MovieChat Forums > The Harvey Girls (1946) Discussion > Possible Goof: Train direction...?

Possible Goof: Train direction...?

posted 10 years ago by eqxander
2 replies | jump to latest

Maybe it's just me, but while just watching this movie (TCM) one thing bothered me. Maybe I've been watching too many Hollywood movies, too...but generally, when you show a train (or other vehicle) heading WEST it travels to the LEFT, like you would assume on a map. But in both cases, when Judy is traveling TO Sandrock and when Angela is LEAVING Sandrock, the train in both cases is moving to the RIGHT,
which is customarily to the east.

And before too many argue the goof, at one point on the way to Sandrock, the train (I suppose) travels by Monument Valley, which is in southeastern Utah. Also, it was stated that the train passed through New Mexico, so it would have had to be south of that, yet the backdrop (which looked rather fake) shows them passing it heading to the right.

Certainly in the annals of film a minor goof that probably few would pick up on, but I'm surprised no one has mentioned it so far.

[–] ksf-2 8 years ago

if you are standing on the south side of the tracks, the train would go left.

if you are standing NORTH of the tracks, the train would go right.

yes?

[–] dannieboy20906 8 years ago

With regard to Monument Valley being in Utah, no, it isn't.

Monument Valley is in the Navajo nation. I am not sure what they call their nation, whether they call it tribal lands or the Navajo Reservation. Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park straddles the Arizona - Utah state line about fifty miles west of Four Corners. The official entrance is in Utah, but the Visitor's Center is in Arizona. Still, the park is part of the Navajo territory.

The AT&SF passes through New Mexico and Arizona roughly 100 miles south of Monument Valley, on that we agree. If they can't get that right, who cares what direction the train goes? Apparently, they made up their own convention.

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