Friday, August 3, 2018

Good Day for a Hanging 1959


     Ben Cutler was former a sheriff but it’s been more than 20 years since he’s worn a badge.  The town’s bank is robbed and he joins the posse to chase down the culprits.  Sheriff Hiram Cain is killed by one of the robbers and the town asks Ben to take over his job.  Eddie ‘The Kid’ Campbell received a flesh wound to his forehead.   He’s taken into custody and is in jail for killing Cain.  The Kid grew up in this town and Ben’s daughter Laurie knows him from her childhood.  She doesn’t believe The Kid is guilty of killing the Marshal.  The Kid goes before the judge to determine if he is innocent or guilty.
     There are a lot of mixed feelings among the townspeople over this trial.  Some believe Ben and others think The Kid may be innocent?  A fast talking lawyer is brought in to defend The Kid and his fee could be paid from the money taken from the bank?  The lawyer gets several of the men giving statements to say they aren’t sure The Kid pulled the trigger on Cain?  I wasn’t sure myself what really happened but I didn’t want to go back and watch the scenes with the posse!!  3 ½* (I liked this movie) 

85 min, Western directed by Nathan Juran with Fred MacMurray, Margaret Hayes, Robert Vaughn, Joan Blackman, James Drury, Wendell Holmes, Edmon Ryan, Stacy Harris, Kathryn Card, Emile Meyer, Bing Russell.

Note:  Imdb 6.3 out of 10, 46% audience on Rotten Tomatoes, Amazon 4* out of 5* with 27 reviews, Letterboxd 3.1* out of 5* with 4 reviews.
Special Note:  The theme song for the film 3.10 to Yuma from 1957 is played frequently.  Fred McMurray was a frugal person and he always brought a sandwich for his lunch on the set. 

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