Wagons East | |
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![]() Theatrical release poster | |
Directed by | Peter Markle |
Written by | Matthew Carlson |
Produced by |
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Starring | |
Cinematography | Frank Tidy |
Edited by | Scott Conrad |
Music by | Michael Small |
Production company | |
Distributed by | TriStar Pictures |
Release date |
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Running time | 107 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Box office | $4.4 million |
Wagons East (sometimes styled as Wagons East!) is a 1994 American Western adventure comedy film directed by Peter Markle, written by Matthew Carlson, and starring John Candy, Richard Lewis, John C. McGinley, Ellen Greene, Robert Picardo, Rodney A. Grant, and Ed Lauter. It tells the story of an alcoholic wagon master who leads a group of misfit settlers in the Wild West back to the East. The film was released in the United States on August 26, 1994. Filming took place in Sierra de Órganos National Park in the town of Sombrerete, Mexico, and in Durango, Mexico.[1]
During the final days of the film's production in Durango, Mexico, John Candy died of a heart attack at the age of 43.[2] Script re-writes, a stand-in and special effects were used to complete his remaining scenes, and it was released five months after his death.[3] The film marked Candy's penultimate performance with the film being dedicated in memory of him as well as the film being the last Carolco Pictures production to be distributed by TriStar Pictures.
The film was panned by critics with the rare 0% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The film grossed $4.4 million at the box office.