The Girl of the Golden West (1938 film)

The Girl of the Golden West is a 1938 American Western musical film directed by Robert Z. Leonard and starring Jeanette MacDonald, Nelson Eddy, and Walter Pidgeon. It is based on the 1905 play of the same name by David Belasco, which was also the source material for Giacomo Puccini's 1910 opera La fanciulla del West.

The film tells the story of Mary Robbins (MacDonald), nicknamed Minnie, a popular saloon owner in a California mining town during the Gold Rush. She falls in love with a masked bandit, Ramerrez (Eddy), unaware that he is being hunted by Sheriff Jack Rance (Pidgeon), who is also in love with her. The plot revolves around Minnie's efforts to protect Ramerrez from the sheriff and the consequences of her choices.

The film features several songs, including "Ave Maria," "The West Ain't What It Used to Be," and "Who Are We to Say?". While the film retains the basic storyline of the play, it differs significantly from both the play and the opera, particularly in its tone and musical score, opting for a more lighthearted and romantic approach. The film received mixed reviews upon its release but remains a notable example of the Western musical genre and a showcase for the vocal talents of MacDonald and Eddy.