THE VIRGINIAN
US, 2000, 95 minutes, Colour.
Bill Pullman, Diane Lane, John Savage, Harris Yulin, Dennis Weaver, Colm Feore, Gary Farmer.
Directed by Bill Pullman.
The Virginian is one of many versions of the early 20th century novel by Owen Wister, with film versions including Gary Cooper in 1929 and Joel Mc Crea in 1946.
This is a beautifully photographed film, set in Wyoming but using Canadian locations. Bill Pullman is the Virginian, Diane Lane the schoolteacher who falls in love with him, John Savage is his friend who betrays him, Harris Yulin the judge who owns the cattle spread, Dennis Weaver as his rival owner and Colm Feore as Trampas, who becomes the villain.
The film stays close to the novel – and parallel with the previous versions.
The screenplay is by Larry Gross, a writer of such diverse projects as the biblical David, Geronimo, Another 48 Hours, Wayne Wang’s Chinese Box and Clint Eastwood’s True Crime.
The film offers much more insight into the characters and their interactions as well as various action sequences in the beautiful locations. Bill Pullman directed – the only film he directed.
1.A popular western story? Archetypal? The novel? The various film versions? The tradition?
2.The Canadian locations for Wyoming, the grass plains, the mountains, the cliffs, the towns? Authentic atmosphere? Musical score? Solemn mood score?
3.The title, the focus on the character, his title rather than a name? His moving from place to place? His working with Steve? Settling in Wyoming, feeling at home there? Working for Judge Henry? The clashes with the rustlers? With the men from the Ballam estate? His meeting Molly Stark? The attraction? The clashes with Trampas, especially with the gambling? His work, the judge’s admiration? His becoming foreman? Trampas unable to work with him? Steve and his involvement with Trampas? Ballam’s visits, Ballam’s horses, rounding them up, going down the mountainside? The differences with Steve? Steve involved in the rustling, his catching up with him and Griffin? Hanging them? The relationship with Molly, the possibility of marriage, his giving her the horse? Her dismay at his killing Steve and the others? His sense of justice, for the judge? The judge commissioning him to find Trampas, to bring him to official justice? Molly and her leaving, going back east? Her message to him? The confrontation with Trampas, the shootout? His dismay at Molly’s leaving, his going to New England to see her, the reconciliation?
4.Molly, the opening, travelling, arriving in Wyoming, the great unknown? With Buster, the ride, going through the river? The Virginian and Steve helping? The Henry family, the welcome? The party? Setting up the school, the students? The Virginian paying court, her response, the horse, the ride? Her agreeing to marry him? Her dismay at Steve’s hanging? The preparation for the wedding, in the judge’s house, the Virginian leaving to get Trampas? Her going back home, with her mother? The Virginian arriving?
5.Steve, friendship, gambling, giving his belt to Trampas? Devoted to the Virginian, feeling the Virginian above him when he became foreman? Taking up with Trampas, the horses, the rustling, his being taken? Hanged? His resignation? The fears of Griffin as he was hanged? Sending his belt to the Virginian – and saying that he always felt as a baby in his presence?
6.Judge Henry, the spread, his wife? The various men working? The clashes with Ballam? The two settling the area? Rivalries? Water? Cattle, cattle rustling? Ballam and his men, setting them on the Virginian? The final confrontation, Ballam as a coward?
7.Trampas, gambling, not taking orders, setting up his own gang, the rustling? His self-confidence, the final clashes, his death?
8.The familiar ingredients of a western – and how well presented?
