Film History

At least 76 feature films, many TV productions and dozens of commercials have been shot either in full or in part in the Greater Sedona area. For three decades, Westerns were the most popular movies in America. From shoot'em-ups to romance, dramas, and the singing cowboy films, they attracted audiences around the world.

The Movie Room in the Sedona Heritage Museum is dedicated to the many hundreds of actors and crew members who have come to Sedona to make their way amidst the scenic grandeur that makes this such a valued destination.

Moviemaking in Sedona began in 1923, with Zane Grey's Call of the Canyon. In 1945, John Wayne came to town  for his first stint as producer on  Angel and the Badman costarring the beautiful Gail Russell. For this film, Wayne had a western town set built (photo above right) in what is now the Sedona West residential subdivision. Streets there are named after movies made here, like Johnny Guitar, Pony Soldier, and Gun Fury. Stars who worked here include Errol Flynn, Humphrey Bogart, James Stewart, Henry Fonda, Sterling Hayden, Joan Crawford, Glenn Ford, Robert Young, Tyrone Power, Rock Hudson, Elvis Presley, Sam Elliott, Robert Deniro and Johnny Depp.

Pony Soldier	Broken Arrow	Fonda in Sedona
Elvis in Sedona	Bank of Clemenceau	Sedona Old Time Sound Stage