virginia city is a 1940 american western film directed by michael curtiz and starring errol flynn, miriam hopkins, randolph scott, and a mustachioed humphrey bogart in the role of the real-life outlaw john murrell. based on a screenplay by robert buckner, the film is about a union officer who escapes from a confederate prison and is sent to virginia city from where his former prison commander is planning to send five million dollars in gold to virginia to save the confederacy. the film premiered in its namesake, virginia city, nevada. the film was shot in black and white (sepiatone).