The Hanging Tree

1959 "From The Prize Novel -- A Picture Of Thundering Power!"
7.1| 1h47m| NR| en| More Info
Released: 13 March 1959 Released
Producted By: Warner Bros. Pictures
Country: United States of America
Budget: 0
Revenue: 0
Official Website:
Synopsis

Joseph "Doc" Frail is a doctor with a past he's trying to outrun. While in Montana, he comes across a mining camp with a hanging tree and rescues a man named Rune from the noose. With Rune as his servant, Frail decides to settle down, and he takes over as town doctor. He meets Elizabeth, who is suffering from shock, and the two soon fall in love. But when Elizabeth is attacked, Frail's attempt to help her lands them both in trouble.

... View More
Stream Online

The movie is currently not available onine

Director

Producted By

Warner Bros. Pictures

AD
AD

Watch Free for 30 Days

All Prime Video Movies and TV Shows. Cancel anytime. Watch Now

Trailers & Images

Reviews

Stevecorp Don't listen to the negative reviews
ShangLuda Admirable film.
KnotStronger This is a must-see and one of the best documentaries - and films - of this year.
Arianna Moses Let me be very fair here, this is not the best movie in my opinion. But, this movie is fun, it has purpose and is very enjoyable to watch.
jbriskey-30546 Worth a view because of the outstanding performance by Cooper. The rest of it's a mess of irrational behaviors, silly confrontations, and unbelievable characters. Not sure who to blame for these shortcomings; probably both the screen writers and the director. Too bad, a waste of Cooper.
standalone-magazine The song (The Hanging Tree) is the introduction as Doctor Joe Frail (Gary Cooper) rides into town. The song really takes you on a journey as this tale begins to unfold right before your eye's. As the story unfolds a young woman Elizabeth Mahler (Maria Schell) is rescued from the desert. Badly burned and blind from the exposure of the desert, Doc Frail treats her until she is well. While in Doc Frail's care,she begins to have feelings for the doctor that she's never seen. But, because of a haunted past, he can not return her affection.When her sight returns, she strikes-out on her own to look for gold and to lead her own life. She partner's up with Frency Plante (Karl Malden) and Rune (Ben Piazza) as they look for gold. As time goes on, Doc Frail begins to have feelings for Elizabeth but, she soon finds out that he has been doing something behind her back and now she finds it hard to forgive him. The ending to this wonderful tale is a true treat that all of you will enjoy. I know, I sure did. Believe me, you'll enjoy...The Hanging Tree.
MartinHafer This is a very good movie that could have been a lot better with two small changes. George C. Scott's role was completely unnecessary to the film and should have been excised. He was too good an actor for such a dopey character. Also, they call Karl Malden 'Frenchie' throughout the film, but why?! He seems to be attempting a French accent here and there--but rarely. It's a shame, as otherwise it's a really, really good film.Gary Cooper plays a doctor that comes into a crappy mining town. You don't know exactly what he's done in the past, but he's got a heck of a reputation with the gun. So, folks mostly leave him alone...that is, except for stupid 'ol Frenchie--but more about that later. Early in the film, Doc saves a stupid young man (Karl Swenson) and as a result, he announces that the kid is his indentured servant. Either that, or he'll tell the other miners that the kid was the guy they shot who was trying to steal from their sluices! The kid isn't happy, but he doesn't seem to have any choice.It gets a lot more interesting when a stagecoach is attacked outside town. Everyone but a lady is killed and the Doc takes her in and nurses her back to health. Tongues wag in this horrible town--in particular those of the viperous 'ladies' (Virginia Gregg is great as the leading slimy lady). You can tell there is some sexual tension developing between them. However, some other form of sexual tension has developed. Frenchie is clearly a sex offender in training and Doc warns him to stay away from the lady. But, he doesn't listen and the doctor beats the snot out of him. You know that eventually this will mean one of them will try to kill the other. But, what makes this an exceptional film is the ending--an ending that has a lot to say about greed and the baser nature of mankind. See the film--I really don't want to ruin the wild ending. Overall, a very well written film...aside from Scott! Cooper is great in one of his last roles--a real plum one. Watch this one.
Bob-45 Delmer Daves, the masterful director who gave us JUBAL, 3:10 TO YUMA and THE LAST WAGON scores again, thanks to near perfect ensemble casting in THE HANGING TREE. Gary Cooper has never been been better as "Doc Frail," formerly "Doc Temple," before a personal tragedy emotionally isolates him from humanity. He rescues and treats "Rune," (Ben Piazza), a sensitive young fugitive trapped by circumstance, then blackmails Rune into becoming his indentured servant. Rune shares the center of the narrative with Doc Frail, becoming his conscience. According to Wikipedia, "runes are attributed with the power to bring that which is dead to life" and certainly Doc Frail's affection for Rune begins his return to his humanity. However, when Doc Frail treats "Elizabeth," the survivor of a stagecoach robbery, he must tap into even more humanity to treat her trauma. This frightens Doc Frail, and he, unfortunately becomes a subsidiary character in the last quarter of the narrative. Fortunately, Ben Piazza as Rune and Maria Schell as Elizabeth are both equally excellent, and their characters are compelling enough to make up for the relative absence of Cooper. The only false note in the performances is Virginia Gregg, who is a bit too brittle as a meddling townswoman.Superb music, superb photography, superb acting and direction and a better than average story. What more can one ask of a movie? While not quite up to the excellent standards of JUBAL and 3:10 TO YUMA, THE HANGING TREE is definitely a keeper. I give it an "8".