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The filming of this film began in March 1963 and defined the tourist vocation of this destination. "The Night of the Iguana" changed the history of Puerto Vallarta forever.
Puerto Vallarta has always been a meeting point. Anyone who knows this place cannot deny that it is here that bonds come together like in the movies. An anthological film, "The Night of the Iguana", was key in the history of this place.
A select cast for an epic film
During the month of March 1963, the filming of the movie "La Noche de la Iguana" would bring together in Puerto Vallarta great personalities of international cinema, among which stood out John Huston, Richard Burton, Debora Kerr, Ava Gardner and sue lyon. big screen star elizabeth taylorAlthough she was not part of the cast of the film, she was also present, due to a torrid romance that would link her for many years with Richard Burton. The event would also have the presence of national cinema characters such as Emilio "El Indio" Fernandez and the cinematographer and director of photography Gabriel Figueroa. "The Night of the Iguana", based on a literary work by Tennessee Williams, became a golden promotion for this international tourist destination that was barely taking off.
The filming of "The Night of the Iguana", based on a literary work by Tennessee Williams, would bring together great personalities of international cinema in Puerto Vallarta.
The filming attracted the attention of the press, not only because of the stars involved in the filming, but because the highlight for journalists was the budding romance of Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton.
Spellbound by the beauty of this tourist destination, the couple decided to make Puerto Vallarta their love nest. The venue that would house their torrid romance would be Kimberly House. This sparked the curiosity of the international press and drew the eyes of the world to this typical Mexican town. From then on, Bahía de Banderas would be a paradise for Americans.
The filming of The Night of the Iguana
The movie was filmed in 1963. The first scenes were shot in the church of San Francisco Javier, in Tepotzotlán, Mexico. Later the film continued in mismaloya, a place that Huston recognized as the hidden paradise of the Mexican Pacific. 10 kilometers from Puerto Vallarta, a picturesque town that barely had 15,000 inhabitants at the time.
The logistics were complicated but not impossible for the producer. Every day he had to feed everyone who participated in the filming of the film. He sent boats loaded with water, meat, tortillas, grains and fruit to the set to feed the production team, actors and actresses. The only way was by sea, since then there were no roads. The "paradise" for the director's eyes was surrounded by exuberant vegetation, which was nourished by the crystalline and turquoise waters of the beautiful beaches of Mismaloya.
The beauty of this place generated that a good number of Hollywood show business characters knew this tourist destination. Many have adopted it as their favorite vacation spot. These circumstances would bring international fame that would later position Puerto Vallarta as the natural vacation destination for the Anglo-Saxon community.
A movie story that gave the exuberant Puerto Vallarta a tourist vocation.
