Why the Old West? - Back to the Future Part III (1990) Discussion

[–] McFly_2015 10 years ago

Well it had to have been before 1955 for the letter/buried delorean plotline to have worked. Going too far back would have made that part too far fetched and keep in mind that the Delorean goes to the same place in different times.

I'm not sure how much it influenced them but Michael J. Fox did say after the first film if he had a time machine the one place he'd go would be the old west.

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[–] McFly_2015 10 years ago

Well it had to have been before 1955 for the letter/buried delorean plotline to have worked. Going too far back would have made that part too far fetched and keep in mind that the Delorean goes to the same place in different times.

I'm not sure how much it influenced them but Michael J. Fox did say after the first film if he had a time machine the one place he'd go would be the old west.

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[–] Littlebitsofgaming 10 years ago

I have always wondered why the writers chose an old west setting for the film out of all the historical time periods a time-travel film could be set in.

And if they had set it in another time, you'd be on here asking the very same question of that one too.

It HAD to be set in some time frame and 1885 is as good as any.

As a side note. There is an interview done during the filming of the first film where a question was asked if they could go to any time what would they chose. Most of the cast and crew picked the Wild West. I think that interview is on the DVD.
Plus (as Doc would say) its a nice round number. 100 years from the present setting of 1985.

And so, God came forth and proclaimed widescreen is the best.
Sony 16:9

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[–] thirstypony 10 years ago

I remember one time in the first film the date in the DeLorean being set to December 25 0000 (the religiously recognized date Jesus was born). It's a pity a fourth film cannot be made (no Michael J. Fox in his condition) as there are so many more time periods that could explored with the time machine.

"I'm going to make him an offer he can't refuse"

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[–] Littlebitsofgaming 10 years ago

as there are so many more time periods that could explored with the time machine.

But no more story to tell.

And so, God came forth and proclaimed widescreen is the best.
Sony 16:9

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[–] costumrs 9 years ago

I remember one time in the first film the date in the DeLorean being set to December 25 0000 (the religiously recognized date Jesus was born)

That would be incorrect. In the Christian calendar (and the secular one)there is no year 0. The calendar proceeds from 1 BC to 1Ad (Of 1 BCE to 1 CE in the secular version)That would be why the 20th century was from 1901 through 2000. The 1st year of the 21st century was 2001.

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[–] jabber1990 10 years ago

the "old west" is a very romantic time

"Dont take a picture of the fire, PUT IT OUT"

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[–] Beeracuda 10 years ago

Since the Delorean traveled only in time, and not distance, the setting had to be in the same location. Any time earlier than the late 1880s wouldn't have provided any people with which to interact. In that part of the country, the only inhabitants early than that would have been possibly Native Americans, but most likely nothing but wilderness.

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[–] mikeyg24 10 years ago

Also a continuous element of the movie is that Marty deals with 'relatively' close family. The origins of the McFly's wouldn't have been possible so much earlier. Besides what would they have used to power the DeLorean up to 88MPH BC?

I've had a lot of sobering thoughts in my time Del Boy, it's them that started me drinking!

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[–] Burning_Sosobra 9 years ago

The Old West is a cool time period to set the story in. If I had a time machine, the first place I'd go is the Old West. I'd go sometime after the Civil War ended in 1865, but before the closing of the frontier in 1890.

I'm on a bus on a psychedelic trip reading murder books and trying to stay hip.

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[–] jimbrown257 9 years ago

Because the old west is a fun setting for a movie. It's better than the mid-20s or the revolutionary times.

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[–] bananabry 8 years ago

I love this movie, but I have always wondered why the writers chose an old west setting for the film out of all the historical time periods a time-travel film could be set in.

Readily available "Old West" sets, costumes, props, carriages, actors and horses all over California. Westerns are a classic standard of movies and fun to watch.

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[–] stevenackerman69 8 years ago

Because when they were writing the story, they thought this was the best one to put it in.

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