Pullman directs 'Virginian' for a new era

January 7, 2000

By Bonnie Churchill

(Los Angeles Times Syndicate) -- "Why should it seem so strange I'd want to star in and make my directorial debut in 'The Virginian'? Written by Owen Wister in 1902, it was the first novel to establish the cowboy as an American folk hero." Bill Pullman paused for a moment, then added, "Who doesn't want to be a hero?"

("The Virginian" premieres on January 9 on TNT, a sister company to CNN Interactive.)

Six-foot-one Pullman may have been in modern duds the day we met, but that long, lanky frame, and unruly forelock dangling on his forehead, definitely mirrored the cowboy image -- even without a horse.

"Four years ago," Pullman explained, "Turner Television came to me with the idea of making the first TV film adaptation of 'The Virginian.' They'd heard I'd trained as a director in the theater, and asked if I'd like to wear two hats on the project. I hadn't directed for the stage in about 14 years.

"I'd read 'The Virginian' in college, so I got it out, reread it and fell in love with it all over again. Written almost 100 years ago, it's considered the first Western novel, and marks the beginning of the fictional cowboy hero.

"I remembered that John Ford, who directed 'Stagecoach' and so many John Wayne movies," Pullman continued, "once said his most significant influence was the 46 Westerns he directed. I felt it would be a good thing to tackle, if the screenplay followed the novel."

Stars, produces, directs

To help make that happen, Pullman also wore a producer's hat. He was right: Much of the four previous movie versions of the classic novel had strayed away from the book's premise. The name had stayed alive with the TV series "The Virginian," which starred James Drury and Lee J. Cobb and aired from 1962 to 1971.

When TV viewers see Pullman's "The Virginian" on TNT, they may be in for a surprise. Pullman is far from tongue-tied when he fancies the new schoolteacher, played by Diane Lane, but the actor pointed out that that's the way the cowboy was in the novel. It's only in other versions that he became the shy, dig-his-boot-into-the-dirt, stammering cowpoke.

"I think audiences will find this cowboy more assertive and interesting," Pullman volunteered. One thing producer Pullman had to teach director and actor Pullman, was to stick to a tight budget. He brought the film in on time and on budget.

When the audience views the magnificent panoramic sweeps of the area representing Medicine Bow, Wyoming, and the surrounding sites, they'll probably think it took weeks to film. But, Pullman revealed, "We scouted the locations. Then, we had only four hours in two days to hire a helicopter and get that footage.

"We filmed around Calgary. For within 100 miles, we had the grasslands, the Rocky Mountains and the Badlands, all areas required for the story."

Pullman spent part of the picture's budget building the town, ranch and schoolhouse. Wister described stepping off the train in Medicine Bow and seeing these ramshackle places, which looked like bones thrown across the ground. That was the image in Pullman's mind when they built the town.

He confided, "One of the best things about directing was driving to the set every day. We were riding in a van from early morning when it was dark for more than an hour, and I'd be talking the whole time. No one else said a word. I was just so excited, it was like being intoxicated by the potential of each day."

An original 'Virginian' joins cast

In addition to Diane Lane as the schoolteacher, he had actors John Savage and Dennis Weaver to work with. "I think Dennis was attracted to (the project) because it wasn't the normal role he plays. He's cast as a villain. Weaver said it felt more like his first movie with Orson Welles, 'Touch of Evil,' in which he played a con man who knew how to manipulate others."

Pullman also has James Drury, who played "The Virginian" in the TV series for nine years. Here, Drury takes on the role of the rider who throws down the two bloody coats of the federal agents who were trying to deliver justice and not gunfire.

"Drury taught me," Pullman said, "and even the experienced wranglers, a lot. He showed us how to tie up a horse, so that with little effort you could untie the reins to make a quick getaway. Who wants a fumbling cowboy?"

Naturally, Pullman used video replays to frame the shots, but when it came to filming each scene, he relied on his 14 years of experience working with actors. They usually felt when they had the perfect take.

A line from the novel that may be more famous than "May the force be with you" has survived for decades: "When you call me that, smile." And it generally accompanies the reference "If you don't, I'll blow your head off."

According to Pullman, the whole sentence is, "'When you call me that, smile, so I'll know we'll still be friends.' I told you we stayed close to the novel."

Family matters

Pullman's wife and three youngsters visited him on location. In fact, he put his three kids in the schoolhouse scene. "I was afraid that was my worst choice in the whole movie. I could handle one, but not all three. I just didn't know how this was going to go. You know kids will behave for other people, but sometimes not for their parents.

"My wife and I had talked it over. It could be a good thing, or it could be a disaster. Who would get lines, who would have some action, who would bail out at the last minute? We decided to try it, so we presented it to the kids. My wife was the best. She really explained things and prepared them for it."

Maesa, 11, Jack, 10, and Lewis, 6, came through like champs. They loved dressing up and were generous with their new tasks. According to Pullman, "They never once said, 'I'm ready for my close-up, daddy.' I think they were seduced by the craft services -- that long table on a set where all the

candy, cookies and doughnuts are kept."

Pullman, who was a drama teacher at Wyoming State before he packed his bags in search of stage and later screen work, is accustomed to handling upcoming young talent. He's also used to wide-open spaces. He has a home in Montana, near his brother, and the Pullmans were planning on ringing in the new year in big sky country surrounded by family and neighbors.

"We have plenty of space to put up our friends too," he assured. "Our house, the bunk house and another heated cottage."

On January 9, the whole clan will be watching "The Virginian" on TV. Pullman just hopes they'll be so caught up in the love scene in the barn they won't notice his frosty breath. Directors can control a lot of things, but never the weather.