Monument Valley, Utah, is located at the four corners of Arizona, Utah, New Mexico and Colorado. The endless desert with the towering buttes made it an ideal location for westerns.

“Stagecoach” is the movie that made John Wayne a star. This movie definitely showed the beauty of the valley, but only the second unit worked there. The principals did the close-ups on a sound stage in Hollywood. The stagecoach crossing was done at the Kern River, Kernville, Calif., and the famous attack on the stage coach was done on a dry river bed in Victorville, Calif. The Mexican relay station was filmed at the Garden of the Gods, Iverson Movie Ranch, Calif.

Famed stuntman Yakima Canutt did the stunt of jumping from his horse to the lead horses of the stagecoach and then gets shot by John Wayne and falls under the wagon. He then makes a half-hearted attempt to get up, but falls down. John Ford informed him that the stage coach was going over 40 mph when he went under it. Today, the stunt has never been duplicated. Yakima is also seen in the beginning of the movie as a scout galloping into the Cavalry headquarters to report that Geronimo was on the loose.

John Ford returned to Monument Valley in 1948 for “Ft. Apache,” starring John Wayne and Henry Fonda, based on a story by James Warner Bellah. The exteriors for this movie were filmed in Monument Valley. The Ft. Apache Fort set was built at Ray “Crash” Corrigan’s, Corriganville, Calif., location and was a popular tourist attraction for years before it burned down.

“She Wore A Yellow Ribbon” in 1949 used the valley extensively and The Goulding Trading Post potato cellar served as Captain Brittles’ quarters. Harry Carey Jr. told me that he felt that John Wayne’s greatest role was in “The Searchers,” but Wayne told him that his best work was as Captain Brittles in “She Wore A Yellow Ribbon.”

“The Searchers” is probably the greatest role of John Wayne’s career. His role of Ethan Edwards is definitely the hardest and toughest of his career. Harry Carey Jr. mentioned that the Duke was in character throughout the making of this movie. He was always relaxed and joking on previous locations, but not this one.

This movie covers a five-year period, a second unit crew went to Canada for buffalo scenes, and to Colorado. Terry Wilson and Chuck Hayward doubled Duke and Hunter for these scenes.

Hank Worden talked at one of the shows about the first day on “The Searchers.” Hank played Old Mose Harper in this movie. He had just come from Oregon to the Monument Valley location. His first scene is where Wayne kicks him in the butt. He said John Ford showed Wayne what he wanted done, and really whacked him. Then Wayne booted him, and at the end of the day he was sore. Hank then concluded his interview with the classic “Thank you kindly,” saying he used throughout the movie.

When you view this movie, I feel you are seeing John Ford at his best. He could take a scene and make it so memorable that you enjoy the movie just for that scene.

One of the more memorable moments in “The Searchers” is the return of Wayne and Hunter just as Vera Miles and Ken Curtis are to be married. The next scene is of Olive Carey, mother to Harry Carey Jr., who played Brad Jorgenson, standing by the door and Wayne pushing her away. Watch Wayne and see the smile as apparently something was said by Olive Carey, who had a great sense of humor. The movie ends as the camera pans back and Wayne stands grabbing his arm in a salute to Harry Carey. The end of the movie where John Wayne rescues Debbie was filmed at Bronson Canyon, Calif.

John Ford had previously filmed “My Darling Clementine,” ” Sergeant Rutledge,” and his last western, “Cheyenne Autumn” in Monument Valley.

Side notes on these movies:

At one of the film festivals I watched “The Searchers” with Harry Carey Jr. and Henry Brandon in attendance. Brandon played Chief Scar. He talked about the river scene and instead of using a stuntman asked if he could o it. John Ford was impressed but used Chuck Roberson to double him.

The Sons of the Pioneers sing the opening song with the lyrics written by Stan Jones. The beautiful baritone voice is that of Ken Curtis, who went on to fame as Festus in “Gunsmoke.”

I have visited Monument Valley on several occasions, and had the opportunity to visit with Mrs. Mike Goulding (her name was really Leone, but her husband Harry had trouble remembering its spelling while courting her. He said she was going to be called “Mike” to him because the spelling was simpler, and she became “Mike” to Harry and all their friends from then on.) She reminisced about her and Harry coming into the valley in 1921, and sleeping in a tent for four years before construction of their lodge. She talked about John Ford, John Wayne, Harry Carey Jr., Ben Johnson, Ward Bond and the great cast that came into the valley to make classic westerns. She said Mr. Ford would tell her in the morning when action scenes were going to be shot so she could visit.

She talked about a scene from “She Wore A Yellow Ribbon,” in which Victor McLaglen enters the bar in civilian clothes and starts a fight. She said this was the dining hall, and they removed the doors, put up saloon doors, did the scene, removed the doors and served dinner that evening. The saloon doors are in the museum.

She said about a hundred yards in front of her home in Monument Valley the town of Tombstone was constructed for “My Darling Clementine,” starring Henry Fonda. The town stood for about five years before it was finally taken down. This area is now occupied by Navajo Indian homes.

The original Goulding Lodge is now a museum. The downstairs section is dedicated to the Navajo Indians history and a section to the movies made in the valley. The upstairs is the original home of Harry and Mike Goulding.

The Gift Store sold man of my books, “John Wayne – An American Legend,” and various products that I supplied them.

Ben Johnson, who co-starred in “She Wore A Yellow Ribbon” was considered the best horseman in Hollywood. There are two scenes in “She Wore A Yellow Ribbon” that definitely showcase his horsemanship. Hone is when he and stuntman Cliff Lyons are trying to stop a runaway stagecoach, ad the other when Ben is being pursued by Indians. Watch the fantastic riding sequence of Ben and the Indians pursuing him. I had the pleasure over the years of meeting some of the great actors/stuntmen that worked with John Wayne in the above-mentioned movies: Yakima Canutt, John Agar, Harry Carey Jr., Ben Johnson, Hank Worden and Henry Brandon.

Many people stopped at my store, The Old West Shop, and talked about making a trip to Monument Valley, Utah, and what it was like. I always told them get a copy of “The Searchers,” and “Cheyenne Autumn.” These two movies really capture the beauty of Monument Valley.

For a personal, autographed copy of “The Westerner – 40th Anniversary” issue, call Crowley at 304-295-3143 or email oldwestshop@aol.com.