MovieChat Forums > Rocky Mountain (1950) Discussion > Help with location

Help with location

posted 10 years ago by krdement
7 replies | jump to latest

The credits only identify the location as Gallup, New Mexico. Can anybody identify by name the impressive rock needle or tower that appears in a number of shots. I would love to see it in person. Thanks.

John 3:16

[–] Carycomic 10 years ago

I believe it's called the Totem Pole. If so, that would place it in the Monument Valley region of northwestern New Mexico. A part of the Navajo Nation long used for the filming of Westerns (most notably, those of John Ford).

"If sanity were beer, I'd be five cans short of a six-pack."

[–] rea429 10 years ago

That would be Cleopatra's Needle, about 35 miles NNW west of Gallup on the western edge the Chuska Mountains.

[–] krdement 10 years ago

Many thanks. Looks fantastic! I have travelled all over New Mexico, but not in the Gallup area. Would probably be nice to check out on a drive to Sedona.

John 3:16

[–] jpdoherty 10 years ago

You lucky thing! Gallup and Sedona are sooo far from me here in little old Ireland. They have been my favourite locations from the many westerns I've seen down through the years.

"He turned now with a lovers thirst to images of tranquil skies, fresh meadows and cool brooks - an existence of soft and eternal peace".

[–] SashaDabinski 9 years ago

In the opening scene the car is driving along Route 66 and the rock formations in the distance are about 10 miles east of Gallup.

[–] davidwile 9 years ago

Hey Krdement,

Rea429 is absolutely right on the money. Unless I missed something, I think the whole film was shot at or near the Cleopatra's Needle formation in the Chuska Mountains, just east of the Arizona/New Mexico border in the northwest quarter of New Mexico. The Cleopatra's Needle formation is not in Monument Valley and should not be confused as such.

I have made a half dozen trips through the Four Corners area but still have never been to see the Cleopatra's Needle area. I am hoping to make at least one more trip out that way, and if I do make it again, I will make sure I get there on that trip. The Chaco Canyon Anasazi location is about fifty miles east of Cleopatra's Needle, and it will be a great place to visit at the same time.

As to the opening scene of the film, SashaDabinski indicated it was shot about ten miles east of Gallup, and I think I recognized the background formations from one of my visits to the Red Rocks State Park in that area. Why they named the film Rocky Mountain is beyond me. It was all done in red rock country rather than what on normally thinks of as the Rocky Mountains.

Also, did anyone else appreciate that 1950 Mercury which was in the opening scene? That whole opening scene probably was not needed for the film, but I sure did like seeing the Merc.

Best wishes,
Dave Wile

[–] rea429 9 years ago

Yes, that scene is east of Gallup about here — https://goo.gl/maps/xBO4K

The road is the old Route 66 (now a frontage road to I-40) and you can just make out the Santa Fe Railroad in the foreground. The conical peak to the left is Pyramid Rock and the one to the right is Navajo Church.

The road marker was an interesting device. There are many such roadside historical markers that we whiz by everyday. Here, some travelers (us) decide to stop and the words pull us into the story. It lends credence that this was a true event — although, of course, it really wasn’t.

The working title for Rocky Mountain was Ghost Mountain. It was written by Alan Le May who also authored some other famous westerns. I don’t know why they decided to call the picture Rocky Mountain since the story setting was located just to the east of the Sierra Nevadas. Perhaps it was because “Ghost” had too much of a “haunted house” horror picture feel to it. I will say that the New Mexico locations for this movie were excellent and make “Rocky Mountain” truly memorable.