The Virginian (1929 film)

1929 film
the 1929 film

The Virginian is a 1929 American pre Code Western film directed by Victor Fleming and starring Gary Cooper, Walter Huston, and Richard Arlen. The film was based on the 1902 novel The Virginian by Owen Wister and adapted from the popular 1904 theatrical play Wister had collaborated on with playwright Kirke La Shelle. Unreliable source: date=May 2020

The Virginian is about a good natured cowboy who romances the new schoolmarm and has a crisis of conscience when he learns his best friend is involved in cattle rustling. The film is considered to be Gary Cooper's breakthrough role and is well known for Cooper's line "If you wanna call me that—smile", in response to a cuss by the antagonist.

A man known only as the Virginian is ranch foreman at Box H Ranch near Medicine Bow, Wyoming. At a saloon in Medicine Bow, he and the cattle rustler Trampas vie for the attentions of a barmaid; when Trampas insults him, the Virginian pulls a gun and tells him to smile. Soon afterwards, Molly Wood, a new schoolteacher from Vermont, arrives in town. The Virginian and a drifter named Steve compete for her attentions. She ultimately chooses Steve, but the Virginian gives him a job at the ranch because they were friends in childhood. Unhappy with the Virginian's violent nature, Molly tries to change him but is unsuccessful. Steve and the Virginian enjoy playing pranks together, switching babies during a baptism; they also make quail calls for secret communications. However, Steve falls in with Trampas' gang. Although warned by the Virginian that no good will come of it, Steve continues with the gang. When they (except Trampas) steal cattle from Box H Ranch, the Virginian is forced to hang all involved, including Steve. The Virginian vows revenge on Trampas for forcing him to do so. Molly is disgusted by The Virginian's callousness, but after he is shot in the back by Trampas, she decides to treat him, they fall in love, and eventually decide to marry. On their wedding day, Trampas comes back to town for revenge and challenges the Virginian to a shoot out. The Virginian quickly draws his six shooter and kills the bandit in the streets. He then marries Molly, and the two prepare to open their own ranch.

The Virginian was based on the 1902 novel of the same name written by Owen Wister and its 1904 stage play adaptation. This was the first sound adaptation of the novel, with two silent film adaptations released in 1914 and 1923. The film was not entirely faithful to the book. The film was directed by Victor Fleming; it was his first sound film. Gary Cooper, who had appeared in several silent films, was cast as the Virginian; it was his first leading role in a western and his first sound film. He was coached in the Virginian's accent by Randolph Scott. Production began in late May 1929, with shooting done in Sonora, California and Lone Pine, California. The railroad scenes were filmed on the Sierra Railway at Cooperstown near Oakdale in Stanislaus County, California. There was little studio shooting. To shoot outdoor scenes, the filmmakers used blimped cameras (cameras with internal soundproofing), which were a recent innovation. The film featured the traditional song "Bury Me Not on the Lone Prairie", hummed and sung by Richard Arlen.

Rather than synchronize every sound on screen with a shown action, The Virginian treated sound as at times being independent of the action; this allowed for greater symbolism. The film also heavily used natural sounds, such as cattle. This effect was facilitated by the outdoor shooting locations.