Lone Pine Film Festival

Last updated
Lone Pine Film Festival
Lone Pine Film Festival Logo 2014.png
Location Lone Pine, California
Founded1990
LanguageEnglish
Website www.lonepinefilmfestival.org

The Lone Pine Film Festival is an annual film festival held in Lone Pine, California, which celebrates the hundreds of films and television episodes that used Lone Pine, the Alabama Hills, and the nearby Sierra Nevada mountain range as film locations. Since the early years of filmmaking, directors and their production units have used the Lone Pine area to represent the iconic American West. Since The Roundup (1920), the first documented film produced in the area, Lone Pine has played host to hundreds of the industry's best known directors and actors, among them directors William Wyler, John Ford, George Stevens, and William Wellman, and actors John Wayne, Gene Autry, Roy Rogers, Bing Crosby, and Barbara Stanwyck. The festival at Lone Pine was held for the first time in 1990, then called the Sierra Film Festival. In 2019, the festival celebrated its thirtieth anniversary. [1] Held annually over the Indigenous Peoples' Day weekend, the Lone Pine Film Festival is one of the most important Western film festivals in the United States. [2] The festival is the only film fan gathering in the world which is held on location where the movies were shot.

Contents

History

The Lone Pine area was first used as a film location in 1920, when a movie production company came to the Alabama Hills to make the silent film The Round-Up . [3] Other companies soon discovered the scenic location, and in the coming decades, over 400 films, 100 television episodes, and countless commercials used Lone Pine and the Alabama Hills as a film location. [3] Some of the notable films shot here in the 1920s and 1930s include Riders of the Purple Sage (1925) with Tom Mix, The Enchanted Hill (1926) with Jack Holt, Somewhere in Sonora (1927) with Ken Maynard, Blue Steel (1934) with John Wayne, Hop-Along Cassidy (1935) with William Boyd, The Charge of the Light Brigade (1936) with Errol Flynn, Oh, Susanna! (1936) with Gene Autry, Rhythm on the Range (1936) with Bing Crosby, The Cowboy and the Lady (1938) with Gary Cooper, Under Western Stars (1938) with Roy Rogers, and Gunga Din (1939) with Cary Grant.

In the coming decades, Lone Pine and the Alabama Hills continued to be used as the setting for Western films, including West of the Pecos (1945) with Robert Mitchum, Thunder Mountain (1947) with Tim Holt, The Gunfighter (1950) with Gregory Peck, The Nevadan (1950) with Randolph Scott, Bad Day at Black Rock (1955) with Spencer Tracy, Hell Bent for Leather (1960) with Audie Murphy, How the West Was Won (1962) with James Stewart, Nevada Smith (1966) with Steve McQueen, Joe Kidd (1972) with Clint Eastwood, Maverick (1994) with Mel Gibson, and The Lone Ranger (2013) with Johnny Depp. Through the years, non-Western films also used the unique landscape of the area, including Alfred Hitchcock's Saboteur (1942) with Robert Cummings, Samson and Delilah (1949) with Hedy Lamarr, Star Trek V: The Final Frontier (1989) with William Shatner, Tremors (1990) with Kevin Bacon, The Postman (1997) with Kevin Costner, and Gladiator (2000) with Russell Crowe.

In 1989, Lone Pine business and community leaders developed a plan to celebrate the film industry's heritage of using Lone Pine and the surrounding area as film locations to represent the iconic American West. [1] They invited numerous actors, directors, and producers who made films in the area throughout the years. The first film festival in Lone Pine was held on October 6 and 7 and was called the Sierra Film Festival. [1] Co-sponsored by a number of individuals and businesses, that first festival included numerous Western film celebrities, including Roy Rogers, Richard Farnsworth, Rand Brooks, Pierce Lyden, Loren Janes, William Witney, and former stuntman Joe Yrigoyen. [1] The festival acknowledging its "deep appreciation and great gratitude" to Roy Rogers, who made his first film in Lone Pine in 1938 with Under Western Stars . Rogers dedicated an historical stone marker placed at Whitney Portal and Movie Road during the festival. [1] The bronze plaque on the stone reads: "Sierra Film Festival, 70 years of Movie History, October 6 & 7, 1990, Movie Flats – Lone Pine". [1]

Events

The Lone Pine Film Festival takes place annually over the Columbus Day weekend, the second weekend of October. The festival opens at the Lone Pine Film History Museum on Thursday night for a gala reception. Over the next three days, a variety of events take place, including:

Festivals

YearTitleSpecial Guests
1990Sierra Film Festival Rand Brooks, Irene Cuffe, Eddie Dean, Richard Farnsworth, Linda Hayes, Loren Janes, Pierce Lyden, Roy Rogers, Jack Williams, William Witney, Joe Yrigoyen [1]
1991Sierra Film Festival Tribute to Hopalong CassidyMrs. William Boyd, Grace Boyd, Rand Brooks, Iron Eyes Cody, John Hart, Loren Janes, Pierce Lyden, Virginia Mayo, Montie Montana, George Montgomery, Peggy Stewart, William Whitney [1]
1992Sierra Film Festival John Agar, Rex Allan, William Benedict, Rand Brooks, Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., Richard Famsworth, Jennifer Holt, Loren Janes, Pierce Lyden, Richard Martin, Clayton Moore, Ann Rutherford, Henry Wills, William Witney [1]
1993A Tribute to John WayneJohn Agar, Harry Carey, Jr., Ben Johnson, Pat Buttram, Dick Jones (actor), Pierce Lyden, Loren Janes, Jan Merlin, Montie Montana, Peggy Stewart [1]
199450th Anniversary of Robert Michum's First Starring Picture Kay Aldridge, Charles Champlin, John Ericson, Barbara Hale, Loren Janes, Pierce Lyden, Anne Michum, John Michum, Ruth Terry, William Witney [1]
1995A Salute to America's Favorite Cowboy Ernest Borgnine, Frank Coughlin, John Hart, Robert Horton, Will Hutchins, Loren Janes, Karl Malden, John Michum, Denny Miller, Don Murray, Peggy Stewart [1]
1996Movies Shot in Lone PineHugn O’Brian, Rob Ward, Robert Horton, Terry Moore, Burt Kennedy, Pierce Lyden, John Michum, Peggy Stewart, Loren Janes, Dick Jones [1]
1997Salute to Republic PicturesVera Ralston, Rand Brooks, Peggy Stewart, Robert W. Sigman, John Michum, Ann Rutherford, Penny Edwards, Ruth Terry, Pierce Lyden, Loren Janes, Kay Aldridge, Allan Lane [1]
1998Salute to William A. WellmanAdrian Booth Brian, Ben Burtt, Dale Evens, Loren Janes, Burt Kennedy, John Michum, Peggy Stewart, Ruth Terry, Claire Trevor, William Wellman Jr. [1]
1999Tenth Anniversary of the Film FestivalRobert Blake, Budd Boetticher, Ernest Borgnine, Ben Burtt, Angie Dickinson, Dale Evans, Kathryn Grayson, Barbra Hale, Burt Kennedy, Celeste Holm, Joan Leslie, A. C. Lyles, John Michum, Jack Palance, Peggy Stewart, Ruth Terry [1]
2000Lone Pine Film FestivalBudd Boettcher, Adrian Booth Brian, Ben Burtt, Ben Cooper, Fred Dryer, Loren Janes, Burt Kennedy, John Michum, Terry Moore, Jack Palance, Dale Robertson, Ann Rutherford, Peggy Stewart, Ruth Terry [1]
2001Lone Pine Film FestivalA. C. Lyles, John Michum, Peggy Stewart, Ruth Terry, William Wellman Jr., Roydon Clark, Diamond Farnsworth, Loren Janes, Neil Summers, Jack Williams [1]
2002Lone Pine Film FestivalDean Stockwell, Neil Summers, Ruth Terry, William Wellman Jr., Michel Gross, Ron Underwood, Marsha Hunt, Brent Mattock, Nancy Roberts, Craig Barron, S. S. Wilson [1]
2003Women of the WesternsPeter Brown, Ben Cooper, Michael Dante, Anne Francis, Ty Hardin, Robert Horton, Anne Jeffreys, Steve Mitchell, Loren Janes, Howard Keel, Terry Moore, Margaret O'Brian, Ann Rutherford, Peggy Stewart, William Smith, Ruth Terry, Clint Walker, Sue Ane Langdon, John Saxton, Kelo Henderson, Rex Allan Jr., Cheryl Rodgers Barnett, Terrie Davis, Diamond Farnsworth, Chris Mitchum, Cindy Mitchum [1]
2004Back to the ClassicsCheryl Rodgers Barnett, Peter Brown, Roydon Clark, Ben Cooper, Kim Darby, Michael Emerson, Diamond Farnsworth, Edward Faulkner, Loren Janes, Anne Francis, Robert Hoy, Anne Jefferys, Rob Roy Johnson, Jamie Nudie, Anne Lockhart, Dick Jones, Neil Summers, Don Stroud, A. C. Lyles, Wyatt Mccrea, Paul Picerni, Jennifer Rodgers, Kevin McCarthy, Denny Miller, Anne Rutherford, Peggy Stewart, Joe Spencer Tracy, Kiki Ebsen, Jack Williams, William Wellman Jr. [1]
2005Cowboy Heroes and Their HorsesRichard Anderson, Cheryl Rodgers Barnett, Cliff Emmrich, Diamond Farnsworth, Marie Harmon, Lois Hall, Whiney Hughes, Loren Janes, George Keymas, A. C. Lyles, Petrine Mitchum, Donna Martell, Noel Neil, Andrew Prine, Paul Picerni, Ann Rutherford, Dana Wynter, John Saxton, William Wellman Jr., Peggy Stewart, Neil Summers, Morgan Woodward [1]
2006Return of the BadmenDiamond Farnsworth, Ben Murphy, Cheryl Rodgers Barnett, Ed Faulkner, Colleen Gray, Teddy Infuhr, Henry Silva, Loren Janes, Dick Jones, Donna Martell, William Wellman Jr., Jan Merlin, Robert Easton, Peggy Stewart, Dave Stamey, Ian Tyson [1]
2007Singing CowboysLoren Janes, Wyatt McCrea, Ben Murphy, Gregg Palmer, Tom Reese, Elaine Riley, Peggy Stewart, William Wellman, Chuck Street [1]
2008Lone Pine Film FestivalRichard Anderson, Michael Chapin, Phyllis Coats, Richard Devon, Diamond Farnsworth, Robert Horton, Loren Janes, Geoffrey Lewis, John Locke, Denny Miller, Jacqueline Scott, Warren Stevens, Peggy Stewart, Beverly Washburn, Audrey Dalton, Jamie Lee Nudie [1]
2009Film FestivalStella Stevens, Andrew Prine, Hugh O'Brian, Ben Cooper, Denny Miller, Dick Jones, Ernest Borgnine, William Wellman Jr., Peggy Stewart, Geri Jewell, Perry King, Loren Janes, Diamond Farnsworth, Dean Smith [1]
201075th Anniversary of Republic Films Trail to Lone PineCheryl Rodgers Barnett, Bruce Boxleitner, Robert Dix, Don Edwards, Diamond Farnsworth, Lee Horsley, Loren Janes, Donna Martell, Hugh O'Brian, Paul Picerini, Ty Power, Andrew Prine, Sourdough Slim, Packy Smith, William Smith, Peggy Stewart, Buck Taylor [1]
2011Lights Camera ActionAndrew Robinson, Dean Smith, Diamond Farnsworth, Ed Faulkner, Loren Janes, Marie Harmon, Peggy Stewart, Peter Ford, Wyatt McCrea [1]
2012100 Years Celebrate the CentennialsEd Faulkner, Diamond Farnsworth, Johnny Crawford, Loren Janes, Larry Maurice, Peggy Stewart, Robert Crawford Jr., Stanley Livingston [1]
2013Where the Real West Becomes the Reel WestLeonard Maltin, Andrew Prine, David Rothel, Mariette Hartley, L. Q. Jones, Clu Gulager, Dan Hornak, Wyatt McCrea, Larry Maurice, Peggy Stewart, Loren Janes, Diamond Farnsworth [1]
2014The Silver Anniversary CelebrationBruce Boxleitner, Dean Smith, Johnny Crawford, David Rothel, Miles Swarthout, Steven Wystrach, William Wellman Jr., Jay Dee Witney, Diamond Farnsworth, Ed Faulkner, Donna Martell, Larry Maurice, Dawn Moore, Cheryl Rogers Barnett, Peggy Stewart, Loren Janes, Wyatt McCrea [1]
2015Celebrating the Early YearsBob Boze Bell, Don Edwards, Diamond Farnsworth, Larry Maurice, Petrine Day Mitchum, Wyatt McCrea, Cheryl Rogers, Peggy Stewart, Gary Brown, Larry Floyd, Bob White [1]

See also

Related Research Articles

Lone Pine, California Census designated place in California, United States

Lone Pine is a census designated place (CDP) in Inyo County, California, United States. Lone Pine is located 16 miles (26 km) south-southeast of Independence, at an elevation of 3,727 feet. The population was 2,035 at the 2010 census, up from 1,655 at the 2000 census. The town is located in the Owens Valley, near the Alabama Hills and Mount Whitney, between the eastern peaks of the Sierra Nevada to the west and the Inyo Mountains to the east. The local hospital, Southern Inyo Hospital, offers standby emergency services. The town is named after a solitary pine tree that once existed at the mouth of Lone Pine Canyon. On March 26, 1872, the very large Lone Pine earthquake destroyed most of the town and killed 27 of its 250 to 300 residents.

Alabama Hills

The Alabama Hills are a range of hills and rock formations near the eastern slope of the Sierra Nevada in the Owens Valley, west of Lone Pine in Inyo County, California.

Roy Rogers American singer and actor (1911–1998)

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A singing cowboy was a subtype of the archetypal cowboy hero of early Western films. It references real-world campfire side ballads in the American frontier, the original cowboys sang of life on the trail with all the challenges, hardships, and dangers encountered while pushing cattle for miles up the trails and across the prairies. This continues with modern vaquero traditions and within the genre of Western music, and its related New Mexico, Red Dirt, Tejano, and Texas country music styles. A number of songs have been written and made famous by groups like the Sons of the Pioneers and Riders in the Sky and individual performers such as Gene Autry, Roy Rogers, Tex Ritter, Bob Baker and other "singing cowboys". Singing in the wrangler style, these entertainers have served to preserve the cowboy as a unique American hero.

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<i>The Old Barn Dance</i> 1938 film

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<i>Under Western Stars</i> 1938 film by Joseph Kane

Under Western Stars is a 1938 American Western film directed by Joseph Kane and starring Roy Rogers, Smiley Burnette, Carol Hughes, and the Maple City Four. Written by Dorrell McGowan, Stuart E. McGowan, and Betty Burbridge, the film is about a populist singing cowboy who decides to run for Congress in order to seek federal assistance to help small ranchers regain their water rights during the Dust Bowl of the 1930s. His campaign comes into conflict with greedy water company executives.

<i>Oh, Susanna!</i> (1936 film) 1936 film

Oh, Susanna! is a 1936 American Western film directed by Joseph Kane and starring Gene Autry, Smiley Burnette, and Frances Grant. Written by Oliver Drake, the film is about a cowboy who is robbed and then thrown from a train by an escaped murderer who then takes on the cowboy's identity.

Im an Old Cowhand (From the Rio Grande) 1936 single by Bing Crosby

"I'm an Old Cowhand " is a comic song written by Johnny Mercer for the Paramount Pictures release Rhythm on the Range and sung by its star, Bing Crosby. The Crosby commercial recording was made on July 17, 1936, with Jimmy Dorsey & his Orchestra for Decca Records. It was a huge hit in 1936, reaching the No. 2 spot in the charts of the day, and it greatly furthered Mercer's career. Crosby recorded the song again in 1954 for his album Bing: A Musical Autobiography.
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Tumbling Tumbleweeds 1934 song by Bob Nolan

"Tumbling Tumbleweeds" is a song composed by Bob Nolan. Although one of the most famous songs associated with the Sons of the Pioneers, the song was composed by Nolan in the 1930s, while working as a caddy and living in Los Angeles. Originally titled "Tumbling Leaves," the song was reworked into the title "Tumbling Tumbleweeds" and into fame with the 1935 Gene Autry film of the same name. Members of the Western Writers of America chose it as one of the Top 100 Western songs of all time.

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Boots and Saddles is a 1937 American Western film directed by Joseph Kane and starring Gene Autry, Smiley Burnette, and Judith Allen. Based on a story by Jack Natteford, the film is about a young Englishman who inherits a ranch that he wants to sell, but is turned into a real Westerner by a singing cowboy.

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 "Lone Pine Film Festival Celebrates 25 Years". Lone Pine Flm Festival. August 4, 2014. Archived from the original on August 12, 2014. Retrieved August 10, 2014.
  2. ↑ Herrera, Nathalie. "The List: Western film festivals". American Cowboy. Archived from the original on August 12, 2014. Retrieved August 10, 2014.
  3. 1 2 "The Film Industry in the Lone Pine Area". Lone Pine Chamber of Commerce. Retrieved August 10, 2014.
  4. ↑ "Events". Lone Pine Film Festival. Archived from the original on June 25, 2014. Retrieved August 11, 2014.
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