Virginia City (1940)

Union officer Kerry Bradford escapes from Confederate Prison and is set to Virginia City in Nevada. Once there he finds that the former commander of his prison Vance Irby is planning to send $5 million in gold to save the Confederacy.

Director:

Michael Curtiz

Writer:

Robert Buckner (original screen play)

Stars:

Errol Flynn, Miriam Hopkins, Randolph Scott

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Errol Flynn	...	Kerry Bradford
Miriam Hopkins	...	Julia Hayne
Randolph Scott	...	Vance Irby
Humphrey Bogart	...	John Murrell
Frank McHugh	...	Mr. Upjohn
Alan Hale	...	Olaf Swenson
Guinn 'Big Boy' Williams	...	'Marblehead'
John Litel	...	Marshall
Douglass Dumbrille	...	Major Drewery (as Douglas Dumbrille)
Moroni Olsen	...	Cameron
Russell Hicks	...	Armistead
Dickie Jones	...	Cobby
Frank Wilcox	...	Union Soldier
Russell Simpson	...	Gaylord
Victor Kilian	...	Abraham Lincoln

Storyline

During the American Civil War, Captain Kerry Bradford escapes from a notorious confederate prison. He and two of his men are sent to Virginia City where Confederate sympathizers are prepared to donate $5 million dollars to the cause of Southern independence. The war is going badly for the Confederacy and money may tip the war in their favor. On the stagecoach to Virginia City, Bradford meets and falls in love with Julia Hayne not realizing that she is one of the conspirators. When he gets to Virginia City, he also runs into Confederate Captain Vance Irby who has been sent to collect and safely deliver the gold. Irby manages to get out of the city but the Union cavalry is in hot pursue. When Bradfoed catches up with them, he not only has to fight Irby but also John Murrell, a bandit who has his own plans for the gold. He also

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Plot Keywords:

gold | prison | escape | stagecoach | nevada | 

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Taglines:

Go West!...to Virginia City...for excitement, for adventure, for primitive romance!!!

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Genres:

Action | Drama | History | Romance | Western

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

23 March 1940 (USA)

Also Known As:

Goldschmuggel nach Virginia

Filming Locations:

Santa Clarita, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros

Technical Specs

Runtime:

121 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

First film written by Howard Koch, although he didn't get screen credit.

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Goofs

The Union troops at the outpost were using "Trapdoor" Springfield rifles. 1863 Springfield rifles of Civil War vintage were not converted to trapdoor until 1865/1866.

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Connections

Featured in Great Performances: Bacall on Bogart (1988)

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Soundtracks

"Little Brown Jug"
(1869) (uncredited)
Music by Joseph Winner
Played when Bradford is outside the saloon talking to the boy

User Reviews

Flynn and Scott

I loved this movie even though it is true Boggie was terribly miscast. But Scott is wonderful as the Rebel officer and Flynn is great, even poignant at times as the Union officer, particularly when they had scenes of them in the Rebel POW camp. I also liked Mirima Hopkin's version of "Battle Cry Of Freedom." And the comic relief is actually generates a few laughs. I have always felt Errol Flynn was underrated as an actor. Check out "Objective Burma" and you will see what I mean. It is also hard to find a Civil War movie that is sympathetic to the North back in the 40's and 50's. For some reason, Hollywood always made the South seem so much more gallant and brave. Maybe they were worried about their Soutghern markets.

I am interested in any opinions on this movie.