Serious Movie Lover

 LAS VEGAS, NEW MEXICO
Numerous famous villains and heros including Jesse James, Billy the Kid, Doc Holliday, Dick Liddell, the coward Robert Ford and even Wyatt Earp once walked the streets of Las Vegas, New Mexico, which is located roughly one hour and ten minutes due east of Santa Fe and only 75 miles from Taos . Among the 74 (count ‘em, 74!) movies that have been shot in Las Vegas, No Country for Old Men is certainly a standout. Standing in for Texas, the film was shot almost entirely here over a two month period—even the border crossing into Mexico (so realistic in the film) was recreated using the Interstate highway (I-25) overpass and the Galinas River. The still beautiful Plaza Hotel looks just as it appeared in the movie, complete with the poor desk clerk who meets his demise thanks to Anton Chigurh.

If you manage to visit, be sure to stop into Popular Dry Goods, which will also look very familiar! It’s here that Josh Brolin visits—not just once, but twice—first for those camping poles and later for some clothes!! Also shot in Las Vegas for No Country: the car that blows up in front of the drug store (and the windows that blow out) plus at least two motel scenes. When I asked where everyone stayed, no one seemed to know. Their attitude in town about films: fun, but really, no big deal.

Be sure to check out all the films shot here—quite a list! Thanks IMDB.