The Virginian
About The Virginian
Molly Wood comes to a small western town as the new schoolteacher. The Virginian, foreman of a ranch, decides she will love him. His friend Steve joins Trampas's rustlers. The Virginian catches them and, as foreman, orders Steve hanged. Trampas gets away and shoots the Virginian in the back. Molly nurses him and agrees to marry. On the wedding day Trampas comes back.
Cast & crew
More about The Virginian
Tom Forman directed. B. P. Schulberg produced. Kenneth Harlan plays the Virginian. Russell Simpson plays Trampas. Florence Vidor is in the cast as Molly in the usual billing with this plot. Pat O'Malley, Raymond Hatton, and Milton Ross are also billed. It comes from Owen Wister's 1902 novel and the 1904 play Wister wrote with Kirke La Shelle. The narrative setting is Wyoming. Released in 1923. The 1929 talking version with Gary Cooper and Walter Huston replaced it in circulation.
Themes
Making
Schulberg and Forman made a silent version of a play that had already been on the stage for almost twenty years.
Preservation
A print is on Wikimedia Commons.
Notes
- Harlan is the Virginian and Simpson is Trampas. The 1929 film recast both parts, with Cooper and Huston.
- Wister's novel and the La Shelle play are the two sources named on the film's page.
- The wedding-day return is where the synopsis leaves Trampas.
Scenes
- The Virginian gives the order to hang Steve.
- Trampas shoots him in the back.
- Trampas walks in on the wedding day.
Influenced by
- The Virginian (novel)
- The Virginian (play)
Also available
- Wikimedia Commons (The Virginian (1923).webm)
