in this region. If you plan to visit Carson City, add these attractions to your list, including Nevada State Museum, Bowers Mansion Regional Park, Dayton State Park, Kit Carson Trail, The Foreman-Roberts House Museum, and Skunk Harbor.
California | USA
Next, the team moved to California to film many significant scenes in the studios. California is one of the best filming production areas as movies were filmed in this region. There are a lot of production studios, and the filmmakers can complete the filming process without delay because they get access to all the top-notch production facilities and local support.
Many scenes were filmed in one of the popular and busiest studios, Warner Brothers Burbank Studios, located at Warner Boulevard, Burbank. The production team of The Shootist used the different stages in the studio for filming. The team utilized the parts of the studio, including Kings Row, Laramie Street, Midwest Street, Stage 14, and Stage 25, for filming.
With the best production facilities, Warner Bros. Studios serves as the top filming unit in the California region. Some famous movies and series filmed in this region include All American, Rio Bravo, The Waltons, True Blood, Inception, and Gilmore Girls.
A few movie sequences were also filmed in the Paramount Studios located at Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles. It is the oldest production unit in the USA that served as a backdrop for many movies like Vertigo, Big Time Rush, Night Of The Grizzly, and Rear Window.
Other Production Details
After the project’s announcement, John Wayne showed his interest in doing the lead role. But the production company considering his health issue had few confusions about whether to cast him or not. But the team was ready to face the risk and selected Wayne for the lead role. Wayne also helped the team choose the cast members for the respective roles and made some changes to the script.
However, Wayne faced some health issues in the mid of the shooting, and the production stopped for one week. After the rest, Wayne completed the project successfully, which shows his passion for cinema and love for his audience.
Plot Of The Shootist | What Is The Story About?
John Bernard Books, a gunfighter, finds that he has rectal cancer in the terminal stage and has only a few months to live. So, he chooses to live peacefully and books a room in a lodge with a fake identity. But the small boy Gillom, the son of Bong Rogers, the boarding house owner, finds he is a reputable gunfighter.
Soon, the news starts to spread in the town, and the two criminals to become famous try to kill John, but John kills them. This inspires Gillom, and he asks John to teach him how to shoot. After teaching him, John decides to move outside and die with dignity rather than suffer inside the room. So, watch this heartwarming drama and enjoy the final action of John Wayne.
Final Words
Alright, readers! I hope now you know where was The Shootist filmed. If you enjoyed reading this article, check out other engaging filming location articles on this website, including The Man From The Snowy River, The Stalking Moon, and The Greatest Story Ever Told. If you want me to cover your favorite trending movies or old classic movie, drop a message in the comments sections; I’ll cover it for you.
What camera is used for filming The Shootist movie?
The production team used Panavision Cameras and Lenses for filming.
Who played the Gillom Rogers role in The Shootist film?
Ron Howard played the Gillom Rogers role in the film.
Was the movie box office hit?
The movie was a decent box office hit that grossed over $13.4 million.
Can you visit the Paramount Studios?
Yes, you can tour the Paramount Studios for two hours.
