Hollywood, Schmollywood. Contrary to popular belief, the West Coast does not have a monopoly on making motion pictures. In fact, we let plenty of film roll — or memory cards fill — right here in Cowtown. From iconic sci-fi fare to a George Strait-starring vehicle, Fort Worth has clearly caught the eye of plenty a filmmaker.
“Son of Ingagi” (Sack Amusement Attractions, 1940) — Screenwriter Spencer Williams, Jr., stars in this Black-ensemble thriller about a mad scientist (Broadway star Laura Bowman), a captive ape-man (Zack Williams, of 1939s “Gone with the Wind”), and an abducted bride (Daisy Bufford). Williams, who plays a comical detective, styled the story as an unofficial sequel to 1930s “Ingagi,” a mock-documentary purporting to depict an exploration of the wilds of Africa. Filmed on Fort Worth and Dallas locations.
“Blossoms in the Dust” (MGM Pictures, 1941) — Director Mervyn LeRoy might have settled for soap-opera schmaltz in retelling the career of Fort Worth’s Edna Gladney (see accompanying story on page 24). Leading lady Greer Garson found a tougher variety of gumption in her portrayal of Gladney, to the extent that Garson overshadows a fine supporting cast, including the forceful Walter Pidgeon as Gladney’s husband. The Motion Picture Academy bestowed four Oscar nominations, with a win in the category of Technicolor Art Direction. Shot on Hollywood sound stages, dressed to match photographs of authentic sites in Fort Worth, Sherman, and Austin.
“Fort Worth” (Warner Bros., 1951) — The California ranchland locations give away the geographical masquerade, but Edwin Marin’s “Fort Worth” is nonetheless a stirring fiction about a reformed gunfighter (Randolph Scott) who seeks to revive a depressed Fort Worth economy by publishing a progressive newspaper. Scott and director Marin made this one as a follow-through to their 1950 hit, “Colt 45.”
“Strategic Air Command” (1955) — Director Anthony Mann crystallizes James Stewart’s identification with Fort Worth in this Cold War morale-boosting tale of a heroic athlete-turned-pilot. Carswell Air Force base provided the authentic settings. Stewart had flown real-world combat missions during World War II and long remained active with the Air Force Reserve. His late-in-life visits to Fort Worth included a 1990s film appearance in a public-service featurette for the Fort Worth Zoological Gardens.
“Logan’s Run” (Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1976) — One could allude to the “‘Logan’s Run’ fountains,” and even an infrequent Fort Worth filmgoer will know one speaks of the Water Gardens. The urban park — along with other futuristic structures in the metroplex — plays a prominent role in this sci-fi number that’s managed to become a classic within the genre. Despite its camp, the film wound up garnering three Academy Award nominations and even took home a special achievement award.
“Through the Fire” (1988) — Gary Mitchum’s audacious thriller, recalling the Italian giallo genre, stars Tamara Hext Hilliard, Miss Texas of 1984, in a tale of mysterious disappearances and a predatory cult. Filmed in Fort Worth.
“Problem Child” (1990) — This John Ritter lead film revolves around a family who adopt a young boy who wreaks havoc on them from day one. This was originally pitched as a horror flick but producers felt making it a comedy would be on par with comedic films like “Parenthood” and “Baby Boom.” Shot primarily in North Texas, this films’ primary locations include Dallas, Fort Worth, Irving and Mesquite.
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“Pure Country” (Warner Bros., 1992) — Aside from a cameo appearance as himself in 1982s “Soldier,” “Pure Country” marked the first time George Strait tested out his acting chops. The role wasn’t much of a stretch for Strait, who plays a famous country-western musician whose existential crisis triggers a return to his hometown (filmed in nearby Cresson). All of the concert footage was shot at Fort Worth venues, including Cowtown Coliseum and Will Rogers, where Strait clearly feels more at home than reciting lines in front of a camera.
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“Hexed” (Columbia Pictures, 1993) — Columbia had all but orphaned Alan Spencer’s grim comedy, even before shooting could begin — slashing the budget and forcing Spencer to resort to low-rent Fort Worth locations and a near-impossibly tight shooting schedule. Arye Gross stars as a hotel clerk who becomes involved with a sinister model, played with wicked glee by Claudia Christian. “It’s not an erotic thriller,” Spencer told me in 1993. “It’s a neurotic thriller.”
“Seventy-8” (E Films, 2004) — Shot on Fort Worth-and-area locations by writer-director Erik Clapp, “Seventy-8” recalls the suspenseful dream-state style of “Twin Peaks’” David Lynch, in a tale of a mentally challenged man (Merk Harbour) who, released after a long institutional stay, attempts to regain a place in society. The picture makes a keen triple bill of like-minded titles with William Castle’s “Strait-Jacket” (1964) and Billy Bob Thornton’s “Sling Blade” (1996).
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“The Old Man & the Gun” (Endgame Entertainment, 2018) — Helmed by nearby Irving-raised David Lowery, who also filmed some scenes of his previous film, “A Ghost Story,” in Fort Worth, this Robert Redford vehicle follows a man in the late 1970s who makes a habit of robbing banks and escaping prisons. Large parts of the film were shot in Fort Worth to, according to Lowery, “give the film an authentically Texan” atmosphere. Translation: There’s nothing more authentically Texas than Fort Worth.
“Miss Juneteenth” (Sailor Bear, 2020) — With a 99% “Fresh” rating on Rotten Tomatoes, “Miss Juneteenth” is undoubtedly the best-reviewed film ever shot in or based in Fort Worth. The charming story of a single mother preparing and pushing her daughter to participate in the Miss Juneteenth beauty pageant marked the debut of local director Channing Godfrey Peoples (read story on page 67), who received the award of Best Directorial Debut from the National Board of Review.
“12 Mighty Orphans” (Sony Pictures, 2021) — Based on the novel by Jim Dent — which itself is based on the true story of the 1932 Mighty Mite football team — the Luke Wilson-, Martin Sheen-, and Robert Duvall-starring movie manages to become more than your typical underdog flick, thanks to a gritty portrayal of Depression-era Fort Worth. While the real Masonic School for Orphans got the wrecking ball in 2005, location scouts found a suitable replacement in nearby Weatherford, where the majority of principal photography occurred.
