Fanspot
Bus 142
“Happiness only real when shared”
Christopher McCandless (Emile Hirsch)
Eager to pay tribute to the philosophy of Christopher McCandless and his life’s journey, Sean Penn decided to stick closely to Jon Krakauer’s story when the production of Into the Wild was launched. The director thus takes care of the script himself.
When the shooting starts, several places visited by the real Christopher McCandless during his journey are exploited. It took two years to film the thirty-five locations, including Salvation Mountain in Salton Sea, California and the Mushrooms Rocks in Lee’s Ferry, Arizona. When the time comes to go to the bus where the young man died, Sean Penn gives up using the real vehicle because of its isolated nature making the logistics of such a shoot too complex. He then commissioned Derek R. Hill, his chief designer, to create an exact replica, reproducing every detail, which he placed on the banks of the Jack River, near the town of Cantwell, 50 miles from the real Bus 142. The surroundings, very similar, allow the director to create a perfect illusion. Since then, the Magic Bus from the movie has been bought back and is now in front of 49th State Brewing, a restaurant in Denali Park in Healy, Alaska. Upon its release, Into the Wild became an instant cult hit. A film of a whole generation, full of magnificent evocations of this wild America subject to so many fantasies.
Adapted from Jon Krakauer’s book of the same name, Into the Wild follows the journey of Christopher McCandless, a young man who decides to break with the principles of modern society and is found dead on an abandoned bus in Alaska. The film was celebrated by critics and audiences alike. Its soundtrack, signed by Eddie Vedder, the leader of Pearl Jam, was also a great success.
The film was nominated twice for an Oscar. He did not win any of them
Christopher McCandless' Magic Bus
Once used by miner Earl Pilgrim in the 1930s, the Stampede Trail became world famous when the book Into the Wild was released.
It is in Bus 142, located on the Stampede trail, that Christopher McCandless died on August 18, 1992. A place that became famous at the time of the release of Sean Penn’s film. The abandoned vehicle was once accessible after a difficult walk of more than 32 km, during which several people got lost. Some of them unfortunately lost their lives while trying to reach the site. For this reason, the bus was airlifted on June 18, 2020 to an undisclosed location. It is planned that it will be exhibited at the Museum of the North at the University of Alaska-Fairbanks.
The Fantrippers Buying Board
Cult! movies: 100 mythical places of cinema [French Edition]
Since the dawn of cinema, films have invaded the world and highlighted sometimes unexpected places. Every film location has its secrets. The latter are sometimes as exciting as the feature films themselves.
Did you know that the cemetery where the final duel of The Good, the Bad and the Ugly was built from scratch and that no body lies there? Or that the bus ofInto The Wild has been moved to discourage fans from spending the night there? From the story of the construction of The Bridge on the River Kwai to the incredible encounter during the shooting of the last scene ofIndiana Jones and the Last Crusadeembark on an exciting world tour with the greatest stars of the seventh art. Shiver in the real haunted house ofAmityville and discover the terrifying anecdotes of the making ofApocalypse Now in the Philippines. Visit the building of Blade Runner before stopping at Hogwarts and finally landing in Jurassic Parkin the middle of the Hawaiian archipelago. What if we also took you behind the scenes of the making of the Hobbits’ village of Lord of the Rings ?
Produced by a team of pop-culture specialists and enhanced by numerous anecdotes, Cult! movies tells the secrets of the places that made the history of cinema.
Content quality
Interest for fans
Value for money
Discover all the places Into the Wild on our map
By Gilles Rolland
Passionné de cinéma, de rock and roll, de séries TV et de littérature. Rédacteur de presse et auteur des livres Le Heavy Metal au cinéma, Paroles de fans Guns N' Roses, Paroles de fans Rammstein et Welcome to my Jungle : 100 albums rock et autres anecdotes dépareillées. Adore également voyager à la recherche des lieux les plus emblématiques de la pop culture.