Movies filmed in Big Bear area
Socalman, Fri May 23 2008, 05:21PM

What movies do you know of that were filmed in the area?

Ones that I recall:

1. Parent Trap with Hayely Mills - Bluff Lake YMCA camp (watched much of it being filmed while a camper--and got my pic taken with Hayley Mills!

2. Old Yeller

3. An Island in the Sky - I had no idea it was in Big Bear until I saw some of the wide shots. Gold Mountain was clearly visible.

I know there are many more....share your knowldge!

Re: Movies filmed in Big Bear area
Craig ⭐, Fri May 23 2008, 06:28PM

When Harry met Sally?

Re: Movies filmed in Big Bear area
Benny ⭐, Fri May 23 2008, 06:48PM

Partial movies I know of was of course War Games, Dr Doolittle (in fawnskin) gosh so many my mind is a blank.

Re: Movies filmed in Big Bear area
©ammy, Fri May 23 2008, 06:49PM

Part of "Next" was filmed up here a couple years ago.

Re: Movies filmed in Big Bear area
bc, Fri May 23 2008, 09:30PM

That better not be 2N02

Re: Movies filmed in Big Bear area
, Fri May 23 2008, 10:41PM

Debbie Does Dallas at that porno filming house in Boulder Bay on the lake. :p

Re: Movies filmed in Big Bear area
bills grandson, Sat May 24 2008, 12:02AM

There were tons done on the hill there is even a book that lists many of them.
Don't think they did any of old yeller on the hill. Trail of the lonesome pine, shepard of the hills, night of the grizzly, part of paint your wagon, North to Alaska, Elvis did at least one, the original love bug, lots of TV seies. Sgt Preston, lassie, bonanza, plus the three done by Any Griffity. the werewoldf was my favorite. if you haven't seen it I'm sure Jerry will let you know next time it is coming on. It is a must see for history buffs.
They did a porno fick at cedar lake. Rented the site and the church group never asked, also a couple of more. Didn't know about Debbie does. That was a classic Which one?


Re: Movies filmed in Big Bear area
Socalman, Sat May 24 2008, 04:15AM

I know that the part of Old Yeller that had the mountain lion was done near where Stater Bros. is. Traffic was held up and I remember my mom sort of getting all freaked out when they told her they had a mountain lion in the area. Then they mentioned they were filming the movie.

Re: Movies filmed in Big Bear area
, Sat May 24 2008, 07:50AM

I saw a movie the other day and it had some big bear shots in it. I don't remember the name of it.
I was watching another movie and I saw me in my old truck in the village. Don't remember the name of that one either. I think it had doogie houser in it. I've seen lots of movie stars up here.
Al Picino shot a movie in Fawnskin.

Re: Movies filmed in Big Bear area
Hooky Bobber, Sat May 24 2008, 08:31AM

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Re: Movies filmed in Big Bear area
testyone, Sat May 24 2008, 09:58AM

Home for the Holidays in Fawnskin. That's how the Fawn Lodge got a paint job and windows.

Re: Movies filmed in Big Bear area
©ammy, Sat May 24 2008, 11:16AM


Nope!
3N14 I think - west of Big Pine Flats

Re: Movies filmed in Big Bear area
, Sat May 24 2008, 12:23PM

I was kidding about the Debbie Does Dallas. They do pornos in that house, not sure of the titles.

My lodge a few years back had CBS's short run "reality" show Cupid film an episode. Believe me, it was anything but reality. I am glad the show was cancelled and I called it Stupid instead of Cupid.

Re: Movies filmed in Big Bear area
Around The Lake, Sat May 24 2008, 06:25PM

I worked on a few of them few of them that you may have heard of is Mr. Deeds ,Dr. Dolittle 2, and Magnolia.
I also did a Honda car add .

Re: Movies filmed in Big Bear area
bills grandson, Sun May 25 2008, 05:30AM

socalman

Like most boys my age old yeller was a favorite and I had just watched it a few weeks ago. So I drug it out and fast forwarded through it twice. There was no mountain lion in the movie. I can remember that they made a big deal when they brought a mountain lion up for a movie, and I think ther was a dog in it. but I think it was for a lassie or some disney movie besides old yeller. I think the lion was later retired to the moonridge zoo.
I would have swore there was a lion in the movie. They had almost everything else

Re: Movies filmed in Big Bear area
UBU, Sun May 25 2008, 06:42AM

The Ranch swimming pool was used the the film Magnolia - haven't seen it but I heard it was less than good.

Re: Movies filmed in Big Bear area
BSF, Mon Jun 09 2008, 11:49PM

I don't know if any of you remember the old cowboy movies Gene Autry, Roy Rogers, Hupe Gibson, hopolong Cassidy, & dozens more made hundreds of movies hear in the valley. A large percentage of them were shot at Shay Ranch. the movie sets were a perminebt fixrure right near the old ranch house. their location was just a few hundred yards east of the old cattle guard that was located right about where Baranca & shay road join at the beginning of the straight away on shay Rd. Next time you watch one of those old cowboy movies you will see different parts of Big Bear, & the old sets at Cedar lake . Mohavie desert,near dead mans point. another favorite location fo making western movies.BSF

Re: Movies filmed in Big Bear area
Radha, Sat Jun 14 2008, 05:56PM

Check out the movie; Don't Fence Me In, with Roy Rogers. It was filmed at the Peter Pan Club and around Big Bear. It's a great look at the Club.

Re: Movies filmed in Big Bear area
Radha, Sat Jun 14 2008, 06:07PM

Cedar Lake was often used as a location. I remember watching a movie with Canadian Mounties paddling down a river that turned out to be Cedar Lake. Below are several images.








Re: Movies filmed in Big Bear area
Radha, Sat Jun 14 2008, 06:17PM

The first image is from a postcard dated 1939.








Re: Movies filmed in Big Bear area
Around The Lake, Sat Jun 14 2008, 07:50PM

the lake is a lot smaller than it looks. great lake if you can ever get a chance to see it

Re: Movies filmed in Big Bear area
Hooky Bobber, Sun Jun 15 2008, 09:15AM

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Re: Movies filmed in Big Bear area
Radha, Sun Jun 15 2008, 09:45AM

Boy I can relate. I tried pulling myself into a sailboat with soaking wet blue jeans...not easy!

Re: Movies filmed in Big Bear area
Around The Lake, Sun Jun 15 2008, 08:01PM

when I was a lifeguard for LAUSD and many of the camps we had a training where we jumped in to a pool or lake with jean's and eveything that would hold water. With me being a little guy of 140 Lb at the time before jumping in I would be pulled to the bottom of the pool or lake. I learned a lot on how to deal with the water wate and the screaming kicking person.
"Wow flash back"

Re: Movies filmed in Big Bear area
bills grandson, Thu Jun 19 2008, 11:29PM

Cedar lake was very cool.
I used to be you could go in with a small fee. I think it is closed except to members now. That would be the place to have the site picnic.
If you see North to Alaska that is where they had the loggers picnic. Lots of locals are in those scenes
I didn't know the mill had burned. But the lions club rebuilt it about the time Jerry mentioned. Had a lot of good memories there as a kid, crossing the dam was scarey. Did some work there when they built the rooms to the SE of the mill.
went up with a few friends and rode the canoes one evening.

Re: Movies filmed in Big Bear area
GWTWTOO, Thu Aug 06 2009, 10:43PM

Hi, all! In 1939, the shantytown sequence in the 1939 classic, "Gone With the Wind" was filmed in Big Bear, although I haven't been able to locate the exact location-perhaps somewhere in Holcomb Valley.

I was watching the 1946 film "Dillinger" last night and spotted Peter Pan Club and Cedar Lake.

Does anyone know who one should contact to visit Cedar Lake briefly. Is it possible!?

Re: Movies filmed in Big Bear area
bills grandson, Fri Aug 07 2009, 01:37PM

not sure if they let people in anymore. you can probably call or drive up to see but you can walk up follow the creek up near city hall and you can get close. All they can do is run you off

Re: Movies filmed in Big Bear area
Around The Lake, Fri Aug 07 2009, 08:50PM

they are very nice at Cedar Lake I think all you would need to do is go to there offic and ask if you can take a walk around the lake.
But rember it is a working camp so the best time to ask would be when there is no groups at the camp.

Re: Movies filmed in Big Bear area
Hooky Bobber, Fri Dec 27 2013, 02:40PM

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Re: Movies filmed in Big Bear area
Hooky Bobber, Fri Dec 27 2013, 02:46PM

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Re: Movies filmed in Big Bear area
bills grandson, Fri Dec 27 2013, 03:42PM

B.b.
I'm still watching "to the last man" Most of it shot in a very familiar neighborhood to many on this site. looks funny with no houses where they live now. I can remember when it was not much different then it was

Re: Movies filmed in Big Bear area
Hooky Bobber, Fri Dec 27 2013, 08:04PM

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Hooky Bobber, Fri Dec 27 2013, 08:06PM

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Re: Movies filmed in Big Bear area
Hooky Bobber, Fri Dec 27 2013, 08:10PM

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Re: Movies filmed in Big Bear area
BootsNBridles, Fri Dec 27 2013, 09:14PM

Birth of a Nation was filmed here in 1915. Found the entire movie: [Click Here] Big Bear starts about 2:09 . Uncomfortable subject matter but interesting view of Big Bear and the lake from Castle Rock.

Big Foot (sometime in the 80s)- disney movie. Was filmed in the West end.

The Insider (1999)- filmed in Fawnskin





Re: Movies filmed in Big Bear area
bills grandson, Fri Dec 27 2013, 09:42PM

I started a thread on this awhile back [Click Here] It is worth seeing. It was a long time ago so it is pre politicly correct

Re: Movies filmed in Big Bear area
Hooky Bobber, Sat Dec 28 2013, 08:53AM

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Re: Movies filmed in Big Bear area
Craig ⭐, Sat Dec 28 2013, 05:35PM

Really cool stuff you guys! Thank you for sharing!

Re: Movies filmed in Big Bear area
bills grandson, Sat Dec 28 2013, 07:12PM

the chase scene at the end of "the girl in the empty grave" is about the most bizarre example of cutting and splicing as I have ever seen. Tarting on inspiration point Andy takes a short cut through enchantated village (below Running Springs) across the dam, both ways I think, comes out near the dump, crosses Baldin lake , through Wheelervile, around the old colf cart track at rebal ridge, through the twin bears a couple times,past the old, od post office and comes out about a mile from where he started to corner the bad guy.
At the time a corny but cute movie, typical of Andy but now it seems better. Great views of Big Bear not so long ago but a different time. A much younger Bill O'connel even had his five seconds of fame. Hard to believe they got permission to drive a car off the artic circle. Well worth seeing. Not sure if the others from the same series are out there or not

Re: Movies filmed in Big Bear area
Hooky Bobber, Thu Jan 16 2014, 05:55PM

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Re: Movies filmed in Big Bear area
RichardG, Wed Mar 12 2014, 02:50PM

I have been reviewing several years of Big Bear Grizzly (Big Bear Life and Limelight ). So far I have reviewed all publications from 1946 to 1964. There are some small articles about various movie stars being up here in the valley, but one of the best articles/ads that I came across that shows some appreciation back to the town came from Elvis in Oct 1963 when he placed the following item in the Big Bear Grizzly.



Re: Movies filmed in Big Bear area
JohnnyT (K7JNT), Wed Mar 12 2014, 03:22PM

Just passed by Snow Valley this morning and there were at least 20 or 30 movie set trailers packed in the parking lot. Anyone know what they're filming?


Re: Movies filmed in Big Bear area
Levi, Wed Mar 12 2014, 08:58PM

Awkward for MTV

Re: Movies filmed in Big Bear area
bills grandson, Wed Mar 12 2014, 10:43PM



RichardG


It used to be that there were movies being made up here all the time. They spent a lot of money and the people supported them. At the end of the movie they would add that it was filmed in the san Bernardino national forest, or whatever.
Now between the city and everyone else gouging them for everything they can get they don't bother to do that anymore.
The publicity we got from these movies showing the beauriful scenes, and the money spent by the film companies was worth much more then what they get for fees and such.
I don't remember noticing an actual add taken out in a paper thanking everyone. But they are trying to sell records. I bought my first elvis record at Glen Bast T.V. in the village


Re: Movies filmed in Big Bear area
Socalman, Thu Mar 13 2014, 08:37AM

Someone with good local knowledge and a certain amount of business expertise and political savvy could put Big Bear back in the lens finder of movie makers. One of the biggest headaches movie companies have is dealing with all the local regulations. At one time in the city of Monrovia, Ca. there was a company called "Oh Shoot!". They dealt with all the red-tape for the company that wanted to shoot a movie, TV show or commercial in the area. There was almost always location shoots going on.

For several years in the 80's we had film crews on the high school campus a couple of times a year. Made some cash for the school and I was also able to get some "donations" for my band program.

Re: Movies filmed in Big Bear area
BootsNBridles, Thu Mar 13 2014, 09:09AM

You are forgetting the technology that has been developed in the past ten years folks- much of what used to be done on site is done in the computer lab now. Also for the most part big budget films go where there is room to house the entire crew- usually in one location. We have many housing locations but only one or two large enough to house the whole crew. Also much of what used to be required for backdrops is now done through tech. We have still had a couple of major companies come here but mostly it's the low budget low tech films- that don't really buy us much in the way of exposure to the kind of people we'd like to have visit. I do believe that San Berdoo county still has a film commission dedicated to helping and encouraging filming in the county.

Re: Movies filmed in Big Bear area
BootsNBridles, Thu Mar 13 2014, 09:17AM

Inland Empire Film Commission
[Click Here]

Big Bear Lake add
[Click Here]

Big Bear Lake Film Office- last updated 2009 but some interesting facts on this page:
[Click Here]

Re: Movies filmed in Big Bear area
bills grandson, Thu Mar 13 2014, 10:15AM

They used to spend a lot of time on a picture. As much as a year as in shepard of the hills. That provided a lot of jobs around the depression. My grandfather made around $1,000 for the year he worked on it.
They used to stay in thunder cloud or marina rivera. Before that Paramont lodge was built for the movie people. My brush with greatnest as a little kid was to be in the same building John Wayne was staying in. He was probably on location.
While many pictures can be shot almost entirely in the studio. There is no substitution for the beautiful forest.
I never knew that they could play with backgrounds and alter things a very long time ago.
Part of the problem is the forest service. They stick them where they will be out of the way instead of having the run of the forest as they did in the past.


Re: Movies filmed in Big Bear area
TheUnforgiven, Sat Nov 28 2015, 07:13PM

Found this list on IMDb.
330 matching titles.




[Click Here]

Re: Movies filmed in Big Bear area
Socalman, Sun Nov 29 2015, 08:52AM

I had to scroll to see if the original Parent Trap with Hayley Mills was listed, it is missing. A good portion of it was filmed at Bluff Lake. Hayley was the first "star" I met. One of the other camper's dad was a counselor and I got my picture taken with her. At another time three of us were hiding out by the lake when they were actually filming.

Re: Movies filmed in Big Bear area
TheUnforgiven, Sun Nov 29 2015, 09:00AM

I was watching Jack Frost 1997 last night.
A low budget horror flick on Hulu.

Has a lot of good shots of Fawn Lodge in it.





Re: Movies filmed in Big Bear area
TheUnforgiven, Sun Jan 10 2016, 04:14PM

Who remembers this ?
Guess what lake that is !


Re: Movies filmed in Big Bear area
TheUnforgiven, Fri Aug 05 2016, 06:06PM

IMDb

Most Popular Titles With Filming Locations Matching "big bear" 538 titles.

Link to the list.
[Click Here]

Re: Movies filmed in Big Bear area
Socalman, Sat Aug 06 2016, 08:15AM

One thing that could help bring more production back to the area, if that is what people would like is to form a company that will handle ALL of the various red-tape government applications and forms as well as help scout filming locations. Back in the the 1980's such a company existed in Monrovia. It was called "OH Shoot." Because of that company that the little San Gabriel Valley city appeared in so many films.

Re: Movies filmed in Big Bear area
bills grandson, Sat Aug 06 2016, 08:41AM

they hsve the film commission which is supposed to do that. but I think they may be part of the problem and the Forest Service doesn't cooperate like they did in the past. They tend to have a few places they want them. Also iy isn't as pretty as it once was. But I think that is getting better

Re: Movies filmed in Big Bear area
Heather, Wed Sep 27 2017, 12:00PM

My late husband filmed his private indie movie up here in around 1994 or so, (I met him in 95 and it was before that)

It was called Prairie Boys, about to hang a photo of the boys up here filming in my house! Great times. Not a famous movie but hey, it was a movie lol and pretty funny at that for a bunch of yahoo's.

Re: Movies filmed in Big Bear area
Desert Way Jay, Tue Dec 12 2017, 06:04AM

Love BB film history! [Click Here]

Re: Movies filmed in Big Bear area
franksvalli, Sun Dec 17 2017, 01:07PM

Little Bigfoot (1997) was filmed in Big Bear. SUPER cheesy movie.

[Click Here]

I found out about the movie through RedLetterMedia's video: [Click Here]

Re: Movies filmed in Big Bear area
Craig ⭐, Sun Dec 17 2017, 04:35PM

Don't forget Dr. Dolittle 2 was filmed up here tooooo!!

Re: Movies filmed in Big Bear area
Cap'n Crunch, Sat Oct 27 2018, 12:07AM

Two movies on TCM tonight that are credited with being filmed, at least in part, in the Big Bear valley: The Devil's 8 and The Hand.

The Hand was also partially filmed in Crestline and Lake Arrowhead. It's a horror film starring Michael Caine and is pretty entertaining.

Re: Movies filmed in Big Bear area
K&DBigBear, Sun Oct 28 2018, 05:49PM

I happened to catch a silent film on TCM from 1918, "Mickey" that was filmed in the Boulder Bay area. I found the movie also on YouTube.com - Fast forward to around 27:00 of the movie - it's definitely Boulder Bay.[https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=GuToEje2uVE]


Re: Movies filmed in Big Bear area
Doug G, Mon Oct 29 2018, 03:04PM

I just took a look, and IMDB does list Big Bear Lake Big Bear Valley as a filming location for Mickey.

Re: Movies filmed in Big Bear area
Hooky Bobber, Wed Oct 31 2018, 11:06AM

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Re: Movies filmed in Big Bear area
Hooky Bobber, Wed Oct 31 2018, 11:20AM

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Re: Movies filmed in Big Bear area
BootsNBridles, Wed Dec 19 2018, 09:16PM

All Mine to Give - based on a true story. 1957 Looked like Big Bear so I looked. Yep. Add it to the list. Filmed in Mt. Hood, Big Bear, Idyllwild, and at the studio.

Re: Movies filmed in Big Bear area
Cap'n Crunch, Wed Dec 19 2018, 11:57PM

Boots n Bridles, I saw the same movie and was trying to figure out just which scenes were filmed at Big Bear. Perhaps Doug G can shed some light.

Re: Movies filmed in Big Bear area
Hooky Bobber, Sun Oct 20 2019, 08:28AM

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Re: Movies filmed in Big Bear area
Socalman, Sun Nov 17 2019, 08:00PM

The other night my wife was surfing through
tv channels and suddenly yelled "Hey, does that look like Bluff Lake?" Suddenly we were watching the 1960 movie "Freckles" and some of it appeared to be Bluff Lake, other parts looked like Cedar Lake. IMDB does not give anymore info other than to say San Bernardino National Forest. Is anyone here familiar enough with both to give an answer? Perhaps it was done at both locations? Certainly possible.


Re: Movies filmed in Big Bear area
franksvalli, Wed Nov 11 2020, 06:52AM

The Broken Butterfly (1919) was thought to be lost until very recently, when it was rediscovered and restored last year. Just came across it on the Criterion Channel (streaming service) and the locations stood out to me. Looked it up on IMDB, and sure enough, Big Bear Lake is a location! Here's a screenshot: [Click Here]

If anyone's interested I can post some more pics.

Criterion Channel streaming: [Click Here]



Re: Movies filmed in Big Bear area
Socalman, Wed Nov 11 2020, 08:54AM



I applaud you for checking IMDB but remember that it does not list everything about every movie. Back that many years ago even the studios might not have made any mention in credits or even their records of every filming location.

Re: Movies filmed in Big Bear area
Cornbread, Wed Mar 16 2022, 06:07AM

They are filming a Hallmark Christmas movie in Big Bear now. The Bone Yard on Pine Knot is doing the catering and they are even filming some parts there. My sister is in charge of all their catering and my bro in-law and niece will be extras in the movie.

Re: Movies filmed in Big Bear area
NShore.Allen, Wed Mar 16 2022, 03:24PM



My bride is a big fan of anything that is on the Hallmark channel. Will have to see if she notices Big Bear.

Will it air next Christmas?

Re: Movies filmed in Big Bear area
Cornbread, Thu Mar 17 2022, 06:23AM

I don't know when it will air. I would assume that it will be on sometime this year.

My wife also loves watching that garbage. I can walk into the room when she is watching one and within a minute or two I already know how it will end. They are all the same.

Re: Movies filmed in Big Bear area
Socalman, Mon Mar 28 2022, 03:04PM

Gotta agree! I think they have a very small pool of actors and actresses for the Hallmark Christmas movies.