MovieChat Forums > Virginia City (1940) Discussion > Miscasting of Hopkins and Bogart...

Miscasting of Hopkins and Bogart...


Disappointed in VIRGINIA CITY. In no way does it measure up to the Flynn/de Havilland DODGE CITY which came a year earlier. The story was really a plot-heavy thing involving bandits, gold, prison escapees, and juggled several sub-plots with no particular skill.

Miriam Hopkins can barely carry a tune as a dance hall gal and Humphrey Bogart is a Mexican bandit with a Brooklyn accent. Both looked mighty uncomfortable in their assignments.

Lack of chemistry between Flynn and Hopkins was no help. Catch the final scene with the close-up of the two holding hands. She looks at him with an icy stare and they don't kiss. It figures.



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I don't agree with you. Consider this was early Bogey and would probably accept almost any role pre Casablanca.

The movie shows the versatility of the wonderful Miriam Hopkins.

The only thing I didn't like was the contrived ending. The movie had run nearly two hours and this was a 'convenient' way to end it all.

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Actually I don't think Bogey was bad at all. I enjoyed his role. Miriam Hopkins on the other hand was terrible. I'm not familiar with her work, but she and Flynn have no chemistry what so ever and she just looks like she doesn't belong

"Be brave, be bold, be free!

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One of the disappointing realities of a board such as this is that youngsters, and those of marginal intellect, are allowed to freely post amongst the rest of us.


Remember When Movies Didn't Have To Be Politically Correct?

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Bogart was miscast and everybody knew it. He did reasonably well with what he had been given.
As to Hopkins, I dealt with this in another thread. Although it's true the Hopkins/Flynn chemistry is nothing like the DeHavilland/Flynn chemistry, Hopkins did reasonably well. She can't sing? Most of the saloon "singers" couldn't sing. they were there as eye candy. And in those days "eye candy" was nothing near our image of beauty today. Women had been through a lot -- they aged before their years in that harsh time and area. It may be purely unintentional, but she looks perfectly realistic for the times.

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Why did Bogie need to be a Mexican bandito with the fake accent and the pencil thin moustache? If he could'a been just a regular bandit, his accent wouldn't have been so noticable and he would have fit right in with the rest of the cast. Maybe his fellow bad guys could'a been banditos.

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Virginia City was released in March 1940, Santa Fe Trail in December 1940.

The plot was a bit messy, but the acting was fine by all the main players including MIriam Hopkins. Bogart was fine as the half-Mexican Murrell, in a small supporting role. Errol Flynn was as good as any of his Westerns.

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Virginia City was the first time I ever saw Miriam Hopkins. I liked the movie and her performance. It was nice to see Flynn with someone else than DeHavilland. Her singing was fine for a small time chanteuse. This is a good movie!

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As a contract player, Bogart (in pre-MALTESE FALCON days) had very little say in what roles he would perform. "Bogie, here's the script for 'Virginia City.' You'll be playing Murrell; work up some kinda Mex accent, be at wardrobe tomorrow around 8 a.m., mosey over to the stable by 9 and have a wrangler find a horse you can handle. Shooting begins Thursday morning so be in makeup by 7 a.m."

May I bone your kipper, Mademoiselle?

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