Good Day for a Hanging

"HANGING'S TOO GOOD FOR A RAT LIKE THIS!"

May 17 1959 Approved 1h 25m
Western

As a youth, Eddie came into the town with his gang to rob the bank, but was caught and convicted. Marshal Ben helped him to become a honorable citizen. Now, many years later, the gang returns to again rob the bank. On their flight they shoot the Marshal. Eddie is the only one to identify the murderer - but is in doubt if he shall be loyal to his new or his old friends.

Plot

It's been more than twenty years since Ben Cutler (Fred MacMurray) wore a badge, but when the town's bank gets robbed, he joins the posse. After the chase, where he saw Marshal Cain (Emile Meyer) get killed, he can't say "no" when the town asks him to take over the Marshal's duties. However, that same town starts to turn against him when he takes his new duties seriously by arresting and testifying against the killer... a boy, Eddie 'The Kid' Campbell (Robert Vaughn), who grew up in this town and comes from a broken home, garnering the sympathy of the townsfolk, who'd rather believe one of the other escaped bank robbers shot the sheriff. This is compounded by his daughter, who still has a crush on Eddie, even though after his mother died two years ago, he left town with not a word to her since. She, too, is convinced that Eddie is still that good little boy everyone remembers, and can't believe he's been changed, by his new life of riding with outlaws.

Written by

Daniel B. Ullman, Maurice Zimm, John Reese

Directed by

Nathan Juran

Production Countries

United States of America

Production Companies

Morningside Productions, Columbia Pictures

Languages

English

Awards

N/A

Scores
# of Votes
980
Average Rating
6.3 out of 10
Metascore
NA
Popularity
NA