johnrgreen
This is a badly made revenge film by a director I assume was attempting to repeat the spaghetti westerns of Eastwood's Italian phase.They got the cartoon nature of those films, unfortunately lumbering the characters as either bad as in Dern's and also Begley's cases with sweaty close ups,or saintly as in Inger Stevens' barely believable rape victim.However it was hardly a nimble effort and was too long ,and dull as a result..The revenge aspect was muddled and why did they come to assassinate Jed? It made no sense.I am surprised it was based on fact.It seemed over encumbered by this.
Wuchak
Released in 1968 and directed by Ted Post, "Hang 'em High" stars Clint Eastwood as a man unjustly lynched by a posse bent on justice after a crime, but he survives and becomes a marshal in order to track the culprits.This is essentially the Batman story set in the Old West with Pat Hingle in the Commissioner Gordon role, which is ironic since he went on to play that very role in the four Batman films from 1989-1997. Inger Stevens plays the potential babe; unfortunately Inger committed suicide less than two years after the release of the movie. Arlene Golonka is also on hand. Speaking of additional actors, the movie features several familiar faces, including Ben Johnson, Bruce Dern, Alan Hale Jr., Ed Begley, Dennis Hopper and LQ Jones.While this is an American production, the producers spiced it with Spaghetti Western elements since that sub-genre was at the height of its popularity after Sergio Leone's so-called Man With No Name trilogy from 1964-1966. For instance, Dominic Frontiere composed the Morricone-ish score.It's great seeing Clint when he was so young, 37 during filming. He was riding a wave of popularity after the success of the Man With No Name flicks and was well in the process of taking the torch from John Wayne as The Western icon. While "Hang 'em High" may not be great like "The Outlaw Josey Wales" (1976), it's a very good Western, about on par with "Pale Rider" (1985).The film runs 114 minutes and was shot in New Mexico & Arizona with studio work done in Culver City, California. The script was written by Leonard Freeman & Mel Goldberg.GRADE: B+
Fella_shibby
Hang Em High is a great Eastwood film. This was Clint Eastwoods American Western debut. Clints first film outside of Sergio Leones sensational Dollars trilogy is none other than...a Western. Hang Em High is a rather overlooked entry in Clints long and impressive film wagon. Hang em High was the first production of the Malpaso Company, Eastwoods production company. Viewers may enjoy seeing a lot of familiar faces. Bob Steele (The Big Sleep). Ben Johnson (The wild bunch, the getaway). Bruce Dern ( Black Sunday, Django Unchained, Nebraska, The Hateful Eight). Alan Hale, Jr. ( The Big Trees, Terror Night). L.Q. Jones ( Hell Is for Heroes, The Wild Bunch). Charles McGraw ( Spartacus, A Boy and His Dog). Ed Begley ( Sweet Bird of Youth, 12 Angry Men). Pat Hingle ( Batman, Splendor in the Grass, Batman Returns, Batman Forever, Batman & Robin, Shaft, On the waterfront). N Dennis Hopper in a tiny role. A slow movie but enjoyable.
v_haritha_in
Hang 'Em High deals with a subject not very often touched upon by Westerns. It addresses the nature of trials and their execution in the old West. A lynch mob hangs an innocent man, Jed Cooper (Clint Eastwood), suspecting him of cattle rusting and murder and leave him for dead. He is rescued, becomes a lawman and owes to hunt the members of the mob down. He is convinced by Judge Fenton (Pat Hingle) that the men should get a trial and it is for the law to punish them. After witnessing a few trials and public hangings, he realizes that the law is not all fair either.Judging by today's standards this justice system may look like a Kangaroo's court. But, is it really as barbaric as it seems to be. In the crime-riddled Old West, some tough decisions had to be made. These include making an example of crime-doers to deter others from repeating the same. Judge Fenton even explains to Cooper that he does not enjoy handing out harsh punishments but it is the only way for a better future. The greater good, you may call it. This is not a "Spaghetti Western", as maybe expected since it stars Eastwood. It is a like the classic westerns in that it raises ethical questions. Eastwood does a great job as a man undergoing an internal conflict while maintaining a no-nonsense demeanor. The supporting cast is good and it is interesting to see that we get to know each one of the lynch mob before they die. An under-rated gem.
AD
