Shawn Spencer This could have been a pretty good Western. It had a solid cast with Robert Taylor, Fess Parker, a young Tina Louise (Ginger on Gilligan's Island) and Jack Lord (Hawaii 5-0). The plot was good about a lawman sent to arrest a wanted fugitive for his part in a holdup that ended in murder.And 3/4 of the movie is very enjoyable, solid 7/10 stars. But...Your reaction to this movie is likely to depend upon your answer to three questions:1. Should lawmen ever allow personal feelings affect how they perform their duties? 2. Should lawmen treat suspects differently because they like or dislike them? 3. Is it right for ordinary people to take the law into their own hands if they like or dislike a suspect?If you answered yes to all these questions, you will probably like it. If you answered no to any of them, you will probably not.

Spikeopath The Hangman is directed by Michael Curtiz and written by Dudley Nichols and Luke Short. It stars Robert Taylor, Tina Louise, Fess Parker and Jack Lord. Music is by Harry Sukman and cinematography by Loyal Griggs.Marshal Bovard (Taylor) arrives in town to identify and arrest the last of four outlaws who robbed a Wells Fargo stage. Unfortunately for Bovard, the man he seeks is very popular with everyone in town and nobody is keen to help the Marshal do his job.It is thought, and on reflection it seems likely, that The Hangman is a caustic jab at grassers/finks, with the Hollywood Blacklist never far from the film makers thoughts. Bovard is a grumpy and rough fellow, a jobs-worth who has almost zero faith in the human race. He's confident that the people of this border town wont take much persuading to give up an outlaw, more so as he has money to offer as well. How wrong he is, and the rest of the film follows Bovard as he bangs his head against brick walls, until the banging stops and a light-bulb lights up over his head, perhaps not all people are bad?In truth not a lot happens, there's no action of note, this is more about morality, redemption, human foibles et al. Yet the literary aspects of the story hold tight, keeping the viewers engaged till the end. It's a very nice looking and sounding picture as well, the absence of airy vistas is not a hindrance as Curtiz and Griggs utilise the interiors for some psychological results that deftly suit the narrative's pointed edges. While the sound mix and musical accompaniments achieve the best results possible to aid the tale. It's a strange one in that it's more a film in a Western setting than being overtly a Western, it's also a little subversive. It even throws something of an annoying curve ball at the finale, though the makers were probably chuckling away to themselves about this as well. Great and sexy turns from the lead actors sees the material safely onto a healthy grazing pasture, to make it a recommended picture to fans of the stars and of literary Oaters. 7/10

judithh-1 The Hangman was Robert Taylor's first independent film after leaving MGM. In later years, he would describe it as one of his failures. Like many Taylor movies, it's an unusual twist on a familiar subject. Mackenzie Bovard, a Deputy Marshal, is famous for his ability to catch criminals who are later hanged. Bovard is cynical and world weary with a poor opinion of his fellow humans. Pursuing a robbery suspect, he meets the young and lovely Tina Louise. Through his relationship with her Bovard gradually regains his faith in humanity and becomes a much warmer and more likable person. This is far from a typical western--no fight scenes, no gorgeous scenery, no evil villains. As another reviewer noted, it's a drama set in the old West. It's about responsibility, right and wrong and personal development and growth. Taylor is excellent, as always, in his understated way. Tina Louise is good as a young woman who changes from a drab loser to a confident woman. Mabel Albertson is wonderful as a middle-aged woman who has the hots for Taylor (who can blame her?). Fess Parker, post Davy Crockett is effective as a town Sheriff and his laid back persona makes a good contrast to the driven, more intense Taylor. Perhaps not a classic but definitely worth watching and owning.

Slim-4 The struggle between duty and compassion is the subject of this 1959 Western. Robert Taylor plays marshal Kinzie Beauvard who is known as the Hangman for his ability to arrest murderers. "I don't hang them", he says. "The judge does that."The marshal enlists the help of a witness named Celia(played by Tina Louise) to arrest hold up suspect Johnny Bishop (played by Jack Lord). The marshal is embittered after 20 years of apprehending "rats". "Everyone has a price", he says. He begins to mellow as his reluctant witness makes him wait and later tries to confuse him. She knows the suspect but warns him that Beauvard is in town to arrest him. The suspect actually participated in the hold up, but he was an unwitting dupe. "I was a fool", he tells Celia. "I should have asked more questions" (before taking fresh horses to a rendezvous point for the real hold up men). As the movie progresses Beauvard becomes increasingly certain that Johnny Bishop is his man, but everyone in town rallies behind the suspect. He finally finds someone else who can identify Bishop as the man he wants. Big Murph (played by Gene Evans) agrees to finger him for a share of the reward but double crosses Beauvard and tries to help Bishop escape instead. "Why does everyone in town try to help him?", Beauvard asks the town marshal (played by Fess Parker). "Because Johnny has done so much for them", the town marshal replies. Ultimately, Beauvard gets his man but lets him escape at the end. "You see", the town marshal says, "Johnny did something for you, too". "No, Celia did it", Beauvard replies. He and Celia board the stagecoach for a new life in California.On a technical level this black and white film offers little. It is not your typical Western. Outdoor sequences are few and there is little of the beautiful scenery we have come to expect from this genre. There is little action, but the good script and performances more than make up for it. There is a good blend of humor and serious dialogue. There is more than the usual depth to Marshal Beauvard's character. Beauvard is cynical and tough. He wanted to become a lawyer, he says, "but there was always one more rat to catch". This movie is about conscience. The struggle between duty and humanity is well told.I have watched this minor Western many times and have enjoyed it each time.