For much of the 20th century, Southern Arizona was a Hollywood hotspot, especially for Westerns.
Stars such as Clark Gable and John Wayne spent a lot of free time in the area as it became a major film location.
"Red River," one of the earlier films, featured Wayne in one of his iconic roles.
Directed by Howard Hawks, the film stars Wayne as a brutal cattle baron who drives his herd over the Chisolm Trail, from San Antonio to Abilene, Kan. Montgomery Clift, in one of his earliest roles, plays Matt, his adopted son, who turns against him.
The film was the third most popular at the box office when it was released in 1948, and was nominated for two Oscars and enshrined in the Library of Congress's National Film Registry. It also ranked No. 5 on the American Film Institute's 2008 list of the greatest Westerns.
People are also reading…
On Saturday the Cinema La Placita outdoor film series is screening the film as part of a special event sponsored by the Arizona Daily Star to celebrate Arizona's 100th year as a state.
Cinema la Placita director Erika O'Dowd said she's never seen the film, but has been meaning to show it for quite some time.
"It's just one in a long line in our strong history of Westerns filmed in the Southern Arizona region," she said.
In the fall of 1946, more than 250 cast and crew descended upon Elgin to film the cattle drive, which encompasses much of the movie. The film also used sets in Louisiana and Hollywood.
The production borrowed thousands of cattle for the film from area ranchers, including Ralph Wingfield, then-owner of Hacienda Corona de Guevavi, which is near Nogales.
Wingfield befriended Wayne and the rancher eventually became a part of his inner circle.
Wingfield, who died in 2001 at the age of 91, was interviewed in the 1989 film "John Wayne: Standing Tall."
Saturday's screening includes a raffle for a free night's stay at the "John Wayne suite" at Hacienda Corona de Guevavi Bed & Breakfast near Nogales, Ariz. Wayne used to stay at the ranch several times a year when he stopped by to visit Wingfield.
Wendy Stover, who bought 36 acres from the Wingfield family in 2002 and turned the ranch headquarters into a bed and breakfast, said Wayne's mark remains.
"There's a picture that's very dear to me, of John Wayne standing in the courtyard next to the (Salvador) Corona murals," Stover said. "That's proof positive that he was here."
Stover said the Wingfield family said Wayne saw the ranch as a hideout from the demands of celebrity.
"He used to come because it was private," Stover said. "He could come and just be a person. He wouldn't have to worry about anything. He would just come and get away from it all - hang out and be a guy, have fun. He was legendary for having fun."
Stover, who keeps a library full of Wayne videos in the room, said Wayne fans see the suite as a touchstone.
"People love John Wayne," she said. "We've had people who come here and want to touch the wall in his room, because he might have touched that wall. It seems kind of silly, but people absolutely loved John Wayne and still do."
If you go
• What: Screening of "Red River," the 1948 film starring John Wayne and Montgomery Clift, is part of the Arizona Daily Star's celebration of Arizona's 100th year of statehood. There will also be commemorative centennial posters and postcards.
• When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday.
• Where: La Placita Village, 110 S. Church Ave.
• Admission: $3 suggested donation includes popcorn.
Did you know
John Wayne made several films in Southern Arizona, including four at Old Tucson: "Rio Bravo" (1959), "McLintock!" (1963), "El Dorado" (1966) and "Rio Lobo" (1970).
