Disney cameras roll on Blackfeet Indian Reservation
Tuesday, September 10, 2002
ST. MARY, Montana (Great Falls Tribune) -- Disney studio crews were recently on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation in St. Mary, shooting scenes for an upcoming film about a world-famous Lakota Sioux horse racer.
Set in 1890, the movie, "Hidalgo" tells the true story of Frank T. Hopkins, a part-Indian Cavalry scout from South Dakota who was once a world-famous endurance horseman.
"(Hopkins) was probably the most famous endurance rider in the West during that time," Dave Fulton, crew unit publicist, said Monday.
At a Buffalo Bill Wild West show, a Middle Eastern shiek invites the reputable horseman and his quick mustang paint, Hidalgo, to run in the 3,000-mile, centuries old "Ocean of Fire" race across the Arabian Desert.
The film hired a lot of locals to help with a variety of jobs -- including extra horse wranglers, Fulton said.
Renowned actor Viggo Mortensen stars as Hopkins while newcomer Zuleikha Robinson plays the female lead and Omar Sharif acts as the Sheik.
Crews shot the film's end in the St. Mary-area for five days in late August and will be in Morocco for two months before wrapping up in South Dakota.
The film -- directed by Joe Johnston and produced by Casey Silver, former CEO and chairman of Universal Pictures -- will be released by Disney next summer, Fulton said.
Tuesday, September 10, 2002
ST. MARY, Montana (Great Falls Tribune) -- Disney studio crews were recently on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation in St. Mary, shooting scenes for an upcoming film about a world-famous Lakota Sioux horse racer.
Set in 1890, the movie, "Hidalgo" tells the true story of Frank T. Hopkins, a part-Indian Cavalry scout from South Dakota who was once a world-famous endurance horseman.
"(Hopkins) was probably the most famous endurance rider in the West during that time," Dave Fulton, crew unit publicist, said Monday.
At a Buffalo Bill Wild West show, a Middle Eastern shiek invites the reputable horseman and his quick mustang paint, Hidalgo, to run in the 3,000-mile, centuries old "Ocean of Fire" race across the Arabian Desert.
The film hired a lot of locals to help with a variety of jobs -- including extra horse wranglers, Fulton said.
Renowned actor Viggo Mortensen stars as Hopkins while newcomer Zuleikha Robinson plays the female lead and Omar Sharif acts as the Sheik.
Crews shot the film's end in the St. Mary-area for five days in late August and will be in Morocco for two months before wrapping up in South Dakota.
The film -- directed by Joe Johnston and produced by Casey Silver, former CEO and chairman of Universal Pictures -- will be released by Disney next summer, Fulton said.