Re: Bodie, CA - 1929 - As seen in Movie

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Posted by William Miller on June 30, 1999 at 23:04:54:

In Reply to: Bodie, CA - 1929 - As seen in Movie posted by David A. Wright on June 23, 1999 at 01:28:19:

: I saw last weekend the 1929 film "HELL'S HEROES," based upon the often remade "THE THREE GODFATHERS." The story centers around three desperadoes who come to a town, rob a bank, then run off to hide in the desert. There they find a dying woman, and then save her baby. The John Wayne version was probably the most remembered of the remakes.

: In this 1929 film, there is a total of about 20 minutes of footage shot in Bodie, CA. At the time of filming, it was yet 3 years until the infamous fire of August 1932, which decimated most of the downtown business district. Bodie at this time was still a living community, though greatly reduced from its glory days of 1978-82. But a number of businesses were still open and serving the public, the post office still issued mail, the Standard Mine was still employing a crew of men to extract precious metals.

: The movie makers did little to cover up Bodie's appearance. There is an obvious false front of mock adobe given to a structure next to the U.S. Hotel and called a "Cantina." Otherwise many landmarks of Bodie's pre-1932 fire days are visible. The icing on the cake is the robbing of the Cain Bank. Scenes inside and outside the bank give the viewer a real thrill of living vicariously before his/her own time. The very door of the Cain Bank vault is plainly visible when one of the bandits force the clerk at gunpoint to get in and shut the heavy door. Cain's vault today is a small brick enclosure set in a grassy setting on the northern end of Main Street. Another sweet morsel is several shots of the horse drawn hearse, now displayed in the museum. It is shown racing up the street to collect the body of a dying desperado who was shot during the holdup. A wonderful time with and without the remote pause button is assured for any Bodie buff. Several overall town shots are included.

: There are two scenes which show the Bodie Methodist Church plainly, but the background is all wrong. It also appears to be a painted backdrop.

: There are databases on the Web that might help the viewer to find a copy of the movie, or keep an eye on the cable movie channels.

: David A. Wright
: GREAT BASIN RESEARCH
: Big Pine, CA.

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: : I saw last weekend the 1929 film "HELL'S HEROES," based upon the often remade "THE THREE GODFATHERS." The story centers around three desperadoes who come to a town, rob a bank, then run off to hide in the desert. There they find a dying woman, and then save her baby. The John Wayne version was probably the most remembered of the remakes. : : In this 1929 film, there is a total of about 20 minutes of footage shot in Bodie, CA. At the time of filming, it was yet 3 years until the infamous fire of August 1932, which decimated most of the downtown business district. Bodie at this time was still a living community, though greatly reduced from its glory days of 1978-82. But a number of businesses were still open and serving the public, the post office still issued mail, the Standard Mine was still employing a crew of men to extract precious metals. : : The movie makers did little to cover up Bodie's appearance. There is an obvious false front of mock adobe given to a structure next to the U.S. Hotel and called a "Cantina." Otherwise many landmarks of Bodie's pre-1932 fire days are visible. The icing on the cake is the robbing of the Cain Bank. Scenes inside and outside the bank give the viewer a real thrill of living vicariously before his/her own time. The very door of the Cain Bank vault is plainly visible when one of the bandits force the clerk at gunpoint to get in and shut the heavy door. Cain's vault today is a small brick enclosure set in a grassy setting on the northern end of Main Street. Another sweet morsel is several shots of the horse drawn hearse, now displayed in the museum. It is shown racing up the street to collect the body of a dying desperado who was shot during the holdup. A wonderful time with and without the remote pause button is assured for any Bodie buff. Several overall town shots are included. : : There are two scenes which show the Bodie Methodist Church plainly, but the background is all wrong. It also appears to be a painted backdrop. : : There are databases on the Web that might help the viewer to find a copy of the movie, or keep an eye on the cable movie channels. : : David A. Wright : : GREAT BASIN RESEARCH : : Big Pine, CA.

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