The Hanging Tree (1959)

[Groggy]

Apparently the Oscar nod it got was for Best Original Song.

[T.H.]

I don't understand this board's aversion to melodrama, not in the least.

The first 45 mins or so are great, but the writer(s) took way too long for the recovery of Maria Schell's character and then Coop gets lost in the shuffle in the last act. Ben Piazza was miscast and added nothing to the movie, and the tension between him and Cooper is pretty much ignored in the final act where his character is merely a bystander. The love triangle angle was half-assed when it should have driven home the movie, with Piazza's scorned character having to decide whether or not to save Cooper.

The gold angle should have come earlier in the film and the fallout should have developed a lot slower - they pretty much go from finding nuggets to looters burning down the town in two minutes. Also, there is some bad dialogue which explains subtext.

With all that said, this looks gorgeous, has great sets and is masterfully directed. It's a few steps short of the three Glenn Ford collaborations (which I think all are masterpieces) but overall a worthy, but flawed western.

8/10

[cigar joe]

I don't understand this board's aversion to melodrama, not in the least.

The first 45 mins or so are great, but the writer(s) took way too long for the recovery of Maria Schell's character and then Coop gets left out of the shuffle in the last act. Ben Piazza was miscast and added nothing to the movie, and the tension between him and Cooper is pretty much ignored in the final act where his character is merely a bystander. The love triangle angle was half-assed when it should have driven home the movie, with Piazza's scorned character having to decide whether or not to save Cooper.

The gold angle should have come earlier in the film and the fallout should have developed a lot slower - they pretty much go from finding nuggets to looters burning down the town in two minutes. Also, there is some bad dialogue which explains subtext.

With all that said, this looks gorgeous, has great sets and is masterfully directed. It's a few steps short of the three Glenn Ford collaborations (which I think all are masterpieces) but overall a worthy, but flawed western.

8/10

Sounds like you loved it.   

[drinkanddestroy]

I don't understand this board's aversion to melodrama, not in the least.

I thought it was pretty good, and Groggy rated it an 8/10. What more do you want from the board? (Actually, I know I don't count. So it's just Groggy that agrees with you. Poor you).

This is probably my favorite Karl Malden role.

[T.H.]

I thought it was pretty good, and Groggy rated it an 8/10. What more do you want from the board? (Actually, I know I don't count. So it's just Groggy that agrees with you. Poor you).

I don't see how you can get bent out of shape by that observation while making about a hundred disparaging posts in the Johnny Guitar (the quintessential western melodrama) thread. 

Sounds like you loved it.   

Obviously everyone has different criteria on judging movies, and admittedly, I'm a lenient grader. I rarely give something below a 6 - if it's that awful, I usually stop watching in the early going.

An 8 out of ten is something that I feel is worth revisiting at some point. Outside of the flaws in the script, the miscasting of one of the leads, an odd bit character badly played by George C Scott, The Hanging Tree is a unique, innovative, beautifully made film.

[cigar joe]

An 8 out of ten is something that I feel is worth revisiting at some point. Outside of the flaws in the script, the miscasting of one of the leads, an odd bit character badly played by George C Scott, The Hanging Tree is a unique, innovative, beautifully made film.

I thought the sets/location were great looking, didn't care for Scott that much, Malden (he is a great actor but got typecast, personally for me, as a certain type and its not a typical Western type character), and then Schell becomes the tipping point, an American actress may have saved it for me, though, it is watchable. 

[greenbudgie]

I reckon that this one has a good story and good characterisation. I could have done with more screen time for George C. Scott as the faith healer. He was terrific.

[cigar joe]

Today 2/7/2018 dave jenkins

The Hanging Tree (1959) - 2/10. All your favorites are here: Gary Cooper as Doc Frail; Maria Schell as Weepy the Wonder Wench; George C. Scott (woefully underused) as Grubb the Faith Healer; Ben Piazza as--who the hell is Ben Piazza?--Rune; Karl Malden as "Frenchy" (WTF?). Coop is one heck of a boomtown doctor. Upon examining a malnourished young girl he prescribes cow's milk. For a woman suffering exposure, sunstroke and (temporary) blindness he suggests recovering quietly in a darkened room. What an amazing physician! Of course, there's the also the Healer, Heal Thyself angle--what an amazing screenplay! Coop does his usual quiet sufferer routine. Meanwhile, back at the boomtown, sluices are being built. Panning for gold--such an exciting topic! Oh yeah, that hanging tree that gets called to our attention in the very first scene? It makes an incredibly unanticipated re-appearance at the end of the film. Who could have seen that coming? Or that Doc would be chastened and thereby learn to re-connect with his feelings? Is this the worst Western ever made? Well, it's in contention. The Montana setting was (according to IMDb) played by Washington state.