The Canadian province of Alberta is set to a host a stream of set-jetters as it plays a starring role as the powerful backdrop of director Andrew Dominik’s “The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford,” starring Brad Pitt and Casey Affleck.
The film wowed audiences at the recent London Film Festival and the Venice Film Festival, where Pitt was awarded the honour of Best Actor for his performance in this acclaimed character drama. The film is due for release in UK cinemas on 30th November.
The film’s ensemble cast saddled up on location close to the cities of Calgary and Edmonton and in the stunning Kananaskis area in the foothills of the Rockies.
Fort Edmonton Park, Canada’s largest living history park, was one of the shoot’s key locations. The park’s steam locomotive and two-mile track were integral to Alberta being chosen as the location. The train was restored for the movie with fresh paint, gold lettering and new interiors. More than 200 people were involved with the project and visitors today can take the 20-minute ride around the park, experiencing the authentic train that is held up by the notorious Jesse James and his gang in the film. In addition to considerable filming on and around the train, two of Fort Edmonton Park’s recreated streets, 1885 Street and 1905 Street, were used as backdrops.
Calgary, known for its western heritage, was also featured in the film with the historic Fairmont Palliser hotel serving as an opulent background, and houses and buildings at Heritage Park Historical Village taking the cast back in time. No film shot on location in Alberta would be complete without big skies, endless prairies and homesteads. Alberta has these in abundance with a wide range of working ranches welcoming visitors to experience cowboy culture first hand and to learn more about western traditions and horsemanship.
In 2006, also Alberta provided a key base as a film location of the Golden Globe-winning film, “Brokeback Mountain”, bringing the destination’s Rocky Mountains, lakes and prairies to the eyes of millions.
Alberta has endless holiday options from skiing in the winter to touring the Rockies and Badlands in the summer. The capital city of Edmonton and Calgary, the heart of the new west, offer tourists a more cosmopolitan experience. Visit www.travelalberta.com
The recent success of acclaimed film Elizabeth: The Golden Age has prompted a similar film set tourist rush in the UK. To read more, Click Here.
