Ridecamp: [RC] Hopkins movie to be released next summer

For those interested, this article recently out on the movie about Frank 
Hopkins:
(Who else could play the quintessential sheik??)

Online archives from Golden Triangle Newspapers
September 04, 2002
Lights! Camera! Action! Disney movie filmed here
By Paul Overlie For The Cut Bank Pioneer Press

Film crews from Disney studios were in St. Mary last week shooting scenes 
for their upcoming movie Hidalgo. The movie is a based on the life of Frank 
Hopkins, who was known in his time as one of the world's best long-distance 
horse racers. Frank isn't the only central character. His horse, that's 
right the horse's name is Hidalgo, is also central to the movie.

"Hopkins worked as a Calvary scout," Film Coordinator Mike Hubert said. "He 
raced horses across hundreds of miles and he just never lost."

The film is set in 1890 and really gets going when Hopkins is invited to 
race in a desert race in the Middle East.

"There is a race in the Arabian Desert that covers about 3,000 miles," Unit 
Publicist Dave Fulton said. "It is known as the world's greatest endurance 
race. In those days about the only horses to run that race were purebred 
Arabians but a Sheik heard Frank referred to as the greatest endurance racer 
in the world and invited him to race in the desert."

This happened while Hopkins worked with Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show. As 
you might have guessed, Frank and Hidalgo head across the ocean and take up 
the challenge.

"Hidalgo is a very talented horse and a central character in the story," 
Fulton said. "I won't say any more about the film because I don't want to 
give the ending away."

That is what the crews are doing in Montana, shooting that ending. From here 
it is off to Morocco for the desert scenes and then shooting in South 
Dakota.

"The film is directed by Joe Johnston who also directed Jurassic Park III, 
October Sky, Rocketeer and Jumangi," Fulton said. "Viggo Mortensen stars in 
the film, you will remember him as the first human encountered in Lord of 
the Rings. The female lead is played by newcomer Zuleikha Robinson and Omar 
Sharif will play the Sheik."

The producer is a man who is striking out on his own after many years as the 
top executive at Universal Studios, Casey Silver.

"The director wants as much realism as possible," Fulton said. "That's why 
we are here and why we are going all the way to Morocco and South Dakota. 
Frank did a lot of racing in North America and I believe he was half Lakota 
Sioux."

As to when this movie will hit the theaters, local residents will have to 
wait awhile.

"This will be the big Disney release for next summer," Fulton said.

It sounds like this will be a real good movie so local residents should be 
waiting in anticipation of solid entertainment as well as a movie featuring 
this part of the country.





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