<P> Russell Crowe originally auditioned for a different role in the film before Sharon Stone asked that the actor try for the lead male role . "When I saw Romper Stomper (1992), I thought Russell was not only charismatic, attractive and talented but also fearless," Stone reasoned . "And I find fearlessness very attractive . I was convinced I wouldn't scare him ." Raimi found Crowe to be "bold and challenging . He reminds me of what we imagine the American cowboy to have been like ." On working with Raimi, Crowe later described the director as "sort of like the fourth Stooge ." </P> <P> Sony Pictures was dubious over Stone's choice of Crowe because he was not a famous actor in the mid-1990s . To cast Gene Hackman in the role of Herod, TriStar Pictures changed the shooting location from Durango, Mexico to Tucson, Arizona . Sam Rockwell auditioned for The Kid, a role which ended up going to Leonardo DiCaprio . Sony was also dubious over DiCaprio's casting . As a result, Stone decided to pay for the actor's salary herself . </P> <P> Filming was originally set to begin in October 1993, but was delayed because Crowe was busy on another film in Australia . Principal photography for The Quick and the Dead lasted from November 21, 1993 to February 27, 1994 . Locations included Old Tucson Studios in Arizona and Mescal, 40 miles southeast of Tucson . Production was briefly halted at times over weather problems . Thell Reed, who was hired as the gun coach and weapons master, worked with the cast through over three months of training . To age Cort's Colt 1851 Navy Revolver and the other guns used, Reed experimented with simple measures . "I took them out by my swimming pool and dipped them in chlorine water to let them rust," he explained . "They looked rusty and old, but were brand new guns ." Such detail, including the nickel plating and ivory handles on Ellen's Colt Peacemakers, was accurate to the time period . </P> <P> The town of Redemption was designed by Patrizia von Brandenstein, known for her work on Amadeus (1984) and The Untouchables (1987). Raimi's first choice as the visual effects supervisor was William Mesa, his collaborator on Darkman (1991) and Army of Darkness (1993). Instead, Sony chose The Computer Film Company to create the VFX sequences . Pick - up scenes took place through November - December 1994 . This included an extended duel between Sharon Stone and Gene Hackman . </P>

Where was the quick and the dead 1995 filmed