The Hanging Tree (1959)

Gary Cooper plays a complex character, a doctor who is living in a town where there is little if any law. One day, an outlaw is chased by a crowd and he would have been hanged had Frail (Cooper) not intervened. This an then becomes his servant. Also in his little band, is a pretty young woman who is falling in love with Frail (but it's not mutual). She goes blind for a period of time because of exposure to the sun. The bunch become gold miners and have little luck at first. Then, one day, their luck changes. What happens at the end is some fine storytelling. Probably the star of this film is the music. There is a haunting theme song that comes and goes throughout the movie.

The Religious Allegories, both Subtle and Overt, are everywhere in this Gary Cooper Western Swan Song. There are references to Snakes, Seeing the Light, the Hanging Tree might as well be from the Garden of Eden, and so on. The Final Scenes after Gold is Discovered, could be something out of Cecil B. Demille.Maria Schell as the Angelic, Sojourner is Superb with a Soulful Performance. It's the Film Debut for George C. Scott as a Fundamentalist that thinks Doctors are Demons sent from Hell. Karl Malden is the Good Doctor's Antagonist and Plays the Lecherous Villain for all its worth.Christian Hypocrisy is in Full View in front of the Wide Open but Confined Landscape of the Gold Mining Town and is used Effectively by the Director. Max Steiner's Score is subtly Effective. Filmed in Color but Forgoes Cinemascope with a more Claustrophobic 3x4 giving it a Trapped or Enclosed Feel.The Characterizations are Sharp and it's more Dramatic than most Westerns, concerned with lessons in Morality and Human Flaws rather than Riding, Roping, Fisticuffs, and Gunplay. A slightly Offbeat and little known Western that is Better than Average, but Never quite Attains Greatness or Classic Status.Note...Country Western stalwart Marty Robbins sings the Title Song...Nominated for an Oscar.

Good setup but poor ending.A doctor, Dr Frail (played by the legendary Gary Cooper), moves into a gold rush town in Montana in the 1870s. He's a no-nonsense, tough-as-nails type with a few skeletons in his past. Then a stagecoach is robbed nearby and its female occupant becomes a patient...Interesting and intriguing from the word go. Gary Cooper is obviously the hero, but for once he is less than perfect. Good action and a hint of romance.Decent, but not great. The story is often uneven, going on tangents, and the plot not always consistent. The ending is so random and silly it almost ruins the movie.Solid performance from Gary Cooper in the lead role. Good support from Maria Schell, Karl Malden and Ben Piazza. George C Scott appears in his first cinematic role (though he had appeared in TV series and a TV movie before this).Only really worth watching if you're a Gary Cooper fan.

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.