San Bernardino County history: Movies in the San Bernardino Mountains

"San Bernardino County Update", yellow arrowhead and "SBCounty.gov

A scene from "The Call of the North" shows two people engaged in conversation while others observe. — *A still from the American film “The Call of the North” (1914) with Robert Edeson and Winifred Kingston. Photo courtesy of Paramount Pictures.*

The San Bernardino Mountains played an important role in the early development of the film industry.

By 1909, Los Angeles had emerged as a filmmaking hub, thanks to its sunny weather and ability to support year-round production. Filmmakers soon expanded into nearby areas, including the San Bernardino Mountains, which offered diverse scenery and were close to Hollywood.

In 1911, the Essanay Co. filmed a short silent movie, “Romance on Bar O,” at Lake Arrowhead. It is considered the first film made in the San Bernardino Mountains. At the time, most films were short, typically lasting 10 to 15 minutes.

As filmmaking advanced, longer productions became more common. In 1914, director Cecil B. DeMille released “The Squaw Man,” one of the first feature-length films. Big Bear Lake later served as a filming location for his film “The Call of the North,” one of the earliest feature-length productions shot in the region.

During Hollywood’s Golden Age, filmmakers used the San Bernardino Mountains to represent a variety of settings, including Switzerland, Alaska and the Wild West.

In 1927, director F.W. Murnau filmed scenes for “Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans” at Big Bear Lake and Lake Arrowhead. The film later received critical acclaim. It won the award for unique and artistic picture at the first Academy Awards in 1929, and actress Janet Gaynor won best actress for her role.

Today, the San Bernardino Mountains remain a popular filming location. Movies filmed in the area include “Gone with the Wind,” “Lassie Come Home” and “Space Jam.”

The information in this historical feature was originally part of a video series produced by the Assessor-Recorder-County Clerk’s office.

Additional County Update News – April 23, 2026