Let’s find out about Three Amigos Filming Locations. Steve Martin, who also played the title role in the 1986 comedy Three Amigos, wrote the screenplay for the movie. It’s interesting to note that Martin also decided to compose the lyrics while creating one of the film’s renowned tunes.
Three Amigos’ central plot revolves around three actors who go to Mexico to perform in a silent movie. Their voyage is described as hysterical. The actors quickly learn that the bandit they were posing as is a notorious criminal after landing in Mexico.
Three Amigos exceeded its $25 million production budget at the box office, proving that movie was a general financial success. Most viewers gave this hilarious comedy film positive reviews, but it did not take home any prestigious prizes.
Three Amigos producers decided to shoot the entire movie here. Most of the movie was filmed in California, but certain crucial scenes were also filmed in Arizona. Steve Martin made this choice after speaking with Three Amigos director John Landis.
The producers invited the cast to scout out ideal filming sites in and around California and Arizona once the other actors were chosen and the screenplay was modified. Beginning near the end of January 1986, main photography continued until the second week of June.
One of the performers was hurt while filming a scene involving horseback riding, which caused a nearly 4-week delay in the filming schedule. The actor allegedly severely injured his left calf muscle and lower back.
This incident compelled the producers to stop filming entirely until the actor was ready to rejoin the unit. So without further ado, let’s talk in-depth about the individual places where Three Amigos was shot and learn more about them.
Also Read: I Know What You Did Last Summer Filming Locations: Where is the Thriller Filmed?
Three Amigos Filming Locations
Arizona, USA
The movie’s opening scene was filmed in Tucson’s Simi Valley. This lovely city, which boasts several picturesque shooting settings, is considered the county seat of Pima County. Therefore, the production team picked a medium-sized house in Old Tucson to film the scene where we first see the three characters in the movie.
The house’s façade had a few minor adjustments before the filmmaking team took outside shots of the property. Other significant Arizona scenes were photographed close to the Superstition Mountains. All of the movie’s depictions of the Apache Trail were shot in Apache Junction, Arizona.
It’s important to note that a few outdoor scenes featuring the Sonoran Desert and Coronado National Park were also added to the film. As was previously noted, one of the performers was seriously hurt while portraying a horse riding scene in this woodland. Fortunately, though, the remaining scenes of the film were then shot in California when the actor had fully recovered.
California, USA
The crew then traveled to California after the majority of the outdoor scenes for Three Amigos were shot in various sites in Arizona. The movie’s sequences showing the Goldsmith Film Studio were filmed outside of Culver Studios.
The majority of the interior scenes of the movie were also shot in this well-equipped studio, which is located at 9336 West Washington Boulevard in Culver City. Many scenes, like the campfire scene, were particularly recreated using Stages 4 and 12.
The filming process was completed, and the crew started working on post-production after a few crucial scenes were later recorded on-site in the Mojave Desert and at Universal Studios.
Plot Of The Movie
The personalities of Ned Nederlander, Dusty Bottoms, and Lucky Day are crucial to the plot of Three Amigos. At the movie’s start, these three actors travel to a Mexican village to portray the main characters in a silent movie.
The players are persuaded by the townspeople to aid them in apprehending the ominous criminals of a neighborhood gang as the plot develops. The gang’s leader, El Guapo, eventually hears of the villagers’ covert scheme and confronts the performers. Discover what transpires when the timid actors capture the Mexican gangster in Three Amigos.
Also Read: The Guns Of Navarone Filming Locations: Where Is The Movie Filmed?