(1929) 3 Bruce Eder For many years, especially in the 1960s and 1970s, Victor Fleming's 1929 adpatation of Owen Wister's novel The Virginian was a very problematic film, at least as a viewing experience -- it was highly significant in Gary Cooper's career, and his presence in the title role made the movie intrinsically important. But until the 1990s when a serious restoration effort took place, the only prints available were of such poor quality (especially the sound), that it was impossible to appreciate The Virginian except as a historical curio; it was far easier to see the 1946 remake directed by Stewart Gilmore, shot in Technicolor and starring Joel McCrea, Brian Donlevy, and Sonny Tufts -- but the latter was also such a poor movie, that modern audiences might reasonably have wondered precisely what the appeal of the original Owen Wister story was in the first place. And audiences would suffer through the television showings of Fleming's version and wonder how it could be regarded as a classic. Fortunately, thanks to the restoration, it is no longer such a chore to watch, and one can easily appreciate its many virtues. Gary Cooper has an amazingly youthful presence here, which is accentuated by the more lighthearted aspects of his character. And Richard Arlen is convincing as his hapless friend Steve, while Walter Huston casts a suitably (and memorably) sinister image as the larcenous, murderous Trampas, while Mary Brian is convincing as the Eastern-raised schoolteacher Molly Wood. The action is still a little slow by modern standards, but the presence of a proper soundtrack makes it all roll a lot more smoothly than it used to seem. Helming his first sound film, Fleming successfully sets varying moods and tones throughout the episodic tale (which has its lighter moments), and uses sound very effectively -- it's never a gimmick, always well integrated into whatever is important on the screen, and audiences in 1929 rightfully suspended disbelief, and felt like they were watching the real thing. And that illusion is effectively preserved for modern viewers, as the movie is constituted in the twenty-first century. Additionally, the presence of such figures as Jack Pennick, an expert horse-wrangler who would become a key member of the John Ford stock company in the decades to follow, only adds (on several levels) to the verisimilitude of the movie. In all, The Virginian is a period piece several times over, but still a most worthwhile viewing experience, with Gary Cooper's charisma still in full evidence 80-plus years later.

The Virginian on AllMovie

The Virginian (1929)

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Suitable for Children

genres

Western

sub-genres

Traditional Western

category

Feature

directed by

Victor Fleming

countries

USA

released

1929

run time

95 min.

produced by

Paramount

released by

Paramount

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by Paul Brenner synopsis

Gary Cooper, as a lanky Wyoming ranch and foreman, places his gun on a poker table after being insulted by one of the gamblers and intones, "If you want to call me that . . . smile." That much quoted line's origin is in this early sound version of the Owen Wister novel, The Virginian, directed by Victor Fleming. When the Virginian meets his old friend Steve (Richard Arlen), he gives him a job on his crew at the Box H Ranch near Medicine Bow, Wyoming. Newly arrived in town is the new schoolmarm, Molly Wood (Mary Brian), and both men take notice. Afterwards, in a saloon, The Virginian encounters the evil Trampas (Walter Huston), and the two get into an argument over a dancer. The Virginian calls Trampas' bluff but, although Trampas backs down, he seethes inside. Afterwards, following a christening party, The Virginian walks Molly back home, and a friendship grows between the two that burgeons into love. But when Steve joins up with Trampas and his gang of rustlers and is captured by a posse, The Virginian is forced to supervise Steve's lynching. After that, Molly spurns The Virginian. However, when The Virginian is wounded, Molly forgets all that, and nurses him back to health. They decide to finally marry, but Trampas interferes with their plans --Trampas wants The Virginian to leave town, and he is out gunning for him.

characteristics

- One-against-odds

- Wild-West

- Love Triangles

- Friend

- Faltering Friendships

- Foreman

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