Before Tom Selleck adorned our TV screens in Magnum P.I. and way before he starred in F.R.I.E.N.D.S, he starred in something cooler. A western movie that was titled The Sacketts. The movie is a piece of cinema history and today we will tell you where was The Sacketts filmed.Â
Directed by Robert Totten, the movie was anything else in its time. That is because The Sacketts was made especially for TV. While most movies at that time were intended for the cinemas, this one did things differently. Starring Tom Selleck, Sam Elliott, Jeff Osterhage, and Glenn Ford, The Sacketts packed a lot of star power.
So, where was The Sacketts filmed? Just like all other movies of its times, The Sacketts was filmed completely in one movie studio called the Tuscon Movie Studio. It is located in Old Tucson – 201 S. Kinney Road, Tucson, Arizona, USA. Some bits of the movie has been shot in areas like Red Hills Ranch, as well as in Canon City, Colorado.
So we are sorry to break your heart. The filming locations of The Sacketts aren’t really somewhere out there where you can visit. Instead, check out where shows like Pretty Little Liars and Line of Duty have been filmed.
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The Plot Of The Sacketts | What Is The Movie About?
Now, before we move on to where was The Sacketts filmed, let’s check what the movie is about! The Sacketts is based on the novels written by Louis L’Amour. While there are two novels from which The Sacketts has been adapted, the writers did a good job of staying close to the source material.
The Sacketts follow the lives of three brothers: Tell, Orrin, and Tyrel Sackett. Their family belongs to a group of Welsh immigrants who came to the US for a better life. Now living in Tennessee and barely able to get by, the family is struck with a tragedy.
On the occasion of Orrin Sackett’s wedding, a man with a vengeance comes and murders Orrin’s wife-to-be. In retaliation, Tyrel kills the man but now has to flee the scene to escape from the law. He and his brother head west for a better life, and to look for their other brother, Tell Sackett.
What meets the brothers is lots of struggles trying to build a life for themselves. The west isn’t a kind place and as they reach Colorado, they find their brother on the way. On their way, they pick up odd jobs to survive. But along with opportunities, there also lie adversaries, which the brothers must fight together.
Where Was The Sacketts Filmed | All The Locations You Need To Know About!
As a depiction of life in the 1800s, The Sacketts has done a splendid job. The movie was released on May 15, 1979, on NBC and was very widely received. Critics praised the movie in its writing and cinematography, while the audience was left in awe by the acting.
This is no surprise as people still consider The Sacketts a classic. Wanting to where to watch it and where was The Sacketts filmed! So now, let’s see what your options are!
Old Tucson – 201 S. Kinney Road, Tucson, Arizona, USA
The Old Tucson Studios has seen quite a few blockbusters in its time. Some that come to mind are movies like Revenge Of The Nerds as well as the show Little House On The Prairie. Having first been built in 1939, the studio has stood tall for decades.
Filming of The Sacketts was entirely managed inside Old Tucson. With new cities, bars, and pubs and the whole shebang having been created within the walls of the studio itself. The scenes where we see the confirmation of the rival gangs with the Sackett brothers have all been shot in Tuscon.
Oh and the infamous cave scene where Cap, Tell and Ange are stuck in a cave with a big boulder stopping them. Yes, that was also recreated within the studios too. Currently, if you’re visiting Arizona, you can visit the Old Tucson Studio and find it filled with memorabilia. It is a living and breathing museum of the evolutions of film and film technologies.
Red Hills Ranch, Sonora, California, USA
The Sacketts is primarily based outside in the arid deserts of Colorado. But shooting in those conditions would not have been ideal. With heavy camera rigs and the fear of heatstroke, some of the jungle and desert scenes were done in Red Hills Ranch in California.
In the movie, we see Orrin and Tell starting to round up cows as cowhands. They want to collect cattle in exchange for money and as a means to survive. The scenes before they reach the closest town have thus been shot at this ranch in Cali.
Buckskin Joe Frontier Town & Railway, Fremont County, Canon City, Colorado
With Orrin Sackett having just gone through the terrible tragedy of his wife dying, his mother tells him to go west. He needs to take his younger brother Tyrell along with him or the law will take him unjustly.
So the two go on a journey to look for a better life and to find their older brother. While moving west they hop on a train. While the entire train journey didn’t make it into the movie, some parts did. Those shots have been filmed in Canon City, Colorado.
Mescal, Arizona, USA
The outdoor shots where the Sackett brothers are dealing with cows and gangs in a different area have been filmed in Mescal, Arizona. The hot Arizona summer didn’t help while filming either. So if you’re planning to visit any of these places, make sure you go during a time when the weather is nice.
Final Words
So there you have it, folks! All the info you need on where was The Sacketts filmed! The movie is a classic for a reason, and we highly suggest you give it a watch if you haven’t already! We also suggest you check out where Sister Of The Bride and Apollo 13 were filmed!
If you would like us to cover the filming location of any of your other favorite movies, then drop a comment below! We will try our best to find out all the information you need!
