Exploring John Wayne’s ‘True Grit’ Colorado Filming Locations Then and Now
True Grit is one of John Wayne‘s most iconic movies he ever starred in. As a result, many of his fans continue to dive into the fun behind-the-scenes information that the film has to offer. The True Grit filming locations are particularly special for many longtime fans. Here’s a look at the real-life locations and how they changed over the years.
The ‘True Grit’ movie follows John Wayne as U.S. Marshal ‘Rooster’ Cogburn
L-R: Glen Campbell as La Boeuf and John Wayne as Rooster Cogburn | Silver Screen Collection/Getty Images
True Grit takes place after a hired hand named Tom Chaney (Jeff Corey) kills 14-year-old Mattie Ross’ (Kim Darby) father. As a result, she seeks revenge on him and hires U.S. Marshal “Rooster” Cogburn (Wayne) for the job. Mattie will need his help to track Tom down and get the job done.
The unlikely pair pursues him but comes across a Texas Ranger named La Boeuf (Glen Campbell) along the way. He joins them, but he has a different idea of justice, which he plans to deliver. The True Grit filming locations breathe life into the movie, offering stunning views and incredible set pieces. However, they changed a bit over the years.
‘True Grit’ Colorado filming locations then and now
A YouTube channel named JeepsterGal sought out the True Grit filming locations. They compared how these locations looked in the film compared to 2007. The True Shot filming locations are in and around Ridgway, Colorado in the San Juan Mountains.
The video begins on the ranch shown in the True Grit opening credits. The Ross Ranch still exists on Last Dollar Road in all of its scenic glory. The images show a green landscape with ranch construction perfect for the Western classic.
Meanwhile, the Fort Smith Saloon is now a store on Lena Street. However, it maintains its Western charm.
The True Grit filming location that depicts the hanging scene is in Ridgway’s Hartwell Park. It’s instantly recognizable thanks to a large tree. The video depicts the scene buzzing with local community life. Meanwhile, the paddy wagon is still on display in the area.
Next, True Grit fans might recognize the Chambers Groceries sign in the background. It’s now an interior wall at the True Grit Cafe.
The video moves to the Ouray County Courthouse, where you can see the stairway and the exit displayed in the film. The funeral parlor behind Wayne and Darby in the town is also visible on Clinton Street. However, the building is now a Natural Foods store. Chen Lee’s is on the same street, although the building with his name on it is gone.
The ferry scenes were filmed at the Blue Mesa Reservoir, which is instantly recognizable by the cliffside. However, the actual location is now underwater. The video lists other True Grit filming locations, such as Sneffels Range of the San Juan Mountains and the Dallas Divide.
Another significant True Grit filming location is the camping spot on Cow Creek at Deb’s Meadow. However, another noticeable tree points out another filming location at the Horsefly Mesa, which is still standing.
Speaking of Horsefly Mesa, McAlester’s Store was in this location. However, one hitching post still remains.
Remember the rock that Wayne drinks while laying against? That’s at the summit of Owl Creek Pass, which is one of the most significant True Grit filming locations. However, the camp and snakepit are on Camp Bird Road outside of Ouray, which is on private property and can’t be accessed by the public.
You can’t miss Chimney Peak with its instantly recognizable appearance on top of the mountains. The final shootout is in Deb’s Meadow below Chimney Peak, which offers the sprawling beauty of nature.
John Wayne earned his only Oscar for his performance in the movie
Wayne only earned a single Oscar win over the course of his extensive career. However, it would be for one of the most iconic movies of his career. Wayne won the Oscar for Best Actor in a Leading Role for True Grit. However, that isn’t to say that he didn’t think that he should have been nominated for more of his work.
The True Grit filming locations are particularly beautiful. They offer scenic looks at nature that continue to exist today. It’s clear that the area embraces the film, as well. After all, it finally landed Wayne the industry’s top award.
Why John Wayne Turned Down the Chance to Work With Clint Eastwood
Clint Eastwood and John Wayne are the two biggest legends in the history of Western movies, however, they never worked together. The duo did have the opportunity to work together once in the 1970s. Here’s why the film never came to fruition.
How John Wayne responded when Clint Eastwood tried to work with him
Firstly, a little background. According to the book John Wayne: The Life and Legend, it all starts with Larry Cohen. Though Cohen is not a widely known director like Steven Spielberg or Quentin Tarantino, he’s a huge name to fans of B movies. He directed famous B movies like The Stuff, Q: The Winged Serpent, It’s Alive, and God Told Me To. He also wrote a script called The Hostiles shortly after Eastwood released his classic High Plains Drifter.
The Hostiles was about a gambler who wins half of an estate of an older man. The gambler and the older man have to work together despite the fact that they don’t like each other. Eastwood optioned the screenplay with the intent of playing the gambler alongside Wayne as the older man.
Eastwood sent a copy of the script of The Hostiles to Wayne. Although Eastwood felt the script was imperfect, he saw its potential. However, Wayne was not interested. Eastwood pitched the film to Wayne a second time and Wayne responded with a letter. Wayne’s letter complained about High Plains Drifter. Wayne was offended by the film and its portrayal of the Old West as a cruel, violent place.
Ann-Margret Refused to Call John Wayne ‘Duke’ While Introducing 1 of His Movies
Ann-Margret once starred in one of John Wayne’s lesser-known movies. However, she refused to call him by his popular moniker Duke. Here’s a look at the film they made together — and why she declined to call him by a nickname.
The one time Ann-Margret and John Wayne made a movie together
Ann-Margret is probably most known for her work in musicals, specifically Bye Bye Birdie, Viva Las Vegas, and The Who’s Tommy. However, she also dabbled in the Western genre. She starred alongside Wayne in the mostly forgotten movie The Train Robbers.
Wayne was also known as The Duke or just Duke. According to USA Today, the nickname was derived from his childhood dog. It stuck with him for many years. It continues to be used today — even on the box covers of the DVDs for his movies.
John Wayne | Silver Screen Collection/Getty Images
During an interview with Interview Magazine, Ann-Margret explained why she didn’t refer to the Rio Bravo star by this famous name. “When I came to this country, first of all, mother and I didn’t know English,” she said. “I would curtsey, then say, ‘Thank you,’ and then when I was leaving, curtsey. For example, we went to Dallas to introduce a film I did with John Wayne. And I never called him Duke. I just couldn’t. That’s the way I was raised. When you meet someone, you say either Mr. or Mrs. or Miss. You stand up.”
Ann-Margret revealed she treated other famous people in much the same way. For example, she worked with director George Sidney on Bye Bye Birdie and Viva Las Vegas. She always called him Mr. Sidney.
What Ann-Margret thought about John Wayne
Ann-Margret refused to use Wayne’s most famous moniker. However, she had a positive view of the actor. During an interview with Fox News, she was asked what she expected when she met Wayne. “Oh, I didn’t know what to expect,” she revealed. “But when he hugged me, it’s like the world was hugging me. He was so big and wide with that booming voice.
“We were shooting in Durango, Mexico and my parents came down to visit me,” she added. “He was so great with my parents. So absolutely welcoming and gentle with them. And anybody who was great to my parents was on a throne in my eyes.”
How the world reacted to ‘The Train Robbers’
Wayne starred in many classic Westerns, including The Searchers, Stagecoach, and The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance. However, The Train Robbers is mostly forgotten. It didn’t gain a cult following like Once Upon a Time in the West or Dead Man. It wasn’t a critical success either, garnering a 33% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. However, Ann-Margret had some fond memories of making the film — even if she refused to call Wayne by his famous nickname.
True Crime on Amazon Prime: ‘Lorena’ Reexamines a 90s Tabloid Sensation
True crime might not be the first type of show that comes to mind when you think of the offerings on Amazon Prime Video. The perpetually buzzy genre is usually more associated with the likes of Netflix and HBO.
However, the streaming service boasts at least one standout docuseries from 2019. It’s one that can scratch the true crime itch for fans, but also give them a much needed new perspective on a well-worn tabloid sensation from the 1990s.
‘Lorena’ was produced by Jordan Peele of ‘Get Out’ fame
Jordan Peele, Head of Amazon Studios Jennifer Salke, and Lorena Gallo attend the ‘Lorena’ Premiere during the 2019 Sundance Film Festival. | Rich Fury/Getty Images
Lorena, as the simple, to-the-point title suggests, chronicles the sordid story of Lorena and Jon Bobbit. The series was produced by Jordan Peele, the comedian-turned-director best known for Get Out and Us, and released on Amazon Prime Video in early 2019 following a premiere at the Sundance Film Festival.
In 1993, Lorena Bobbitt infamously cut her husband, John Wayne Bobbitt’s penis off in his sleep with a kitchen carving knife. She drove off with it, tossed it out the car window into a field, and eventually called 911 to report the incident. After a search followed by 9.5 hours of surgery, John Bobbitt was able to get his penis reattached and functioning normally.
Thanks in large part to the salacious and sexual nature of the Bobbittss story, it quickly became a tabloid and late-night talk show sensation. Sadly, as one might expect from a male-dominated culture, the media spectacle largely focused on John Bobbitt as a sympathetic victim and cast Lorena as a hysterical victim. John Bobbitt went on to become something of a cult figure for a time, even starring in two pornographic films.
Part of the mission statement of Lorena, the series, was to use the true crime format to recontextualize the Lorena Bobbitt story. Despite the prevailing perception of the incident beforehand, in reality, John Bobbitt had subjected Lorena to years of domestic abuse and rape, up to and including the night of her attack.
John Bobbitt was eventually acquitted on rape charges. Lorena Bobbitt was found not guilty by a jury for reasons of insanity.
“25 years later, Lorena is a groundbreaking re-investigation of the deep moral issues and painful human tragedies buried at the heart of this infamous American scandal,” Amazon’s official description of the series reads, as reported by Deadline. “Lost in the tabloid coverage and jokes was the opportunity for a national discussion on domestic and sexual assault in America.”
Lorena saw a positive reaction upon its release, currently boasting an 82% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes. It was the biggest project yet from director Joshua Rofé, who previously helmed Lost for Life, a documentary about juvenile offenders sentenced to life in prison.