Starring
Gary Cooper, Maria Schell, Karl Malden, Ben Piazza, George C. Scott
(his first film role),
Karl Swenson, Virginia Gregg, John Dierkes, King Donovan. Directed by
Delmer Daves. (1958, 107 min).
One
of his less-renowned films in the genre, The Hanging Tree is
noteworthy for being Gary Cooper's final western. Like most of his
late career filmography, it's no High Noon, though it certainly plays
to his strengths...which is essentially being Gary Cooper.
Joseph Frail is a doctor with a troubled past who sets-up shop in a
grimy Montana gold mining town. When a would-be gold thief, Rune (Ben
Piazza), is shot trying to get away from angry miner Frenchy (Karl
Malden), Frail brings the young man to his place to treat his wound.
Afterwards, Frail forces Rune into servitude, running errands and
assisting with patients. Later, a woman named Elizabeth (Maria
Schell) nearly dies from exposure after her stagecoach crashes. Frail nurses her back to health, but inexplicably keeps
her sheltered from the rest of the townspeople. Elizabeth tries to get closer to Frail, only to be repeatedly refuted. Yet when she and Rune are finally free to prospect for gold on their own, he secretly funds their stake.
 |
| Frail realizes he must go fish. |
More
of a character study of redemption than a traditional western, the
narrative mostly focuses on Frail's ambiguous behavior. Through both
Elizabeth and Rune, we slowly learn Frail's more than a simple
doctor. Not only is he a former gunslinger, his tragic - or
suspicious? - past reveals why he's so stubbornly overprotective of
Elizabeth. The story itself isn't conducive to a lot of action,
though the final act builds to exciting climax. While most of the
cast is solid (perpetually-bland Piazza is a glaring exception),
this is Cooper's show all the way. With his trademark quiet stoicism,
he once again reminds us where Harrison Ford got all his best moves.
The
Hanging Tree was a sizable hit when first released in 1959 - as
was the theme song - but has been largely been overshadowed over the
years by Cooper's genuine classics. Still, the film is an interesting
look at a legend near the end of his career.
EXTRA
KIBBLES
TRAILER
KITTY CONSENSUS:
NOT BAD...LIKE CAT CHOW
1 comment:
Post a Comment