Picture a desolate empty space. A lone road stretches out into the horizon and all around is dry earth. This is what brought Alfred Hitchcock and Cary Grant to Kern County in 1959. Now, 46 years later it is what brought back the film they shot here.
Friday, August 24 the town of Shafter welcomed The Rolling Roadshow, a 10-city tour that showcases classic movies at the locations they were shot. “North by Northwest,” directed by the Alfred Hitchcock, was shown at Shafter’s Minter Field airport because of the famous scene where star Cary Grant is nearly done in by a crop duster.
Irene Vono, 85, of Wasco, knew several people involved with the film. Her husband, who worked at the airport, even had lunch with Cary Grant during filming.
Although Vono saw the film years ago she thought it would be fun to see it again.
“It’s kind of like the old drive in movies,” she said. Plus, Vono added, “If Cary Grant’s in it, it’s got to be good.”
Jay Knowles, 60, along with his son and grandson, has been following The Rolling Roadshow since it left his hometown of Austin, Texas. Knowles sees traveling along with the roadshow as something memorable to do with his family and will visit all 10 locations if he can.
“They’re [the films] in great places, well, here isn’t the most exciting…” he said, comparing Shafter to other locations like Monument Valley. As for how long the family will follow the road show, Knowles joked that, “the car has the final say.”
Bakersfield resident Rafael Gonzalez, 22, isn’t a big fan of Alfred Hitchcock, but thought the outdoor screening and crop duster flybys would be interesting.
“It’s either this or go to Pacific [Theaters]. I can do that next week,” he said. “I don’t think people are here just to watch the movie.”
Jenny Hannah, 45, brought her two children, Shelby, 13, and James, 11, to see the movie.
“It’s something different to do. It’s Alfred Hitchcock. You know, The Birds…” she said as the children looked on blankly.
Finally James spoke up, “Who’s that?” he said.
Event organizers chose Shafter not only to show “North by Northwest,” but for personal reasons as well. The Rolling Roadshow, an offshoot of the Austin, Texas based Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, is run by Tim and Karrie League. Their concept of creating an interactive and inventive cinema experience was first attempted in Bakersfield 10 years ago when the couple ran the Tejon Theater. Although the concept did not succeed in Bakersfield, the Leagues have fond memories of their time in Kern County.
Proceeds from the screening went to benefit FLICS, Bakersfield’s International Cinema Society.