I Died A Thousand Times Filming Locations: Where Is The Theatrical Movie Filmed?

What if a robber tries to turn his life around by helping a disabled person even though he has been a robber for his entire life, but things go awry once again, thus leaving you with no other choice but to run away to escape getting imprisoned, but it still isn’t enough?

Directed by Stuart Eisler, the thriller film titled “I Died A Thousand Times” primarily focuses on Roy Earle, an ageing bank robber trying to turn his life around after pulling one last heist before retiring, but things get out of control after Roy agrees to plan a robbery of a resort hotel.

The action-thriller is produced by Willis Goldbeck. The action-thriller stars Jack Palance in the role of Roy Earle, the film’s protagonist and a banker.

Shelley Williams plays the role of Marie Garson, a dancing hall girl; Lori Nelson plays the role of Velma, Roy’s love interest; Goodhue; Lee Marvin plays the role of Babe Kossuc, Roy’s partner; Pedro Gonzalez plays the role of Chico; and Lon Chaney Jr. plays the role of Big Mac, a crime boss in the lead.

Released on November 9, 1955, “I Died a Thousand Times” has a run time of 109 minutes, but it failed to make an impression on the audience as it failed to provide a fresh perspective to them.

The viewers who have rewatched the series in recent days have stated that they didn’t feel the same emotions as they did fourteen years ago, and the reason behind the viewers not feeling the emotions is due to their absurd and antique nature.

Another reason behind the film not doing well amongst the viewers is the production team’s decision to replace the comic relief character, Willie Best, a black actor, with a stereotypical Mexican character that was played by Pedro Gonzalez in the film’s remake.

Well, the film is a remake of the brilliant film titled “High Sierra” that wasn’t needed but was made after the producers saw the success the original film was able to achieve, with the only bright side of the film being that the production kept the movie the same as the novel.

Premise

The action-thriller film titled “I Died A Thousand Times” focuses on an aging bank robber, Roy, who plans to pull off one last heist before retiring, but things go awry after he agrees to rob a luxury resort in collaboration with Big Mac, a mafia boss he meets in prison.

The film starts with Roy Collins arriving at a petrol pump to get his tank full, where he meets Velma and her grandfather before taking off to his destination, while Velma and her family continue to discuss Collin’s strange nature.

After leaving the petrol pump, Collins arrives at Big Mac’s place to meet him after the mafia boss asks him to meet at his place, only to be left surprised as Big Mac isn’t there, but he has left his man, Jack Cranmer, in charge.

Jack provides Collins with a piece of paper that has instructions written by Big Mac for the plans required to rob a hotel and cash. Before Collins’ can leave, he and Jack get into a brief argument after Jack tries to control his actions that ends with Collins slapping Jack.

After leaving the cottage, Collins meets Chico, who informs him about the cabin number his partner Red and Babe reside in to discuss the plans to rob the hotel as instructed by Big Mac. This is where Collins meets Marie for the first time, who falls in love with him instantly.

After Collins realises that Marie will be a part of the plan, he instructs Babe and Red to make Marie return to her home after giving her money, but things turn sour after they inform her of Roy’s decision to send her back.

Marie decides to talk with Roy and try to make him understand her proposal and plan, so he lets her come along for the heist after she gets into an argument with her boyfriend as she is determined to not return to the crummy dancing hall she came from.

Well, Marie is successful in convincing Collins to let her come along on the heist, and the following day, the pair discuss Collins’s past and his time in prison before shifting the topic, which leads Marie and Collins to get into a brief argument before an angry Marie leaves him to have breakfast.

Meanwhile, Mendoza arrives at the cabin to meet the gang and inform them about the hotel’s set-up before informing Collins’ of Big Mac’s demand to meet him before leaving to pull off their heist. Collins arrives at the hotel before others check it out, but by chance, he meets Velma again.

Collins starts to become attracted to Velma and starts to discuss Velma’s foot with her grandfather, who tells him about Velma suffering from clap foot that requires surgery, and Collins decides to give his share of the money to Velma so she can get the operation.

Collins decides to pull off this one last heist to help Velma get the needed operation, but ends up getting thwarted due to his gang’s lack of skills, with the only skilled person in the gang being Marie.

Meanwhile, Velma keeps having second thoughts about her feelings for Collins, while Marie continues to fall in love with Collins, and she is the only faithful person who remains with him till the end. Collins attempts to escape into the Sierra Nevada but is shot down by a police sniper, thus ending his story.

Filming Locations

California

Known for the Golden Gate Bridge and its beautiful views along the beaches, a beautiful state in the eastern region of the United States, California was used by the production crew of “I Died A Thousand Times” to film the entire film. Whitney Portal Road, California, was used by the production crew to film the part with the chase between Collins and the police.

Highway 136, Keeler, California, was used by the crew to film the part with the gas station in the opening scene where Collins meets Velma’s grandfather, and the two befriend each other. Some other locations used by the crew include Big Bear Lake, Mount. Whitney and Lake Arrowhead to film some parts of the film featuring Stuart and Jack Palance.