THE HANGMAN
US, 1959, 86 minutes, Black and White.
Robert Taylor, Jack Lord, Fess Parker, Tina Louise, Mickey Shaughnessy.
Directed by Michael Curtiz.
The Hangman is one of Michael Curtiz' last films. In a long career, especially at Warner Bros. Studios where he directed many Errol Flynn-Olivia? de Havilland adventures and then many musicals. He made a number of moderately successful films in the '50s and early 1960s. This is a brief, competent western written by veteran Dudley Nichols (Stage Coach). It was Robert Taylor’s first film outside M.G.M. after more than thirty years at the studio. It is a conventional Robert Taylor western - an ageing hero who is on the side of justice but is challenged by feeling. There is a strong supporting cast and the film, while grim, is an interesting example of '50s westerns.
1. The popularity of westerns, the styles of the '50s, traditions? The blend of the serious and the comic? The American West and its heritage and themes?
2. The work of Michael Curtiz - his long career and skills? Robert Taylor and his star quality? Black and white photography, authentic atmosphere of the West? Musical score?
3. The focus on law, justice, life and death, guilt? The role and reputation of the hangman? The sombre tone of the title and of the film?
4. The focus on Bovard: age, serious, skill at his work, motivation? His commission to bring in the criminal? The encounter with Selah and buying her testimony? The travel, waiting for her, suspicions? Hoping that she would not come? The interrogations in the town and his skill at getting information? The bond with Bud? The humour of the inquisitive boarder and her would-be flirting with Bovard? The reputation of John Bishop? Selah's arrival and his buying her clothes, the set-ups? Watching, following her in the night the shoot-out, the interrogation of Murphy? The chase and his being wounded? The confrontation with Bishop - and his allowing him to go? What did he learn by the experience? The memories of injustice done to his family? The choices at the end? Selah's choosing to go with him? A man of the West?
5. Bud as the young sheriff, a good sheriff, loyalties, love for Selah, the choice at the end?
6. Bishop: information about him, his work, appearance? Seemingly guilty - and the later explanation? Friends, his wife and the expected child? Selah's warning? The fight with Murphy? The escape and the final confrontation?
7. Selah as heroine - widow, her earning her living by washing (and the atmosphere of the wash and laundry situation)? The temptation by Bovard, her non-arrival but finally coming? The images of glamour and poverty? Buying the clothes, the wash in the river? Attraction to Bud, to Bovard? Her not betraying Bishop? Going to warn him? The final chase? Her choices - the motivation for going with Bovard?
8. The sketch of the workers and Bishop's friends? Murphy and the fight and his loyalty?
9. The comic touches of the town, Bud, the lady sending the sheriff to Bovard's room?
10. An entertaining and satisfying example of a '50s western?
