The history of the cinema in Durango goes back to the year 1898, when Edison’s agents filmed the first “take” of “A Train Arriving in Durango.” Various captured scenes highlight the successes of the era, its people, and customs.The Revolutionary General Francisco Villa is considered the first actor born in Durango to invade the Hollywood cameras. This historic figure was captured on cellulose, fighting the battles of Ojinaga, Torreon, and Zacatecas under the mandate of the Mutual Film Corporation. Raoul Walsh conducted this work. He became one of the most important directors of American cinema and who interpreted young Villa in a film directed by Christy Cobanne, in 1914.

The decade of the 50s marked the beginning of the commercial cinematographic industry in Durango. The art director, Jack Smith flew over Durango looking for Western film locations. The area surrounding La Ferreria turned out to be the ideal setting to place the film. On the 20th of July of 1954 “White Feather” (“Pluma Blanca”) was filmed. The movie, produced by 20th Century Fox and starring Robert Wagner, Jeffrey Hunt, and Debra Paget, became known as the “Ley del Bravo” in Mexico.In this era, the man known as “The King of Hollywood,” Clark Gable, filmed in our state "The Tall Men" (“Caras de Ambición”). At that time, Hollywood focused its gaze toward Durango, resulting in productions by great directors, such as John Huston.

In the 60s, foreign productions intensified, and Durango was literally invaded by brilliant Hollwood stars. Legends like Charton Heston, James Coburn, Charles Bronson, Glen Ford, Anthony Quinn, among others, walked our streets. Likewise Anda Family, Jorge Rusek, Julio Alemán, David Reynoso, Isela Vega and other important national celebrities visited our state.The celebrity most important for his promotion of the region was John Wayne, the legendary actor who filmed seven movies in Durango: “The Sons of Katie Elder,” “The War Wagon,” “The Undefeated,” “Chisum,” “Big Jake,” “Train Robbers,” and “Cahill: US Marshal.” John Wayne’s affection for our state caused him to aquire the La Joya Ranch, which was adapted as a Western cinematographic set, where he filmed the last two movies he filmed in Durango.

In the 80s Durango was the setting for various national and foreign movies. So many productions were made in Durango that it became known as “The Land of the Cinema.” In that decade, important Durangan films included “The Caveman” (1980), starring Ringo Starr and Dennis Quaid; “Samson and Goliath” with Tony Hamilton; and “Old Gringo” with Jane Fonda and Gregory Peck. In September of 1988, under the direction of Tony Scott, the movie “Revenge,” starring Kevin Costner, Anthony Quinn, and John Leguizamo, was filmed.

By October of the same year, Paul Newman and John Cusac starred in the film entitled “Fat Man and Little Boy.”By the end of the 80s, “Pueblo de Madera" (“Village of Wood”) by J. Antonio de la Riva and "Cabeza de Vaca" (“Cattle Head”), directed by Nicolas EcheverrÌa, which was nominated for an Oscar, were some of the movies that featured Durangan scenes. In the 90s John Candy’s last film, “Wagon’s East”, and “First Knight Lancelot”, among others, were filmed in Durango. Likewise, several national soap operas were produced: Juan Osario’s “Clarisa,” Carla Estrada’s “Alondra,” and “Alguna Vez Tendremos Alas,” (“Someday We’ll Have Wings”) produced by Florida Mesa y Ramona and starring Eduardo Palomo.

Durango has been host to the best cinematographic studios in the world, including Paramount, Miramax, 20th Century Fox, Columbia Pictures, and others which have produced their films in our sets. In the last decade, important movies including “The Mask of Zorro,” “Blue Berry," "Texas Rangers," and "Bandidas" were filmed here. Durango offers uniquely beautiful spectacular settings and cinematographic landsapes. As such, thousands of film technicians, actors, producers, and directors who have worked in Durango confirm that it’s an ideal place to film.