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hyped garbage

Absolutely the worst movie.

It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.

It is an exhilarating, distressing, funny and profound film, with one of the more memorable film scores in years,

This film is pretty good, though I'm somewhat hard pressed to say that it distinguishes itself much from its peers. That's not to say that it isn't likable. It is. Though when I stack it against other films, and even just other Westerns, it's own distinctiveness fades in the shadow of its contemporaries. Gary Cooper is good in it, frankly everybody is with Maria Schell being the notable standout. He is Gary Cooper though. With the only other film I've seen where he is the star being High Noon, it's difficult for me not to see that he doesn't really separate his characters with the way he performs them, with the same stern, serious demeanor, reluctant to show his softer side. I honestly think the character he plays so naturally is only as good as it's written. And while this one is played close to High Noon's, it is written to be different, and so the familiar nuances carry new and interesting meanings. So in the end, Gary Cooper's performance, while good, seems to owe more of its credit to the writer than to Gary Cooper. Of course this isn't a one man show. All others present are good too. Like I said, Maria Schell is more so the standout than Cooper. She performs her role with a range of emotion and body language. As the film progresses her character grows, and her performance with it. Her's is a character that we understand fully, and who's personality and ambition is laid bare before us. Honestly, she can be a bit more relocatable than the protagonist at times. The story can feel like it is her's, not Coopers. That's not really a bad thing. Beyond the two stars no one else really stands on their own, and are really the most interesting when playing off of Cooper or Schell. Piazza's Rune being the best example. The reason for my putting so much emphasis on the performances without really getting into the other aspects of film-making is because there isn't much to talk about. It's kind of average. The cinematography, the score, the editing. It's average. That isn't to say it's bad. Beyond punches obviously not connecting when characters are fighting, and some confusing editing during a certain confrontation, you'll know which it is when you see it, everything is competent. Being competent is not the same as being exceptional however. So when I say that this film really doesn't distinguish itself that's mostly what I'm talking about. To Cooper's credit, if he and Schell weren't leading the charge on the acting front, this film might be a bit forgettable.If you would allege that you're a fan of Westerns, you'll probably like this film. If you don't like Westerns than I honestly wouldn't recommend it. If you're somewhere in between, I would advise you check it out. It is a good film. It is worth watching.

Gary Cooper looking a little brittle in his last western more than summons up enough of his courageous stoicism to take on vicious country bumpkin Karl Malden in this better than average western that builds to an exciting conclusion. In many ways it foreshadows Altman's McCabe and Mrs. Miller.Dr. John Frail makes his way to a mining town intent on putting his past behind him. Less than amiable and quick with his fists he keeps his distance from all including those he saves. Things get complicated however when a Elizabeth Mahler (Maria Schell) a Swiss immigrant finds herself badly injured and stranded under his care. Once well she is determined to strike it rich mining and takes on the iniquitous Frenchy Plante (Karl Malden) as a partner. When they hit pay dirt new problems arise however and chaos builds to a fever pitch.Tree's erratic pace develops its storyline slowly as the laconic Frail warms up to no one and his murky past remains a mystery. Malden's Frenchy, is an energized villain however who displays his ignorance like a badge of honor and along with co-villains George C. Scott and John Dierkes provide enough mischief to break Frail out of his indifferent torpor.Malden's performance borders on over the top but he still walks away with the acting honors. Cooper 's cynical man of principle remains the film's moral center and few do it better. Maria Schell also registers well holding her own in scenes with both men. Director Delmer Davies and cinematographer Dan McCord do an excellent job of establishing atmosphere and creating a mood utilizing the townspeople and its mindset as a key component allowing the film to be both a rousing entertainment as well as a parable.

The Hanging Tree is directed by Delmer Daves and adapted to screenplay by Wendell Mayes and Halsted Welles from a story written by Dorothy M. Johnson. It stars Gary Cooper, Maria Schell, Karl Malden, Ben Piazza and George C. Scott. A Technicolor production, film was shot on location at the Oak Creek Wildlife Area, Yakima, Washington, with Ted D. McCord on cinematography duties, and Max Steiner scores the music.The Gold Trail, Montana 1878. Joseph Frail (Cooper), Doctor, Gambler and Gunslinger, arrives in the Gold mining town of Skull Creek looking to settle down and make a living. However, his past haunts him and after medically aiding Rune (Piazza) and Elizabeth Mahler (Schell), subsequently changing their lives, Frail finds this town and its people are less than enamoured with his presence.Slow but compelling, The Hanging Tree has a unique feel to it on account of its interesting location setting, the Gold Rush backdrop and the multi stranded characters that form the story. Not given much support at the box office on its release, it's a film that has gained a cult following over the years and it's now often referred to as an intelligent Western. The performances are smart, from a very good cast, and the story manages to steer away from conventional Western movie pitfalls. But what marks it out as a must see for Western fans is the work of Daves (and Malden who stepped in while the director was hospitalised with ulcers), where the expansive scenery is utilised for both authentic impact on the narrative, and also for the emotional conditioning of the characters.Personally I think it falls some way short of the great intelligent and psychological Westerns crafted by Boetticher and Mann. Yes there are complexities to the characters, but the script doesn't quite dig deep enough into them, which is particularly galling as regards Cooper's portrayal of Frail (an appropriate name given Coop's ailing health at the time). It's credit to Cooper that he still manages to bring the viewer into his pained world, helping to make the impact of the finale far better than it had any right to be if taken as written on the page. But it still rounds out as a thoroughly absorbing picture, one that's beautifully shot and scored with gusto by Steiner. Lovely hummable title song from Marty Robbins as well. 7/10

Hanging Tree, The (1959) *** (out of 4) Underrated Western about a doctor (Gary Cooper) with a mysterious past who saves a criminal (Karl Swenson) from being hanged. Later the doctor begins to care for a woman (Maria Schell) whose father was killed in a stagecoach robbery, which also left her badly burned and blind. As the doctor and the woman become closer there are a few in town who begin to think they're up to no good. There's a lot more going on in this Western and it's certainly unlike many that were being made around this period because if you're expecting some sort of shoot 'em up then you're going to be disappointed. I'd have no problem recommending this film to people but at the same time there's no question that it's not going to be for everyone. Those who do appreciate its laid back nature and the more plot-driven device should end up having a good time with it. You also have a terrific cast delivers some very good performances with Cooper leading the way. Around this time James Stewart was showing off his dark side with various Alfred Hitchcock films and it seems Cooper wanted to show off he could do the same thing. The funny thing is that the screenplay allows him to show a dark and good side, which might seem like a cop out but it really isn't. There's an early scene where a poor family brings their sick daughter and the only reason she's sick is because of a lack of food. The tenderness Cooper shows during this scene is why everyone loves him. Then, later in the film, the darkness he shows when his past comes back to him is perfectly handled by the actor. Schell and Swenson are both very good in their roles and play well against Cooper. The supporting cast features Karl Malden playing a pervert who begins to have certain sexual feelings towards the girl. George C. Scott appears in a few scenes playing a drunken Christian who believes Cooper is the devil due to his medicine. The film works on a lot of levels and there's no question a large portion of the film is dedicated to the love story but this works as well. I really enjoyed how the screenplay mixed everything together because we get the love story, the gold rush action and then the character development, which leads up to an action-packed ending and a rather nice finish to things. The film contains some very good cinematography and the color picks up every terrific location shot. THE HANGING TREE has gotten a good sized cult following over the past several years and it's easy to see why as it features the great performances as well as a story that isn't typical told in the genre from this period.