The State of Montana Cinematography

Three films shot last summer in Montana are scheduled for imminent release. Can’t say that these look like blockbusters, but then I was wrong about Debby Does Duluth.

A Plumm Summer was shot in Bozeman and Livingston and set in 1968. We couldn’t invent a more gripping plot line than the published version itself:

Two young brothers from a distressed Montana home go head-to-head with the FBI to crack the kidnapping case of the beloved TV puppet, Froggy Doo.

Hmm. Can you imagine the writer trying to pitch that one?  

If your hand isn't already in the air for Number One, here is some Number Two: We all know that  horror and Montana are synonymous. How about this for a movie plot synopsis:

Paper Dolls is a terrifying psychological thriller set near the beautiful landscape of Glacier National Park, Montana. Two high school friends, Travis and Nate, are on a road trip to Canada when they're attacked by mysterious and vicious creatures. Nate is stolen into the woods and Travis will stop at nothing to get him back.

This winner was shot last August up in Flathead and Glacier Park country. Not to ruin the film for you, but it’s about some guys who suddenly come nose-to-armpit with Bigfoot…who, truth be told, is already well known at our local Laundromat in Wisdom. He's an annual visitor. 

The third Montana movie is called Iron Ridge and was written by Great Falls native Stu Brumbaugh. Brumbaugh also directed Iron Ridge. Oh, and he stars in it. Matter of fact he was the executive producer for the film. And the electrician. Not a bad all-around billing for a former ski instructor. But in the movie business you either sink or swim… or you don’t. And this movie probably stands a good chance of turning a profit because of Stu's astute stewardship.

Stu's plot summary reads:

When two friends from the city take a vacation to the wilds of Montana, they find themselves lost in the depths of the big sky country.

Just as an aside here….did you ever notice that the heroes of Montana films always seem to get lost, kidnapped or terrified in the Big Sky backwoods? It's almost a requirement for any Montana movie.

I wonder how Montana native Gary Cooper would have played a run-in with Sasquatch? Fer darn sure he’d never be terrified or lost.

Yup.