A Guide to New Mexico Film Locations
By Jason Strykowski
University of New Mexico Press
Softcover, 296 pages

Reviewed by Pete Warzel

Such an odd instance of simultaneity – the delivery of this book from UNM Press within the week of the tragic occurrence at Bonanza Creek Ranch. As the local and national press feeds off the real shooting we read that “Things got biblical in a hurry. What started as a lightning delay turned into an all-out evacuation after about ten minutes.” So is the author’s memory of a storm at the ranch during the filming of a pilot for an online streaming service, not the incident. Eeerie.

Jason Strykowski has written this book from experience, hands on in productions at many of the locations described in the book. When it came I was puzzled by its content and intent. Was this a location scouting guide for the film industry in New Mexico, and if so, why would UNM Press be dealing with it? It is not. It is a well-designed road guide for film groupies and New Mexico travelers, or just an arm chair read on the history of these interesting places.

The book is sectioned by geography fairly well covering the state and its long history of Hollywood New Mexico, going back to 1898, when Thomas Edison filmed Indian Day School at Isleta Pueblo. Oddly enough Isleta seemed to be the hot location in the early days as D. W. Griffith photographed A Pueblo Legend there in 1912. Strykowski provides short , introductory chapters that give a good base for understanding the mechanics of the industry. The descriptions and histories of each entry are a history of some great movies in a geographic microcosm of the entertainment industry. The entries also provide recommendations for accommodations and restaurants nearby, and a side bar explains “red or green” for the uninitiated. So it is a travel guide with a very specific theme, and very thorough throughout.

The first location is our own Santa Fe Plaza, and the buildings surrounding. Ride the Pink Horse, Powwow Highway, Twins, Finch, were shot in and around the plaza. The author is obviously traveling on a production expense account since his recommendation for a hotel is the Inn of the Five Graces, and to eat – Rio Chama Steakhouse. That does not leave much room for the film buff on a budget. There is a wonderful black and white photograph in the Santa Fe section of Warren Oates, Dennis Wilson, and James Taylor, sitting on the hood the ‘55 Chevy 150, in Two Lane Blacktop. (The set photographs and stills from movies are well placed throughout the book. One of the most iconic is from Easy Rider, with Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper riding into Taos Pueblo, and forever into film history.)

So, I decided to look at locations that are some of my favorite places in New Mexico, film not a concern, and see what was there in movie history:

· Evangelo’s Cocktail Lounge, Santa Fe – Crazy Heart, Only the Brave – the guide gives a toned down description of the bar as “…a staple of Santa Fe nightlife.”

· Bandelier National Monument – Billy Jack – the author to his credit notes and describes the Tsankawi section of the monument as “…an often missed gem.” He knows his New Mexico.

· Valles Caldera National Preserve – Shoot Out, Buffalo Girls, Longmire

· Plaza Blanca (near Abiquiu) – The Lone Ranger, 3:10 to Yuma, Cowboys & Aliens – the recommendation of where to eat is at Bode’s, the iconic general store on the highway through Abiquiu. Amen to that.

· Truchas – The Milagro Beanfield War – John Nichols, the author of the novel, has told me some hair raising stories about the production of this film, best shortened to a quote in this book that is actually the title of an essay by John, contained in the collection Dancing on the Stones: Selected Essays (also published by UNM Press) – Night of the Living Beanfield: How an Unsuccessful Cult Novel Became an Unsuccessful Cult Film in Only Fourteen Years, Eleven Nervous Breakdowns, and $20 Million.

· Taos Pueblo – Easy Rider – “At the time it wasn’t clear that Hopper could handle his directing or acting tasks in the film” Not a surprise, but the film and its success was a wonderful surprise. The restaurant suggestion is Michael’s Kitchen in Taos, and I would endorse that thumbs-up for breakfast.

· Acoma Pueblo – Sundown, My Name is Nobody (Henry Fonda) – “Any visit to the Pueblo should start at the new Sky City Cultural Center.” Barbara Felix was the architect for that wonderful building, as she is for our HSFF Master Plan project at El Zaguán.

· Las Cruces – Hang ‘Em High, The Mule (both Clint Eastwood) – “Bridging the gap between Georgia and Southern New Mexico, Eastwood’s character (in The Mule) hauls pecans to hide his stash of drugs. Turns out that Georgia is the biggest producer of pecans in the United States, and Southern New Mexico is the second largest.” Interesting facts throughout the book.

This guide is a lot of things, all well done. Strykowski ends it with a filmography of the state that runs eleven pages long. You can use it as a tour guide, a movie guide, an unusual history of the state.

You get the picture.