Matthew Kerns has a detailed, illustrated appreciation of The Virginian, the 1929 film that set the standard for Hollywood westerns in the sound era, just as the novel it was based on set the standard for western fiction when it came out. The film also made a star of Gary Cooper, previously a silent movie actor. He remained a box office draw for another 30 years.

The film gained new audiences after it was restored in the 1990s. In 33 days it joins the public domain. #PublicDomainDayCountdown