SEELEY LAKE - Brian D'Ambrosio will be discussing his book on the history of Big Sky Cinema, "Shot in Montana," Saturday, Oct. 21, at 7 p.m. at the Grizzly Claw Trading Company. Alpine Artisans Open Book Club sponsors the event.
D'Ambrosio lives in Helena where he writes for a variety of publications. His favorite subjects are history, biography, architecture, boxing, NFL tough guys, photography, forgotten inventors and obscure American poets and authors.
For more than 100 years, film production companies have been coming to Montana to capture its elements. From the earliest known 1897 travel promotion film "Tourist Train Leaving Livingston" to megahits with the biggest Hollywood stars (Meryl Streep in "The River Wild") and to acclaimed independent films ("The Slaughter Rule" filmed in Great Falls by Alex and Andrew Smith, sons of Montana author Annick Smith) and to forgettable flops, nearly 100 movies have been made, in whole or in part, in Montana. Author D'Ambrosio describes every movie including actors, directors and shooting locations and reveals fascinating stories and incidents that took place behind the cameras.
One such incident occurred during the casting of "The Big Trail" (1931). Director Raoul Walsh was seeking a lead actor and asked for a recommendation from John Ford. Ford recommended a then unknown kid from Iowa named John Wayne. When Wayne claimed inexperience, Walsh told him to "just sit good on a horse and point."
Featuring 120 photos and interviews with actors and filmmakers, "Shot in Montana" is an adventure through the Treasure State's cinematic history and provides an amazing list of films to watch on these cold Montana winter nights.
Please join the Open Book Club at the Grizzly Claw for what promises to be a most interesting experience. Open Book Club presentations are open to the public and there is no charge.
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