Hang 'em High
Hang ‘Em High had a great historical premise in Judge Isaac Parker’s court and the breed of men who did his enforcement work. Men like Bass Reeves and Luke Short, men with real stories. Only Hollywood would see the need to unnecessarily fictionalize it; but that’s what they did. Still the film is vintage Eastwood, spaghetti western without the pasta.
Vigilantes hang Jed Cooper (Eastwood) for unwittingly buying a herd of rustled cattle from the owner’s murderer. Quick action by a passing marshal, cuts Cooper down before he expires. Cooper is taken to Fort Grant (Smith) where Judge Adam Fenton (Parker) acquits him. Fenton then saves Cooper from a vigilante vendetta of his own, recruiting him into his marshal’s service. Cooper accepts and the judge issues warrants for the nine vigilantes.
Cooper locates the first when he notices his saddle on a horse outside a saloon. His attempt to arrest the man ends in gunplay. One dead. He tracks a second member of the gang to a small town and arrests him, turning him over to local sheriff, Ray Calhoun. Calhoun informs him the men on his wanted list are respected members of the community. Still, he agrees to assist him.
Survivors of another rustling and murder identify one of the men Cooper wants along with two teenage accomplices. Cooper arrests them and takes them to Fort Grant. Fenton hangs all three, over Cooper’s objection to hanging the boys. Calhoun arrives in Fort Grant with money to reimburse Cooper for his loss offered by the surviving gang members. Cooper vows to hunt them down anyway. One later turns himself in. Two flee. Three vow to kill Cooper. They ambush him in Fort Grant wounding him. Cooper recovers in the arms of widow Rachel Warren (Inger Stevens- onscreen and off).
Cooper tracks his three assailants to the ranch where they are hiding out. He kills two of them in a gun fight. The third, the ringleader, hangs himself. Throughout the film, Cooper repeatedly tries to resign from the marshal’s service over Fenton’s harsh justice. Each time Fenton talks him out of it. In the end, after one more resignation, Cooper rides off with warrants for the two remaining fugitives.
Next Week: Series Cuts
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Ride easy,
Paul
Vigilantes hang Jed Cooper (Eastwood) for unwittingly buying a herd of rustled cattle from the owner’s murderer. Quick action by a passing marshal, cuts Cooper down before he expires. Cooper is taken to Fort Grant (Smith) where Judge Adam Fenton (Parker) acquits him. Fenton then saves Cooper from a vigilante vendetta of his own, recruiting him into his marshal’s service. Cooper accepts and the judge issues warrants for the nine vigilantes.
Cooper locates the first when he notices his saddle on a horse outside a saloon. His attempt to arrest the man ends in gunplay. One dead. He tracks a second member of the gang to a small town and arrests him, turning him over to local sheriff, Ray Calhoun. Calhoun informs him the men on his wanted list are respected members of the community. Still, he agrees to assist him.
Survivors of another rustling and murder identify one of the men Cooper wants along with two teenage accomplices. Cooper arrests them and takes them to Fort Grant. Fenton hangs all three, over Cooper’s objection to hanging the boys. Calhoun arrives in Fort Grant with money to reimburse Cooper for his loss offered by the surviving gang members. Cooper vows to hunt them down anyway. One later turns himself in. Two flee. Three vow to kill Cooper. They ambush him in Fort Grant wounding him. Cooper recovers in the arms of widow Rachel Warren (Inger Stevens- onscreen and off).
Cooper tracks his three assailants to the ranch where they are hiding out. He kills two of them in a gun fight. The third, the ringleader, hangs himself. Throughout the film, Cooper repeatedly tries to resign from the marshal’s service over Fenton’s harsh justice. Each time Fenton talks him out of it. In the end, after one more resignation, Cooper rides off with warrants for the two remaining fugitives.
Next Week: Series Cuts
Return to Facebook to comment
Ride easy,
Paul
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