Where Was True Grit Filmed?

"True Grit", the book, starts in Fort Smith, Arkansas, which does not have scenery that looks anything like this.

The excellent 1968 novel, “True Grit,” by Charles Portis, has now been made into two equally excellent movies. Authenticity was said to be important to each of the filmmakers, but each sets the movie in locations completely foreign to the book.

Original "True Grit" cover

The 1969 film, directed by Henry Hathaway, is shot mostly in southwestern Colorado and in the Sierra Nevada Mountains near Bishop, California. The 2010 film by the brothers Joel and Ethan Coen uses locations in Texas and New Mexico (why? read this). The book, meanwhile, begins in Fort Smith, Arkansas, and then ventures into “Indian Territory”, which is modern-day Oklahoma.

Fort Smith is pivotal to the story, because of its location, hard against the Oklahoma border in northwestern Arkansas, at the confluence of the Poteau and Arkansas rivers. Cross the border, in 1878, when the story is set and you would have been in what was called Indian Territory back then. (The Texans had done a pretty thorough job of pushing all the Comanches and other tribes out of their state and into the territory set aside for the tribes – until the Oklahoma Land Rush in the early 1900s.)

Fort Smith has changed a bit since 1878; so Granger, Texas, which hasn't too much, filled in. (Awards Daily)

Fort Smith has changed a bit in the past 120 years, so the Coen brothers felt obliged to find a modern-day location that would be a believable stand-in. So they chose Granger, Texas, which was founded in 1882. Its 100-foot-wide main street is lined with many 19th Century brick buildings.

Granger was chosen, said Robbie Friedmann, a Paramount Pictures location manager, because “it has a lot of empty lots between brick buildings. There are a couple of buildings, then a vacant lot, and then more buildings. We are constructing wood buildings on these lots from rough-sawn lumber, which is what old Fort Smith looked like.”

Granger has achieved some renown for its quaint brick streets, but the filmmakers covered them with dirt for the shooting (in April 2010).

Granger was also chosen because it was (and is) a rail terminus, and scenes with people arriving and corpses leaving on various trains could also be shot. Footnote: The steam engine used in the shooting, and assorted rolling stock came in on flatbed trucks. (Interesting photo montage here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BUq1VjQG17g)

Courthouse ready for action! (Blanco Co. News)

The Old Blanco Courthouse in Blanco, Texas, was chosen for the courthouse scenes, because they have a more-or-less period-correct courthouse. It was built in 1884.

Scenes were shot in the old courtroom, on the stairs and within the hallways. Since the courthouse had to pass for a court set in 19th century Arkansas, that means getting rid of items such as “Exit” signs, blinking fire alarms and, of course, the Texas state flag.

Interesting footnote about this historic courthouse: This was the home county of President Lyndon Johnson and his father Samuel Johnson, and each in his day was probably quite familiar with the place (as practicing lawyers and elected politicians).

For the outdoor locations, Santa Fe, New Mexico, was established as home base. But the location scout Tyson Bidner says the production roamed far afield from there. At one point, there was discussion about shooting at radio personality Don Imus’ ranch there, but Mr. Imus actually recommended a neighboring ranch – Buena Vista Ranch – as a better location. The Coen brothers agreed.

Jeff Bridges, Matt Damon and Hailee Steinfeld filming near Santa Fe last spring. (Paramount Pictures)

Why New Mexico? First, it’s very scenic. Second, the state is offering filmmakers big financial incentives to shoot there (hence, everything from “Crazy Heart”, to “MacGruber” to “Due Date” has been filmed in New Mexico lately). Third, the Coen brothers filmed a lot of “No Country for Old Men” in the Land of Enchantment (that’s New Mexico’s slogan). Plus, if I were a cinematographer, I would be in love with the unique light in New Mexico; the sky, earth, trees, even buildings glow with an other-worldly palette of colors not easily found elsewhere (why Georgia O’Keeffe and other artists located there.) Admirably, the Coens only spent $38 million making their movie (compare that to $130 mil for “Little Fockers”.)

What about John Wayne’s “True Grit”?

John Wayne loved the Four Corners area & filmed dozens of movies there. (Paramount)

Ouray, Colorado, has made quite a name for itself as the home of “True Grit” trivia and memorabilia (http://www.truegritouray.com/). You can still eat at the “True Grit Cafe” there.

The cafe is, btw, for sale.

Of course, Ridgway and several other locations in Colorado claim to have been used in the filming of the original. Quite a few scenes were also shot in the Sierra Nevada Mountains near Bishop, California (oddly, Wayne’s “North To Alaska” was also shot, in part, there).

Inevitably, there will be comparisons between each of the versions of “True Grit”. Kudos to the newest version for hewing more closely to Portis’ wry dialogue (if Wayne had been allowed those lines, the Oscar would have been even more of a slam dunk, I think) and plot twists; Mr. Bridges just makes an admirable stand-in for The Duke (may he rest in peace). Matt Damon reminds us how bad Glen Campbell’s acting was. And Ms. Steinfeld is far less annoying than the otherwise forgettable Kim Darby.

So which version wins? How do you ever top this? (Brilliant job, Jeepster Gal!)

Jerry Garrett

December 27, 2010

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