All the Boys Love Mandy Lane

All the Boys Love Mandy Lane was released into theaters on October 11th, 2013, seven years after it premiered at the Toronto Film Festival on September 9th, 2006. This was due to ongoing distribution rights issues. Filming locations include Bastrop and Elgin, Tx. It was directed by Jonathan Levine, who also directed horror genre film Warm Bodies. Amber Heard stars as Mandy Lane. This was when she was still a relative newcomer. The movie features a few good songs like Our Lips Are Sealed by the Go-Go's and a pretty good cover of Sister Golden Hair by Juliette Commagere. The films first DVD release was on December 3rd, 2013. I'd like to thank Cameron Chambers for his help with this post.

High school track - 1614 Chambers St. Bastrop, Tx. 78602

(Bastrop High School)

The high school was established in 1898.

All "Now" pictures taken in 2019.

Building they pass - 1073 Texas 304 Bastrop, Tx. 78602

Blink and you may miss it, but while they're driving they quickly pass by a run down building next to the road. The structure is actually the same one used as the gas station in the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974). This was the mid 2000's, when it was still known as Bilbo's Texas Landmark. If something doesn't quite look right about it, that's because they actually flipped the shot around, post production. I thought it was a nice little homage.

2019

Gas station - 1596 FM 969 Elgin, Tx. 78602

Formerly L.O.G. Groceries. It looks like it's been closed for a very long time.

2019

Red's family property - 329 Hills Prairie Rd. Bastrop, Tx. 78602

(Ancient Oaks Ranch)

Known as the A.W. Hill House, the 7,235 square foot home was built in 1857. It was heavily renovated in 2009. Three people have been know to have died in the house. There is also a family cemetery nearby.

2019

Star Wars: A New Hope

Star Wars: A New Hope was released into theaters on May 25th, 1977. Filming locations include Death Valley National Park, England, Guatemala and Tunisia. Filming ran from March 22nd, 1976 to July 16th, 1976. The film was written and directed by George Lucas. The filming locations for Tatooine were split between Death Valley National Park and Tunisia. It was the first movie to make over $300 million dollars. The films score was done by John Williams, quite possibly the greatest film score conductor of all time. He would also go on to score every Star Wars film since. The film won six Academy Awards, which include Best Art Direction, Best Costume Design, Best Film Editing, Best Original Score, Best Sound and Best Visual Effects. It was added to the National Film Registry in 1989. The films first DVD release was on January 1st, 2004.

Sand dunes - Hwy. 190 Stovepipe Wells, Ca. 92328

(Death Valley National Park, Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes)

The parking area for the sand dunes is two miles east of Stovepipe Wells, Ca. To reach the larger dunes seen in the film, you'll need to walk about half-way out into the dunes.

2019

R2-D2 starts out in the canyon - Artists Drive, Ca.

(Death Valley National Park, Artists Palette)

When you get to Artists Palette, there are two small canyons. One to the right and one to the left, R2 travels down the one to the left.

All "Now" pictures taken in 2019.

The Jawas stalk R2-D2 - Badwater Road, Ca.

(Death Valley National Park, Golden Canyon)

Since most of the scenes of R2 traveling through the canyon take place here, there are a lot of spots to be on the lookout for in order to match them up. The one I matched up was near the canyon entrance.

2019

Sandcrawler - Artists Drive, Ca.

(Death Valley National Park)

The best way to get the proper vantage point is to park next to the road immediately before the right hand turnoff to the Artists Palette parking area. Then walk up the hill on the left side of the road, and when you get to the top look southeast.

2019

Tusken Raider on Bantha - Desolation Canyon Road, Ca.

(Death Valley National Park, Desolation Canyon)

From the parking area walk east, but stay north of the hill. You'll eventually come to a wash. Follow the wash southeast until you reach the mouth of Desolation Canyon. The Bantha was actually an Asian elephant dressed in a costume of fur and fake horns.

All "Now" pictures taken in 2019.

Mos Eisley overlook - Furnace Creek Road, Ca.

(Death Valley National Park, Dante's View)

From the parking area, look northwest. The town of Mos Eisley was a matte painting by Harrison Ellenshaw. What you're really looking at is Badwater Basin, which is the lowest elevation in the United States at 282 feet below sea level.

2019

Tremors

Tremors was released into theaters on January 19th, 1990. Filming locations include Lone Pine and Olancha, Ca. It was directed by Ron Underwood. The two leads of Valentine McKee and Earl Bassett are played by Kevin Bacon and Fred Ward. It also stars Michael Gross, who would go on to reprise his character Burt Gummer, and Gummer's ancestors, in every sequel as well as the 2003 television series. The films score was done by Ernest Troost and Robert Folk in a non-collaborative effort. Troost's score has more of a western feel, using guitars and harmonicas whereas Folk's used violins and trumpets and was used for the more climatic scenes. The films first DVD release was on April 28th, 1998.

Perfection - Near *Cactus Flats Rd. Olancha, Ca. 93545

The town was a set that was built in roughly two months. After filming concluded, it was torn down. No remains from any of the structures are still there. Although, the dirt road that led through the town is still there as well as a replica "City of Perfection" sign marking the filming location. 

All "Now" pictures taken in 2019.

Roadwork scene - Tuttle Creek Rd. Lone Pine, Ca. 93545

This road runs through a narrow but very scenic canyon, alongside the surprisingly rapid-flowing Tuttle Creek.

All "Now" pictures taken in 2019.

Boulders that Earl, Valentine and Rhonda get stuck on - Movie Flat Rd. Lone Pine, Ca. 93545

(Alabama Hills)

A lot of movies were filmed in this area, some of which include Django Unchained (2012), Gladiator, Iron Man, Man of Steel and an abundance of old westerns. It's an amazing setting with the Eastern Sierras and the highest point in the continental United States (Mt. Whitney) in the background. Movie Flat Rd. was constructed back in the heyday of old westerns so the crews could get in and out of the filming locations easier. Aside from being a popular area for filming, it also seems to have and endless number of beautiful hikes. As a matter of fact, I wish I had more time there during my visit, for that very purpose. The group of boulders in the film are just a stones throw from Movie Flat Rd. Also, after visiting for myself, I can confirm that the boulders they pole vault onto must've been prop boulders brought in for the film because none of them are there in reality. My last comparison picture shows this. 

Myself sitting on the boulder.

If you plan on visiting the Tremors filming locations in Lone Pine, or if you're just passing through the town, I highly recommend stopping at the Lone Pine Film Museum. It shows the history of filming in the area as well as screen used props from many of the films, including Tremors and some of the sequels. It's located at 701 S. Main St. Lone Pine, Ca. 93545.