“Mono In The Movies” DVD Collection adds eight new titles

(LtoR) Patti Heinrichs, June Lake Historical Society, Ken Harrison, amateur film historian, Vineca Hess, June Lake Librarian.

A collection of major films shot on location in Mono County has added eight additional titles to its catalog. The “Mono in the Movies” DVD collection is housed at the June Lake Library, and each DVD is available for checkout from any Mono County branch library.

The collection now contains 23 Mono County-filmed DVD titles; from the 1924 silent picture, Thundering Hoofs, to 2013’s Oblivion staring Tom Cruise.

Amateur film historian and frequent Eastern Sierra visitor, Ken Harrison, has been acquiring the DVD’s over the last three years. He has a list of 56 possible film titles provided by the Mono County Film Commission, Lone Pine Film Museum, and Internet Movie Database (IMDb). Long time residents have also contributed to the list.

After acquiring a DVD, Harrison researches the locations used, local trivia surrounding the film, and history of the film and it’s actors. He also writes a brief dissertation, which is included in each DVD case. Also noted is the DVD’s time marker, so one can scan to the location shots.

Harrison says each branch of the Mono County Library has his “search” list of films he’s still looking for. Residents with knowledge of a film’s shooting location are invited to contact him at [email protected]. Donations for additional acquisitions may be directed to the June Lake Friends of the Library – earmarked for the “Mono in the Movies” collection.

The latest additions to the “Mono in the Movies” DVD collection;

Fair Wind to Java – 1953

Long-time Lee Vining residents remember seeing the tall ships sailing Mono Lake and the volcano set. The film starred then hunk Fred MacMurray, 15 years before he became a do-good’er dad for Disney and My Three Sons.

Ride the High Country – 1962

Western film icons Randolph Scott and Joel McCrea both retired after this picture, stating this was the best movie they would ever make. What MGM thought would be only a Drive-In “B” western, critics and fans turned into one of the genre’s greatest classics.

Jinxed – 1982

Filmed almost entirely in Carson City/Reno areas, the crew was able to film Bette Milder inside the old schoolhouse and other buildings in Bodie – what would never be allowed today.

Perfect – 1985

One of John Travolta’s failed attempts to keep his then falling star shinning. Mammoth Mountain got their first “product placement” in this film. Fans of a young Jamie Lee Curtis will want to watch her “prefect” aerobic performance, over, and over, and over again!

The Golden Child – 1986

This film put Mono County on the map with Hollywood studios. A 100+ crew of locals rallied around Eddie Murphy’s 10-day shooting schedule, which required equipment and livestock to be hauled up the mountain, all done in a freezing blizzard. Mono County became a serious filming destination after this film.

Big Girls Don’t Cry – 1991

Film mostly at Lake Mary, this is Mono County’s biggest flop. The female Ferris Bueller-type plot of unknown actors only grossed $271,000 in three weeks and was quickly pulled and buried from theaters.

For the Boys – 1991

Bette Milder and James Caan briefly use snowy Mono County environs as war-torn Korea in this Golden Globe-winning film, which follows the life of two big stars as they perform for troops in WWII, Korea, and Viet Nam.

Surviving Christmas – 2004

The typical snow-play scenes are why Hollywood loves shooting in Mono County – it’s nearby, and actors love getting out of the studio sound stages. This film was in Ben Affleck’s “Jennifer Lopez-girlfriend” era, which some say, caused this film to be forgettable.

DVD Collection at the June Lake Library

Available To Checkout at Any Mono County Library Branch

1924 Thundering Hoofs Fred Thomson Mammoth Creek

1929 Hell’s Heroes Charles Bickford Bodie

1938 Marco Polo Gary Cooper Mono Lake

1940 Return of Frank James Henry Fonda Convict Lake

1946 Road to Utopia Hope & Crosby June Lake

1947 Out of the Past Robert Mitchum Bridgeport

1953 Fair Wind to Java Fred MacMurray Mono Lake

1962 Ride the High Country Randolph Scott High Sierras

1966 Nevada Smith Steve McQueen Hot Creek

1969 True Grit John Wayne Hot Creek