Original subtitles

♪♪ [ trumpet ]

Howdy, folks. I'’m the Old Ranger,

with an exciting new story of real life in the Old West.

Of the thousands who poured into California

during the Gold Rush days,

only a few succeeded in extracting great wealth from the soil.

Some, however, struck rich pay dirt in other fields--

Philip Armour, as a meatpacker;

John Studebaker, as a manufacturer of horseless carriages;

Mark Twain, as a writer;

and Levi Strauss,

the tailor who rounded the Horn aboard a clipper ship

in the fall of 1850,

as the accidental discoverer of...

[ Irish accent ] Sure'’n the fog is getting worse, wouldn'’t you say, Levi?

Got something to do with the currents off the California Coast.

San Francisco can'’t be more than...[ creaking ]

Oh, I'’m-- I'm sorry.

Well, you can-- you can take the man out of the steerage,

but not the-- not the steerage out of the man.

Well, now, I didn'’t bump into you on purpose, Mr. Leacock.

Didn'’t you feel the ship lurch?Yes.

Well, maybe it-- it lurches more

for those with a taste for Irish whiskey.

Well, now, if I was a drinkin'’ man,

I'’d let go with a good one--Easy, Pat.

You'’d think he owned the whole ship.

[ chuckles ] Maybe he does.

His father'’s bank has got a first mortgage on just about everything else.

Oh, it doesn'’t seem possible, you could learn to hate a man so much

in just 13,000 miles.

It'’s been three months, Pat.

And if that'’s long enough to form the kind of a friendship we have,

then it'’s long enough for anything.

Even for falling in love?

You too?

It'’s too bad she isn't twins.

Then there could be one for each of us.

I haven'’t seen her tonight. Have you?

Well, she went to her cabin right after dinner.

She said she was feeling overly tired again.

I don'’t think she'’s a very well girl, Pat.

[ woman coughing ]

At least she'’s made a speedy recovery tonight.

LEVI: Yvonne!

Yvonne!

Well, are ya feelin'’ a might better, me love?

[ French accent ] If I were dying, I could not miss the last night out.

Oh, the California sunshine will fix you up right quick.

I hope so, after spending my last slew for passage.

Now, now, ya got nothin'’ to worry about, me darlin'’.

Levi'’s got enough merchandise in the hold

to open the finest dry goods store in San Francisco.

And I'’ll be arriving there with richer hides

and fancier fittings than any other harness-maker in the whole West.

We'’ll soon be coinin' money.

And we'’ll see to it that you live like a queen.

I will live like a working girl.

I intend finding a job... [ thud ]

Oh![ creaking ]

[ woman screaming ]

Something is wrong. [ bell clanging ]

There must be. And I'’m going to find out what it is right now.

[ clamoring ] [ woman screams ]

[ bell continues clanging ]

I'’m sorry, sir. No passengers are allowed below deck.

Why? What'’s happened?

Something rammed into us in the fog, ripped the hull.

We'’ve gotta get below then.

Everything we own in the world is-- is in the hold.

I'’m afraid, gentlemen, that the only thing

that'’s left in the hold right now is water.

[ trolley bell clanging ]

[ coughing ]

Oh, Yvonne!

Well, you must be the last passenger off the ship.

Levi was under the impression you'’d come ashore more than an hour ago.

I went back for this.Oh.

Pat, were you and Levi able to rescue any of your belongings?

Everything of mine was washed overboard.

And these crates are all that'’s left

of the merchandise for Levi'’s store.

And there can'’t be much in the way of dry goods in them.

He'’s gone over to the insurance company now to see what they'’d do about it.

Hmm?

It'’s classified as an act of God.

The policies aren'’t worth the paper they'’re written on.

PAT: Well, I guess I'’d better write a letter to me mother,

tellin'’ her I've arrived safe and sound.

Well, we'’d better find a good rooming house

for our poor, damp, little angel just as soon as...

Uh-oh!What is it?

The water hasn'’t done one bit of harm to this whole crate of canvas.

Well, ya-- ya can'’t open much of a dry goods store with just canvas.

Don'’t you realize that half of the houses in San Francisco are built with canvas sides?

And the other half-- they'’ll buy that

to re-cover the Conestoga wagons they used coming out to California!

You'’re right, lad!

You are very clever, Levi.

Soon you will be a big, important businessman here.[ laughs ]

[ imitating Yvonne ] Soon, Pat and I will both be big, important businessmen!

[ laughs ]

And, Pat, you can still write your mother

that you have the best harness shop here in San Francisco.

And I'’ll drop my brothers a short note

and tell them I wasn'’t so stupid

when I insisted upon bringing crates of canvas along.

[ laughs ] Boy!

¿Sí, señor?

Will you watch this stuff for a while? !¡Sí!

For this, I would watch it forever.

I won'’t be gone that long.

And it won'’t be forever before we move you out of that boarding house

and into a palace, either.

Look. Me Arab.

Will ya leave that stuff alone, ya young devil?

What'’s the difference? Nobody but Pedrito

has the slightest interest in even a yard of it.

I wonder if I could get a job on a ship

working me way back East.

It'’s going to be tough going home after being in such a hurry

[ singsongy ] to write my brothers how smart I was.

Well! I didn'’t think I'’d still have

any passengers left to say good-bye to.

Oh, by the saints! I didn'’t recognize you

without your officer'’s uniform.

I'’m getting rid of it for good. I'’m following their lead.

Those that have abandoned their ships and headed for the goldfields.

Good luck to ya.

Well, that answers why no one'’s bought any canvas for their homes.

No sense in buying it when you can get it free from abandoned ships.

Yeah, but it'’d still be hard to make off with enough

for a top for one of them covered wagons.

And it'’s a cinch they all need re-covering

after crossing half of the continent.

[ speaking Spanish ] It'’s very simple.

No one re-covers covered wagons because no one is going back.

And I had to have you tell me how badly

I underestimated my fellow men.

Pat, they'’ve come here from four corners of the Earth.

But they'’re Californians now.

And no matter how tough the going gets, they are sticking it out here.

Well, now, the sons of Erin have never turned tail.

Nor those of Israel.

Me too.

[ both laugh ]

This day, you find a job?

No one wants to hire a man who'’s goin' into business for himself

at the earliest opportunity.

Well, I had to be open about it.

Maybe you too open.

You have any luck?

[ sighs ] I'’ve been to visit--Well, I have the good news.

Darlin'’!Pardon me for barging in,

but one cannot knock on a tent flap.

What'’s the good news?

I got a job in the office of the navigation company.

I have started work already today.

Are you not happy for me?Why, of course we are.

Yvonne, you think you'’re well enough?

Well, of course I am!

All the work does is make me ravenous.

Is no one going to invite me to stay for supper tonight?Oh, well, sure.

There is enough.

Next week, when I get my first salary, I take you all out to dinner.

No. Oh, no, no. We couldn'’t allow that.

Why, what kind of men do you think we are, when-- Oh, no. No.

You have been feeding me ever since we have arrived in San Francisco.

And you will be my guests at dinner a week from tonight,

or I will never s--

What'’s the matter?Yvonne! Get some water, quick.

Yvonne, you all right?

It is nothing.

It'’s the excitement of the new job.

I'’ll be all right. There'’s no need to worry.

There'’s a doctor upstairs with Yvonne. She is sick.

Oh--I tell the doctor you are waiting here.

He says you not come up and excite patient.

He be down momentito.

I don'’t like it, Pat. I'’m worried.

Well, I'’m worried too.

Which one of you'’s the husband?

Neither one of us.Yet.

Well, I must'’ve misconstrued what the boy said.

But in any event, that girl will have to quit her job and leave San Francisco at once.

She probably won'’t live long enough to be anyone'’s bride.

Well, is it-- is it truly that bad, Doctor?

Well, I don'’t think it'’s a question of today or tomorrow,

but she should get away from these coastal fogs as soon as possible.

She'’s going to need expert medical care and a special diet.

I see.

I'’m sorry to be the bearer of such bad news,

but I always think it'’s better to know.

Good day.

It is better to know.

Pedrito, you run upstairs and tell Yvonne

that Pat will be with her in a minute.

Sí.

What about you?

I couldn'’t stand to face her and say good-bye.

"Good-bye"?

But, you mean, you'’re walking out on us?

Pat, everything the doctor mentioned is expensive, and we'’re broke.

I'’m going to the goldfields.

I don'’t know a thing about mining, Pat,

but I love Yvonne so much,

I'’ll dig that stuff out of the rocks with my fingernails if I have to.

How'’s it going, Levi?[ breathing heavily ]

Been in town?Yeah.

There weren'’t no mail for ya this time, neither, Levi.

Reckon she must'’ve married the other man.

[ chuckles ]Better she did.

Oh, I was just kidding.

I didn'’t even know it was a girl'’s letter you was waitin'’ for.

That'’s all right.

Her marrying someone else isn'’t what's worrying me most.

Well, why should it? There'’s always another woman,

just like there'’s always new diggings.

I think I'’ve tried all the diggings--

Moat'’s Hill, Angels' Camp, Murphy'’s.

Half of Mariposa County.

And I'’ve got smashed knuckles and frostbitten fingers

for every ounce of gold in my poke.

Well, at least you found some.

Not one-tenth of what I need.

It'’s no use. I'’ll never make it as a miner.

Your mind'’s made up, eh?Just now.

I'’m going back to San Francisco.

It'’s better to know.

[ grunts ]

Levi! Well, now...

Well-- Well, aren'’t you glad to see me?

Yes, yes, yes.

I'’m just-- I'’m just surprised that you'’re still here.

I thought you and Yvonne had gotten married, and that...

Oh, Levi, I wish it were true.

But I went right from the stage depot to the rooming house,

and they told me you'’d moved her out over a month ago.

Well, the truth of the matter is,

I couldn'’t afford to pay her board bill any longer.

And when Pedrito'’s aunt and uncle offered to take her in...

She'’s living at their house?

Why, they'’ve got so many kids,

they didn'’t have enough room for Pedrito.

[ sighs ]

Well, at least this'’ll pay for her room rent

and maybe some of the other things she'’ll be needing.

No. No. Wait a minute, lad.

There'’s something I better be tellin'’ ya.

That sack of yours would have to be filled with rubies

to do Yvonne much good now.

She'’s worse?Aye.

Then why didn'’t you write and tell me?

Well, she asked me not to, and...

Well, I knew that if you'’d struck it rich, we'’d be hearing from ya, but...

Oh, Levi, I-I'’ve been worried sick

about trying to raise the money.

How much, and how soon?

Enough for transportation to some other climate,

and medicine, and special food,

and constant attention...

Oh, a hundred other things that I'’ve clean forgot.

And only yesterday, the doctor told me that...

the end of this very week would be our deadline.

[ sighs ]

Any words from my brothers?

Oh.

There'’s a bill of lading.

But it'’ll be months before the merchandise arrives.

Maybe with the gold I'’ve got

and the promise of merchandise,

it may be enough.

Now, what thought have you got in your mind now, lad?

It'’s not exactly a thought, Pat.

It'’s more like a prayer.

All right.

[ horse sputtering ]

Well, here we are.

But why a store?

Well, there'’s a room in the back that'’ll be just perfect for you, Yvonne.

And this way, we can look in on you every minute or so, around the clock.

[ Yvonne chuckles ]

It took all the gold that Levi dug,

but the first month'’s rent is paid.

And I'’ve got a long-term lease on it too.

Well?

The best chair in the whole house.

I think maybe this company--

it will be a long time in the future, no?

Oh, not at all. With a store in a good location

and a bill of lading to prove I'’ll have goods to sell here,

why, everyone will think I have plenty of money.

So I shouldn'’t have any trouble borrowing some.

Oh, but you went to all the bankers in San Francisco before.

A new bank just opened.

It'’s down the street, as a matter of fact.

You are talking about that terrible man you fought on the ship?

Well, yes, but...

Well, Leacock is not holding a grudge.

And when he has seen you,

do you think he will be fooled into believing you are the success?

Well, I used to be a tailor.

Maybe I could make myself a new suit.

Out of what, that canvas?

I could dye it... if I had some dye.

My aunt! I think maybe she has some.

Good. Everything is settled now.

except getting you to your boudoir.

I better get to my aunt'’s for the dye, huh?

Mademoiselle. [ door opens ]

Merci.

Oh, that'’s good dye that Pedrito got.

You don'’t have to worry about getting caught in the rain, Levi.

No, but I'’m getting worried about getting to Leacock'’s office on time.

My, what the dickens is keeping that boy?

I mean, it shouldn'’t take that long to get one spool of thread.

Oh, Pat, you'’re gonna wear it out with all that polishing.

All I need is enough thread to sew on some pockets.

Well, what'’s the matter with these?They'’re just flaps.

I mean, who had time to sew on real pockets?

I figured to make patch pockets on the pants.

I mean, after all, I can'’t have the bill of lading

and a lease sticking out of my coat pocket like a porcupine.

I have to have pants pockets.

Well, what can we do about it?

Rivet them on?

Well, why not?

Uh, why not what?

Rivet them on.

You mean that, lad?

Of course I do.

With rivets, they certainly won'’t come off.

All right. Anything you say.

How do they look?Oh, they look fine.

Good.

May even set a new style.[ chuckles ]

[ sighs ]

Well...

I'’m off.

Aye. [ chuckles ]

YVONNE: Come in.

I'’m leaving now.

Levi, even if you should get this loan,

it would not be right to spend any of it on me.

I am getting it. And until the business gets along,

I'’ll spend as much of it as it takes to make you well.

Now, then, what I came back for was to ask

if you thought I looked all right.

You look wonderful, Levi.

No banker in the world could possibly turn down a man

as prosperous-looking... and as fine as you.

Thank you.

It'’s an airtight lease, of course,

and the store'’s in a good location.

Well, I figured if you chose Sacramento Street for your bank, it had to be the best.

Yes.

Well, this is, uh,

quite a large shipment your brothers have consigned to you.

Then you'’ll approve the loan?

It should be...

but it won'’t.

Well, what is that supposed to mean?

Well, you see, I pride myself on knowing

the good credit risks in San Francisco from the bad, Mr. Strauss.

And I'’ve kept tabs on you.

You get rid of those liabilities of yours,

and I'’ll reconsider your loan application.

My "liabilities"?

That shiftless Irishman, that little Mexican beggar,

and that sick French girl who'’s been living off you.

After all, I'’m not financing

your charity ward for impoverished foreigners.

"Foreigners"?

We'’re all foreigners out here.

There wouldn'’t be any United States without foreigners, Leacock.

But I'’ve got an idea that we could do without the likes of you!

"Deposits and withdrawals"!

"Accounts payable"!

Money!

That'’s the only thing that counts.

Not people.

We may be born under different signs,

but we all live by the dollar sign.

Why, there'’s even a price tag on everything we eat and drink!

That advertisement do something to you, mister?

Ah, whatever it is, it'’ll seem a lot less serious tomorrow.

That'’s the trouble-- it won'’t.

[ sighs ] I guess money worries

got me a little hot under the collar.

Thanks for stopping me before I

made a bigger fool out of myself.

Ah, we'’ll clear a path for ya.

Show'’s over, folks. Head back to your own corral.

[ murmuring ]

You shouldn'’t have any money worries after you open up,

if you sell pants like those you'’re wearing.

These pants?Be just the thing for the range.

And you'’d sell a heap of them to miners, too, Levi.

Them rivets look good and strong.

"Rivets"?Yeah. Rivets.

Gentlemen, step inside.

[ chattering ]

[ mutters ] What'’s this all about?

Rivets."Rivets"?

Will you tell him what you just told me?

You could sure carry as many ore samples as you wanted

without ripping off them riveted pockets.

"Riveted pockets"? Oh, aye.

Pants you can buy now ain'’t worth a hoot up in the diggings.

They'’d be first-rate for carpentry work.

As a matter of fact, any laboring man would be glad to get a pair.

You mean we'’re going into the pants business?

Well, if these gentlemen will be kind enough to give us their names,

their sizes, and a dollar apiece, we are in the pants business.

I'’d sure buy a pair for a dollar.Me too.

I want a pair just like Levi'’s.Here'’s mine.

[ chattering ][ mutters ]

Stewart over there.And Mike.

I want another loop right here at the back, see...

MAN: I'’m 32 in the waist...

[ chattering continues ]

All that commotion, Levi-- what is it?

Success knocking our door down.

Oh, it sounds wonderful. It is wonderful.

Now we'’ll have all the money we'’ll ever need.

Oh, Levi.

Unfortunately, Yvonne didn'’t live long enough

to see the pants like Levi'’s become an integral part of the West.

Levi Strauss never married, but he founded the company which,

since the late 1850s, when this pair was made,

has turned out over 150 million pairs of Levi'’s.