The Hanging Tree
A haunted frontier doctor gathers a fragile circle of dependents around a Montana gold mine, where wealth exposes the coercion and longing beneath their uneasy loyalties.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Moderate
- brooding
- rambunctious
- melancholic
- classic western night
- rainy day viewing
What critics said
Critics broadly found the vividly colored, rambunctious gold-camp drama absorbing and authentic, while wishing its story were stronger.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Skull Creek is a Montana gold-mining settlement whose fortunes turn on the Lucky Lady Mine.
Dr. Joseph Frail heals Rune and Elizabeth while controlling them and guarding a mysterious past.
The discovery of gold transforms the partners' prospects and triggers disruptive actions among Skull Creek's residents.
The reception specifically praises the vividly colored screen and rambunctious, authentic gold-camp action.
Films like The Hanging Tree, and why
The Man from Laramie
morally complex frontier drama centered on a mysterious, controlling outsider and a volatile gold-rush community
The Searchers
psychological western with a charismatic gunfighter-healer figure, frontier violence, and redemption themes
The Big Country
colorful classic western drama combining small-town tensions, rough justice, and conflicted male authority
Movie Details
- Director
- Delmer Daves
- Release Date
- 1959-02-19
- Runtime
- 107 min
- Rating
- 6.7 / 10 (131)
Cast
- Gary Cooper
- Maria Schell
- Karl Malden
- George C. Scott
- Karl Swenson
- Virginia Gregg
- John Dierkes
- King Donovan
- Ben Piazza
- Emile Avery
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The Hanging Tree about?
- A haunted frontier doctor gathers a fragile circle of dependents around a Montana gold mine, where wealth exposes the coercion and longing beneath their uneasy loyalties.
- What is The Hanging Tree like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Hanging Tree as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is The Hanging Tree violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in The Hanging Tree as moderate.
- What did critics think of The Hanging Tree?
- Critics broadly found the vividly colored, rambunctious gold-camp drama absorbing and authentic, while wishing its story were stronger.
- Which films are like The Hanging Tree?
- Films with a similar feel include The Man from Laramie, The Searchers, and The Big Country.
- How long is The Hanging Tree?
- The Hanging Tree runs 107 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Hanging Tree?
- In United States, The Hanging Tree is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store.
