Where Was Joe Kidd Filmed? Memorable Places From 1972!

Hollywood has produced a ton of movies featuring the wild wild west, resulting in the establishment of the ‘Western’ genre itself. Though we rarely see good westerns today, the golden age of Hollywood produced some eternal gems! One of those movies is Joe Kidd, and today we will tell you all about where was Joe Kidd filmed! So definitely keep on reading till the end!

Directed by the legendary director of Westerns, John Sturges, Joe Kidd is one of the classics. It is one of those movies that belongs on everyone’s watchlist. Starring Clint Eastwood, Robert Duvall, John Saxon, and Stella Garcia, Joe Kidd is packed with star power. The movie earned praise and did well financially too.

So, where was Joe Kidd filmed? The movie is based in New Mexico, but Joe Kidd has been filmed mostly in Arizona. Some of the shots of the movie have been filmed in California as well. Locations used in Arizona include Old Tucson, Sonoran Desert, Aravaipa Canyon, Klondyke, and the North Santa Teresa Wilderness. Locations in California include Alabama Hills, Inyo National Forest, and the Universal Studios in LA.

The filming locations of Joe Kidd are in Arizona, and it’s not the first time that the US state has acted as a stand-in for another state. Western movies like The Sacketts or Crossfire Trail have often been based in one place and shot in the other. And anyway, all a good western needs is barren lands, a cool saloon, and some gun-slinging action. Am I right, or am I right?

The Plot Of Joe Kidd | What Is The Western Movie About?

Before we move on to see where was Joe Kidd filmed, let’s check out what this classic western is all about! Well, we know one thing, if a movie has been directed by John Sturges and stars Clint Eastwood, you know it’s going to be bloody good. And the reviews speak for themselves since people still ask about Joe Kidd even after 50 years of its release.

The movie follows the life of Joe Kidd, who is a former bounty hunter. He is in jail for being an outlaw and causing public disorder. All this changes when he is given another shot at life by a man named Frank Harlan. He tells Joe to help him capture the Mexican outlaw Luis Chama and help him restore the lands of the people. 

While Kidd declines this offer at first, he accepts the role when he finds out Chama has stolen a ranch from his own people. Harlan has aggressive ways of getting to Chama and even threatens to kill innocent Mexicans in a church if they don’t divulge any info on his whereabouts. When Kidd raises this issue, he is also captured by Harlan and thrown into the church to die.

While Kidd manages a great escape, he frees the workers as well as Chama’s lady love, Helena. Later on, he convinces Chama to surrender, and together they go after Harlan, who has gone rogue due to his greed for money. As things end after a duel, Kidd emerges victorious and rides into the sunset with Helen by his side.

Where Was Joe Kidd Filmed? All The Locations You Need To Know About!

All through the movie, up until the climax, Joe Kidd delivers action and great acting. The movie is what it is due to the special filming locations it managed to snag. So it’s important that we all know where was Joe Kidd filmed! After all, we don’t get to see such epic Westerns anymore!

Regions Across Arizona, USA

Arizona is a big southwestern state in the US that is known for its rocky and dry terrain. One of the world-famous places in the region happens to be the Grand Canyon. A deep rock formation that runs almost a mile deep. The Grand Canyons aren’t the only thing famous about the region. We also have the Sonoran Desert, Saguaro National Park, and so many more!

Kinney Road, Old Tucson, Arizona, USA

Old Tucson features as one of the places where Joe Kidd was mostly filmed. The new area under Tucson features the university of Texas and some museums as well. There are a lot of culturally diverse places which offer attractions for tourists. With lots of things to do in your free time, we suggest going to Arizona when it’s a bit colder than normal.

Sonoran Desert, Arizona, USA

Another place that features heavily in Joe Kidd is the region of the Sonoran Desert. As evident by the name, we have arid lands, lots of tumbleweeds, and no sign of life for miles. The region is known for its dry and harsh weather, which made it perfect for lots of outdoor scenes in Joe Kidd as well. 

Along with the desert scenes, filming locations in Arizona include Aavaipa Canyon, Klondyke, and the North Santa Teresa Wilderness. These places are mostly featured heavily due to their arid nature. Giving the movie a proper western look.

Forests and Studios in California, USA

Besides being filmed in Arizona, some of the outdoor shots have also been filmed in California itself. For the filming locations, Alabama Hills, Lone Pine, as well as Sherwin Summit in the Inyo National Forest were used!

The remaining filming for Joe Kidd took place within the studios. For the indoor scenes and some scenes where sets needed to be constructed, Universal Studios in Universal City was used. Editing and post-production were also taken care of in Universal Studios itself.

Final Words

So, there you have it, folks! We hope now you know where was Joe Kidd filmed! The movie holds a special place in all things western. The movie was shot in Panavision, which also laid the foundation for the camera to be used for many years to come. If you haven’t watched Joe Kidd by now, we recommend you check it out now!

We also suggest checking out other filming locations for movies. Some of our downright favorites are filming locations of movies like Morbius, The Unforgivable, and To Hell and Back.