I have been wanting to see the 1929 "The Virginian" again for a long time now, and yesterday I finally received a DVD I've been waiting for, and last night I watched it again with utter delight. I got rid of my VHS tape years ago, and I'm amazed that a good release - either remastered or restored - has yet to appear. This version is classic in every way. Starring Gary Cooper, Richard Arlen, Mary Brian, and Walter Huston, it also features Eugene Pallette, Helen Ware, Chester Conklin, E. H. Calvert, Nina Quartero, Victor Potel, Willie Fung, and many others. Look closely, you'll find Randolph Scott.
Based on the novel by Owen Wister, this was filmed in 1914 with Dustin Farnum, then again in 1923 with Kenneth Harlan, the latter with Russell Simpson as an excellent Trampas. After the 1929 version - the first sound version - it was made again in 1946 with Joel McCrea, then was a TV series, then made again in 2000 with Bill Pullman. It seems a new version is "in development."
The story has five separate facets, (1) the deep friendship between two cowboys, The Virginian (Cooper) and Steve (Arlen), (2) the rivalry between the two cowboys for the love of the new schoolmarm (Brian), (3) the eventual love of Brian for Cooper, (4) the horrible "crisis of conscience" of The Virginian when he discovers that Steve has been rustling cattle, and (5) the story of The Virginian versus the evil Trampas (played marvelously by Walter Huston).
If anyone is to receive acting honors it is Walter Huston in a shiny performance as Trampas, the gun-slinging cattle rustler who has absolutely no compunction. He roars into every scene in which he appears and he takes over like flashing silver - although dressed in black. However, nobody was ever to play The Virginian like Gary Cooper. He is here the essence of movie cowboy. You'd think that this is how the old West really was if you watch him. His body language is perfect. So, however, is Richard Arlen's. Arlen is given short shrift as an actor by a lot of critics, but he made a series of Westerns, including this one, that is quite wonderful to watch. After this film, "The Light of Western Stars" (1930), "The Conquering Horde" (1931), and "Gun Smoke" (1931) were all worthy candidates of extremely well done Westerns.
Mary Brian made four films and two other shorts with Gary Cooper. She was a staple of early 30's films.
I really like this film, from the story to the acting to the direction - brilliantly done by Victor Fleming - to the locations and photography to the editing - to, ultimately, the fun it is to watch. Full of swagger, pathos, humor, old-fashioned American toughness and adventure, and good mise-en-scene and local color. Recommended as highly as can be - even to those who don't care for Westerns.
I'm still waiting for an Early Gary Cooper Westerns package with "Nevada" (1927), "The Last Outlaw" (1927), "The Virginian" (1929), "The Texan" (1929), "The Spoilers" (1930), and "Fighting Caravans" (1931) - all restored, of course!
Based on the novel by Owen Wister, this was filmed in 1914 with Dustin Farnum, then again in 1923 with Kenneth Harlan, the latter with Russell Simpson as an excellent Trampas. After the 1929 version - the first sound version - it was made again in 1946 with Joel McCrea, then was a TV series, then made again in 2000 with Bill Pullman. It seems a new version is "in development."
The story has five separate facets, (1) the deep friendship between two cowboys, The Virginian (Cooper) and Steve (Arlen), (2) the rivalry between the two cowboys for the love of the new schoolmarm (Brian), (3) the eventual love of Brian for Cooper, (4) the horrible "crisis of conscience" of The Virginian when he discovers that Steve has been rustling cattle, and (5) the story of The Virginian versus the evil Trampas (played marvelously by Walter Huston).
If anyone is to receive acting honors it is Walter Huston in a shiny performance as Trampas, the gun-slinging cattle rustler who has absolutely no compunction. He roars into every scene in which he appears and he takes over like flashing silver - although dressed in black. However, nobody was ever to play The Virginian like Gary Cooper. He is here the essence of movie cowboy. You'd think that this is how the old West really was if you watch him. His body language is perfect. So, however, is Richard Arlen's. Arlen is given short shrift as an actor by a lot of critics, but he made a series of Westerns, including this one, that is quite wonderful to watch. After this film, "The Light of Western Stars" (1930), "The Conquering Horde" (1931), and "Gun Smoke" (1931) were all worthy candidates of extremely well done Westerns.
Mary Brian made four films and two other shorts with Gary Cooper. She was a staple of early 30's films.
I really like this film, from the story to the acting to the direction - brilliantly done by Victor Fleming - to the locations and photography to the editing - to, ultimately, the fun it is to watch. Full of swagger, pathos, humor, old-fashioned American toughness and adventure, and good mise-en-scene and local color. Recommended as highly as can be - even to those who don't care for Westerns.
I'm still waiting for an Early Gary Cooper Westerns package with "Nevada" (1927), "The Last Outlaw" (1927), "The Virginian" (1929), "The Texan" (1929), "The Spoilers" (1930), and "Fighting Caravans" (1931) - all restored, of course!