"Arizona Smith & the Lost Ore House" (1989)

"Arizona Smith and the Lost Ore House" is a short film directed by Clarke M. Smith and written by Bradley Grimm, completed in 1989 via equipment from the Tucson Community Cable Corporation. Though made among other student films while attending the University of Arizona, it was not intended for any college class. However, Smith’s final semester was a self study video production class, and he submitted this film 2 years after it was completed.

Realizing the Script
The bad experience of his last film Anonymity” prompted Smith to jump on an idea that was scripted by friend Brady Grimm - an Indiana Jones style comedy called Arizona Smith. This came after Smith had told people that he wanted to do an adventure, and get out of the dark and serious dramas he’d been doing.

He wanted to get right back into a new film, and make up for the last one. His time at the U of A was coming to end in a few years, and he did not want this to be his last film. Tom Findlow was on his way to graduating soon, and he felt he owed everyone a better film to remember. So, gathering up many members of the cast of Anonymity, and a few re-writes later, “Arizona Smith and the Lost Ore House” was quickly set in motion -  just a few months later.

Shooting Details
Tom Findlow, having been a lead in the last 2 shorts, was not interested in more acting. Clarke pestered him to no end, as he believed he was right for the part and no one else would do. Writer Brad Grimm thought Clarke should play Arizona Smith. Tom finally surrendered. Shooting began in the summer of 1989 in the midst of a typically scorching hot season. Smith scripted and enhanced the 3rd act with a minimal of outdoor scenes. The group shot the film for several days throughout the summer. Smith’s uncle, Mike Sees (the cop in “Escapee”) was able to secure the airplane for an ambitious opening for the film. Once that was finished, and came out well, and the whole film was coming out so nicely, Smith set out to convince everyone to stage an extensive moving truck fight scene. It ended up being quite a feat. The actors first learned their moves on a bed roughly the size of the truck bed. Then they did the whole scene in the truck without the truck moving (some clever shaky cam with sky background shooting). Finally, they did the scene a few times in the moving truck, with a car next to them to capture the action. As if that wasn’t enough, Ande Felix (“Evil Priest”) wanted to add an extensive ending featuring a full cast dance revue. That was a shoot that lasted well into the night, with loyal people working, yet having to work early the next day. But then shooting was complete!

Film Analysis
For many years, Clarke regarded this film as his all time best, as did family and friends. That was till much higher quality HD films in San Diego were made. It was such a great experience and everything came together so well. The cast and crew was beyond delighted with the project and the end result. Its a common idea to regard a film like this as a parody. Or later, as a “fan film”. Smith regarded his film as more of a tribute to Steven Spielberg. It would be much later that films like this would become known as “Indy fan films” on websites such as theraider.net. In fact, Arizona Smith later wound up there (http://www.theraider.net/community/theater/arizona_smith.php).

The idea was not so much to be an Indiana Jones parody, so much as a comedy about a modern adventurer who doesn’t get out much, and has therefore never even heard of Jones. Though originally released with John Williams’ scores, it was later recut with a new score by long time Smith composer Reber Clark, making it for the first time, its own entity and film, disconnected to the copyrighted work.

Aftermath
About a year after its completion in 1989, Smith’s mom Shery Felix (who played the librarian in this film) sent a VHS copy of the film to Spielberg’s office in Hollywood. A reply eventually came back stating that “Mr. Spielberg unfortunately does not have time to read all his fan mail and submissions...thanks for sending it though…”  Mrs. Felix was not happy about this and his blowing off her talented son. In fact, she never forgave him, sneering at just about every film he made after that!

Outside of house parties at the time, the film never had a public screening of any kind. The only other notoriety it got, was a A in the self study course at the U of A. That in itself was risky, as it was turned in, in 1992 - 3 full years after it was made, as well as past the prime of anyone caring about Indiana Jones movies. The instructor didn’t seem to mind the latter, and had positive things to say about it. Incidentally, Smith did make a film that year that if deemed better than Arizona Smith, he would have submitted that instead. That film was “Specimen”. And no, it wasn’t deemed better.

Video Links
Trailer

"Arizona Smith and the Lost Ore House" (1989) (Full Movie)

1999 Visual Audio Commentary

"Arizona Smith: In The Making" (1989/2008)

Bloopers