Introduction
The Professionals is an iconic 1966 action-adventure movie starring Lee Marvin, Burt Lancaster, Claudia Cardinale, Jack Palance, and Robert Ryan. Directed by Richard Brooks, it follows four men who are hired to rescue a kidnapped industrialist from a Mexican revolutionary. The film has been praised for its action sequences, compelling story, and strong performances by its cast.
In this article, we’ll explore the filming locations of The Professionals and take a behind-the-scenes look at the sets used in the movie. We’ll also follow in the footsteps of the cast and uncover interesting facts about the film’s locations.
An Exploration of the Filming Locations for the Movie ‘The Professionals’
The Professionals was filmed primarily in Arizona and Mexico. It was shot on location at various sites around Phoenix, Tucson, and Nogales. It was also filmed in Chihuahua, Mexico and at the Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden in Arcadia, California.
The main filming location was the Coronado National Forest in Arizona. This is where the majority of the outdoor scenes were shot, including the opening sequence where the four characters meet up. Other sites used in Arizona include the San Xavier Indian Reservation, the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, and the Colossal Cave Mountain Park.
The movie also utilized some of the most iconic locations in Mexico, such as the city of Chihuahua and the Copper Canyon. These locations provided the backdrop for some of the film’s most memorable scenes, including the train robbery and the climactic shootout in the mountains.
Take a Tour of the Sets from ‘The Professionals’
The interior sets for The Professionals were built at the 20th Century Fox backlot in California. One of the most memorable sets is the saloon, which was used for the scene where the four characters first meet. The saloon was designed to look like an old-fashioned western bar, complete with a swinging door, wooden bar, and a pool table.
Other sets used in the film include the hotel room where the characters stay, the stagecoach they hijack, and the train car they use to escape. All of these sets were carefully crafted to capture the feel of the Old West and to provide a realistic backdrop for the action scenes.
Follow in the Footsteps of the Cast of ‘The Professionals’
If you’re a fan of The Professionals, you can visit some of the same places that the cast did during the filming of the movie. For example, you can take a trip to the San Xavier Indian Reservation, where the characters first meet, or to the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, where the car chase scene was filmed.
You can also follow in the footsteps of the characters and visit the sites of some of the movie’s most famous scenes. You can go to the Copper Canyon and recreate the train robbery, or you can take a trip to the Colossal Cave Mountain Park and see the site of the climactic shootout.
Revisiting the Landmarks of ‘The Professionals’
The Professionals also featured some of the most iconic buildings and locations in Arizona and Mexico. The movie was filmed at the Mission San Xavier del Bac, one of the oldest churches in the state, as well as at the historic Hotel Congress in Tucson. The movie also featured shots of the city of Chihuahua and the Copper Canyon.
When visiting these sites, fans of the movie can uncover interesting facts about their significance in the film. For example, the Mission San Xavier del Bac was used for the scene where the four characters first meet, and the Hotel Congress was used for the scene where the characters plot their escape.
Exploring the Cinematic World of ‘The Professionals’
The locations used in The Professionals played an important role in creating the movie’s visual world. The filmmakers used the natural beauty of the desert landscapes to create a sense of awe and mystery, while the interiors of the buildings and sets were carefully designed to capture the feel of the Old West.
The locations also had an impact on the story itself. By changing the settings throughout the movie, the filmmakers were able to add tension and suspense to the narrative. They also used the Mexican locations to add a sense of exotic adventure to the proceedings.
Tracing the Making of ‘The Professionals’
Filming The Professionals was no easy task. The filmmakers had to contend with harsh weather conditions, difficult terrain, and primitive filming equipment. In addition, the production team had to travel extensively between Arizona, Mexico, and California in order to capture the movie’s various settings.
Despite these challenges, the filmmakers managed to create a visually stunning and action-packed movie. They used the unique locations to create an immersive cinematic experience that still captivates audiences today.
Conclusion
The Professionals is an iconic movie that has stood the test of time. By exploring the filming locations used in the movie, we can get a better understanding of the work that went into creating the film. From the desert landscapes of Arizona and Mexico to the iconic sets of the 20th Century Fox backlot, the movie’s locations helped bring the story to life.
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