A play originally written, produced, and directed by David Belasco, set during the California Gold Rush that explores the people during the time period.
First released on November 14, 1905, it has been adapted into four different films and a 1910 opera.
Tropes for the Play:
- Bandito: Ramerrez's men fit the stereotype, though "Ramerrez" himself turns out to be the complete opposite.
- *Drool* Hello: Minnie is trying to hide the wounded Johnson in a loft from Jack Rance, who is also the sheriff and comes looking for him after having shot him. She is just saying goodnight to Rance, and he holds out his hand to her, when a drop of blood falls on it from the boards above. Minnie says thats she must have scratched him, but then another drop of blood falls from the loft on his hand, betraying Johnson's hiding place.
- Fake Faint: In Act II, The Girl throws a poker game by pretending to faint so she can stash her cards in her blouse and pull out a winning hand from her stocking.
- He Went That Way: Jose Castro (though he unconvincingly denies he is one) comes to the Polka and offers to lead the boys to the hideout of his boss Ramerrez, who is already at the Polka using a different name.
- Justified Criminal: The Girl, after learning the truth that Dick Johnson, the gentleman whom she has just sheltered, is really the notorious road-agent Ramerrez, turns on him fiercely, accusing him of having come to rob her and orders him to Get Out!. He admits to everything except trying to rob her, and explains what drove him to the life of crime that, having kissed her, he now wants to abandon:"I am called Ramerrez -I have robbed- I am a vagabond - a vagabond by birth - a cheat and a swindler by profession. I'm all that - and my father was all that too. I was born, brought up, educated, thrived on thieves' money - but until six months ago, when he died, I didn't know it. I lived in Monterey - Monterey where we met. I lived decently. I wasn't the thing I am to-day. I only learned the truth when he died and left me with a rancho and a band of thieves -nothing else-nothing for us all- and I... I was my father's son - no excuse... It was me-in the blood...I took to the road. I didn't mind much after-the first time. I only drew the line at killing. I wouldn't have that. And that's the man I am - the blackguard I am."
