Good Day for a Hanging

Good Day for a Hanging
	Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Nathan H. Juran
Produced by	Charles H. Schneer
Screenplay by	Daniel B. Ullman; Maurice Zimm
Based on	The Reluctant Hangman; 1956 in Texas Rangers; by John H. Reese
Starring	Fred MacMurray; Margaret Hayes
Cinematography	Henry Freulich
Edited by	Jerome Thoms
Color process	ColumbiaColor
Production; company	Morningside Productions
Distributed by	Columbia Pictures
Release date	January 1959;
Running time	86 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English

Good Day for a Hanging is a 1959 American Western film directed by Nathan H. Juran and starring Fred MacMurray and Margaret Hayes.[1]

Plot

Eddie Campbell (Robert Vaughn) watches a stagecoach as it rides toward a Nebraska town. Other members of his gang are waiting there to rob the bank. Ben Cutler (Fred MacMurray), owner of the stage line, is on board, and is returning home to be wed to Ruth Granger (Margaret Hayes).

During the holdup, a bank teller is killed. Ben joins the posse. His daughter, Laurie (Joan Blackman), is in love with Eddie and doesn't believe him to be truly bad. Eddie shoots the Marshal, however. He is wounded by Ben and brought back to town to stand trial.

Ben, who had once been a lawman but gave up the profession after his daughter was born is offered a temporary job as Marshal. Selby (Edmon Ryan), a publicity-seeking lawyer who defends Eddie, insinuates that Ben was just acting in vengeance because his client had been intimate with Ben's daughter. Ben punches him for this slur on Laurie's character.

Eddie is found guilty due to Ben's eyewitness testimony. He is sentenced to hang. Townspeople begin to have their doubts, even Ruth, partly due to Eddie's manipulation of their emotions. Laurie tries to smuggle a gun to Eddie's cell, but her father finds it.

Ben must ride to the state's capital after a plea for clemency from the governor is made. As soon as he is gone, Eddie's gang busts him out of jail. He physically assaults Laurie, revealing his true nature. Ben returns just in time, though, and shoots a fleeing Eddie atop the gallows.

Cast

Fred MacMurray as Marshal Ben Cutler
Maggie Hayes as Ruth Granger
Robert Vaughn as Eddie Campbell
Joan Blackman as Laurie Cutler
James Drury as Dr. Paul Ridgely
Wendell Holmes as Tallant Joslin
Edmon Ryan as William P. Selby, Attorney
Stacy Harris as Coley
Kathryn Card as Molly Cain
Emile Meyer as Marshal Hiram Cain
Bing Russell as George Fletcher
Russell Thorson as Harry Lander
Denver Pyle as Deputy Ed Moore
Phil Chambers as Deputy William Avery
Howard McNear as Olson
Rusty Swope as Midge Granger

Release

Good Day for a Hanging was released in theatres in January 1959. The film was released on DVD on April 5, 2005.[2]

References

"Good Day for a Hanging". Turner Classic Movies. Atlanta: Turner Broadcasting System (Time Warner). Retrieved November 14, 2016.
"Good Day for a Hanging". Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. Culver City, California: Sony Pictures, Inc. USA. April 5, 2016. ASIN B0007MANYO. Retrieved November 14, 2016.

External links

Good Day for a Hanging on IMDb
Good Day for a Hanging at AllMovie
Good Day for a Hanging at the TCM Movie Database
Good Day for a Hanging at the American Film Institute Catalog

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[Good_Day_for_a_Hanging-1] "Good Day for a Hanging". Turner Classic Movies. Atlanta: Turner Broadcasting System (Time Warner). Retrieved November 14, 2016.

[2] "Good Day for a Hanging". Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. Culver City, California: Sony Pictures, Inc. USA. April 5, 2016. ASIN B0007MANYO. Retrieved November 14, 2016.