The Virginian (1923 film)

The Virginian is a 1923 American silent Western film directed by Tom Forman and starring Kenneth Harlan, Florence Vidor, and Russell Simpson. It is based on the Owen Wister novel of the same name, and is a remake of the 1914 film version.

The film tells the story of a Wyoming ranch hand known only as "The Virginian" who is a skilled cowboy and a man of strong moral character. He befriends Molly Stark Wood, a schoolteacher from Vermont, and their relationship develops amidst the backdrop of cattle rustling and frontier justice. The main antagonist is Trampas, a villainous outlaw who represents the challenges and dangers of the Wild West.

The 1923 version of The Virginian is notable for its early use of Western genre conventions and its depiction of the code of the West. While considered a significant early Western, it is often overshadowed by the more famous 1929 sound version starring Gary Cooper. The film is considered lost, with no known complete prints existing today. Fragments and stills are all that remain to document its existence.