AUSTIN, Texas — Every year for nearly four decades, the Librarian of Congress has selected movies for preservation in the National Film Registry that are “culturally, historically or aesthetically” significant. And this year, several of the films selected have Texas ties!
We broke down how these officially recognized films have roots in the Lone Star State.
“The Texas Chain Saw Massacre” (1974)
Most obvious is horror classic “The Texas Chain Saw Massacre.” The film, which turned 50 this year, has spawned a franchise that includes sequels, prequels, video games and more, and it’s widely considered one of the best and most influential horror films of all time.
But its ties to Texas aren’t Hollywood fantasy. The original film was produced with an extremely low budget and shot in locations across Central Texas, using a cast of relatively unknown actors, including some University of Texas at Austin students. According to KVUE’s media partners at the Austin American-Statesman, the Village theater in Austin was one of four theaters in the world to screen the film when it was originally released.
Some of the filming locations have gone on to become tourist attractions. For example, you can grab some barbecue and book a cabin at the gas station featured in the film.
Austin even has a “Texas Chain Saw Massacre Day,” proclaimed by Mayor Kirk Watson this October to honor the film’s 50th anniversary.
“Spy Kids” (2001)
This one might come as more of a surprise, but yes, technically-speaking, “Spy Kids” is a Texas movie.
Director Robert Rodriguez is a San Antonio native and attended the University of Texas at Austin. According to Visit Austin, Rodriguez returned to Austin and made it his home base with the production of “Spy Kids.”
Visit Austin lists two notable filming locations in the city. First, the “Hotel Belen,” where Gregorio and Ingrid Cortez first meet, is actually the Omni Hotel downtown. And second, Uncle Machete’s Spy Shop is now the real-life home of a real estate office, also located downtown.
“No Country for Old Men” (2007)
The neo-western crime thriller “No Country for Old Men” has ties to Texas that are both fictional and legit.
For one, the film is set in West Texas. And while most of it was filmed in New Mexico, some scenes were shot in the Marfa area.
There’s also the fact that one of the film’s two main stars is Tommy Lee Jones, who was born in San Saba, Texas, and raised in Midland. Woody Harrelson, another Texas native, also has a smaller role.
Finally, while Joel and Ethan Coen are not from Texas themselves, Joel Coen did briefly attend the University of Texas at Austin. The brothers’ feature film debut, “Blood Simple,” was also set and filmed in the Lone Star State.
Bonus: “Dirty Dancing” (1987) and “Mi Familia” (1995)
OK, these are a bit of a stretch.
But while “Dirty Dancing” famously takes place at a resort in the Catskills – and was shot in North Carolina and Virginia – Johnny Castle himself hails from Texas. Patrick Swayze was born and raised in Houston.
Meanwhile, though none of “Mi Familia” (also stylized as “My Family”) was shot in Texas and none of the key players have ties here, the Lone Star State does factor into the film’s plot.