By Trinity Murchie, Arizona Silver Belt
Locals lined up at Hollis Cinema over the weekend to indulge in popcorn and celebrate a movie rooted in local soil. Taken from the headlines of the past and based on true events, “The Dog Bite Murders” features some familiar faces and was filmed right here in Globe. Inspired by events from 1910, the story follows two army deserters, William Stewart and James Steele, who are wanted for murdering two local Globe merchants—Fred Kibbe and Albert F. Hillpot.
It all started with a misunderstanding about a dog bite, and a plot formed by a relatable lead character who is all too tired of toiling away without much to show for it. Spanning five trials, the movie begins in the Arizona Territory but ends after it officially becomes state 48. As if the time period and accuracy of the headlines weren’t enough, the movie also portrays the first time an automobile was used to track fugitives in Arizona—packing a punch of excitement into this historically accurate period-piece Western.
Written, directed, and produced by Gregory Shoemaker and Clint Clarkson, “The Dog Bite Murders” has already made waves in the indie film circuit, landing several awards including “Best Cinematography” from Zions Indie Film Fest, “Best Score” from IFS Film Fest Los Angeles, “Best Feature” from Show Low Film Festival, and multiple honors from the Wild Bunch Film Festival 2025—among them “Best Crime Western Film,” “Best Drama Feature Film,” “Festival Director’s Choice: Modern Day Western Film,” and “Festival Director’s Choice: Best Director (Modern Day Western).”
While the score, well-written story, and cinematography are enough to merit multiple viewings, it’s the setting that had the audience giddy with recognition. Some filming took place in Florence and nearby areas, but the majority of the scenes were shot in Globe. Some recognizable settings include the 1910 Sheriff’s Office & Jail, the 1916 Train Depot Complex & Museum, the Cobre Valley Center for the Arts, and Round Mountain Park. An antique car from Picket Post Antiques was also used in the pursuit of Steele and Stewart. Taking about two years to film and edit, the tastefully shot scenes showcase a great deal of historical charm that Globe has managed to maintain for over a century.
Many locals know power couple Tom and Molly for their operation of the 1910 Jail and the Ghosts of Globe Tour, which celebrates Globe’s history with accuracy and reverence. Clarkson and Shoemaker—who you may recognize from the Cemetery Tours—found inspiration for this film during a Ghosts of Globe tour through the old jail. Set up to represent the gallows of Stewart and Steele, the display caught their attention. After a bit of research, they found several headlines about the story. What was initially intended to be a five-minute short featuring Shoemaker emulating Steele’s hanging—which “The Dog Bite Murders” opens with—quickly evolved into the nearly two-hour film we see today.
As often happens with the Ghosts of Globe crew and those adjacent, serendipity played a large part in the making of the film. The courthouse scene came together through Clarkson’s tradework connections and was enhanced by time-period-accurate guns on loan. Viewers may have noticed the delicate way the guns were handled on screen within the courtroom, which wasn’t due to fear of tampering but rather respect for the borrowed artifacts. When Clarkson mentioned needing historically accurate firearms, the museum where they were filming didn’t have any—but another museum down the road did. By chance, that museum had both the shotgun and pistol needed for the scene and agreed to loan them, with very specific handling instructions. This small detail reflects the lengths the crew went to for historical authenticity—from lines to props to costumes, the film delivers remarkable accuracy with few, if any, anachronisms.
Another wonderful act of synchronicity came through the score—which also earned the film an award. While the crew was searching for a composer, a woman visiting town for a genealogy project stopped by after reading about the film. Some of the characters were her ancestors, and she wanted to learn more. Molly assisted with her research, and in gratitude, the woman suggested her relative for the film’s composer. That relative turned out to be J. Ryan Kern, a decades-long composer for The Voice. It was a perfect fit, both musically and historically.
At the Friday night Q&A, the crew shared how connected everyone felt—a far cry from the typical film set. From actors to the many serendipitous encounters, this project was supported from day one. Whether due to good fortune or the passion flowing from the top down, “The Dog Bite Murders” seems to have been destined to come together.
With extensive research already behind them, Clarkson and Shoemaker are considering future projects. Clarkson readily admits, “This kind of film is not everyone’s cup of tea,” but he also recognizes that “there is a market for it.” His family helped settle much of Arizona, a history that has long fascinated him and inspired his love of the territorial period. That passion may help usher in a new way of understanding history—and perhaps even a new film genre altogether. After all, this film isn’t strictly a Western, nor is it strictly a period piece. It’s a headline brought to life: living history told in a medium that’s as entertaining as it is educational.
If you missed the showing of “The Dog Bite Murders” at Hollis over the weekend, there’s still a chance to catch this well-crafted tale. The indie film will be screened at other theaters around the state, including Payson, Prescott, and more. If you’re unable to travel but are intrigued by the idea of history springing from the headlines, keep your eyes peeled in the new year, when “The Dog Bite Murders” is expected to appear on streaming platforms. Then maybe you, too, will understand how the whole mess started with a dog.
A Few Fun Facts
After the hanging of James Steele, an eight-year-old girl wrote a poem in her diary about his piercing blue eyes. Although the poem wasn’t used in the movie, it offers evidence of how public and commonplace hangings once were.
Dorthea Kibbe, the daughter of one of the victims, attended all five hearings with her mother, who testified each time. Newspaper articles even noted how much Dorthea had grown over the years. She doesn’t appear in the film, as having a young child in the courtroom would have been chaotic on camera—though it was likely just as chaotic in real life.
The movie depicts Steele and Stewart’s lawyer as an old man filled with regret. While it might seem like artistic license, it’s actually grounded in truth. Records show that Thomas Flannigan reflected on the case later in life, admitting that his own ego led to the men’s death sentences instead of life imprisonment.
One standout line in the courtroom scene—“and hang him, just like his accomplice”—triggered an appeal in San Francisco. That moment, seemingly minor, is precisely why there’s such a detailed record of the final trial, allowing the filmmakers to recreate the scene verbatim.
