For his initial all-talking movie, Victor Fleming directed Gary Cooper in a rousing version of The Virginian (1928).
Although Cooper's account of the title role was both charismatic and convincing, acting honors were stolen by Richard Arlen, of all people, as the hapless Steve.
Walter Huston as the evil Trampas also overshadowed Cooper.
Mary Brian's somewhat colorless heroine proved no match for the male trio, although she did come into her own at the climax.
Eugene Pallette and Chester Conklin were on hand for comedy relief, but fortunately this angle was not overplayed. Fleming not only kept the comedy under control, but accentuated the drama by adopting a remarkably free-wheeling style.
In fact, Fleming emerges as one of the few major directors who was not frightened by sound, but continued to handle the script in a thoroughly filmic - rather than a stagy - fashion.
(Formerly available on a 9/10 VintageFimBuff DVD).
Although Cooper's account of the title role was both charismatic and convincing, acting honors were stolen by Richard Arlen, of all people, as the hapless Steve.
Walter Huston as the evil Trampas also overshadowed Cooper.
Mary Brian's somewhat colorless heroine proved no match for the male trio, although she did come into her own at the climax.
Eugene Pallette and Chester Conklin were on hand for comedy relief, but fortunately this angle was not overplayed. Fleming not only kept the comedy under control, but accentuated the drama by adopting a remarkably free-wheeling style.
In fact, Fleming emerges as one of the few major directors who was not frightened by sound, but continued to handle the script in a thoroughly filmic - rather than a stagy - fashion.
(Formerly available on a 9/10 VintageFimBuff DVD).