(aka 'La Colline des potences')

Directed by Delmer Daves
USA 1959

 

  Cooper turns in a classic performance as the Montana doctor with the big secret. When he comes to the aid of a young immigrant woman his past returns to haunt him. The melodrama is occasionally laid on a bit thick, but The Hanging Tree's questioning of whether breaking the law to do something right can ever be excusable is never a black and white affair. An above average western which doesn't go out of its way to offer easy solutions.

Excerpt from Channel 4 located HERE

Posters

Theatrical Release: February 11th, 1959

Reviews    More Reviews    DVD Reviews

DVD Review: Warner Home Vidéo / M6 Vidéo - Region 2 - PAL

DVD Box Cover

Correct cover

CLICK to order from:

NOTE: the cover - (below) on Amazon.FR is not the correct one:

Distribution Warner Home Vidéo / M6 Vidéo - Region 2 - PAL
Runtime 1:43:04 
Video 1.33:1 Aspect Ratio
Average Bitrate: 8.93 mb/s
PAL 720x576 25.00 f/s

NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.

Bitrate:

Audio English (Dolby Digital 1.0), DUB: French (Dolby Digital 1.0) 
Subtitles French, None
Features

Release Information:
Studio: Warner Home Vidéo / M6 Vidéo

Aspect Ratio:
Original Aspect Ratio 1.33:1

Edition Details:

• none 

DVD Release Date: August 9th, 2006

Keep Case
Chapters: 12

 

 

Comments:

NOTE: The cover currently shown on Amazon.FR is not accurate. Our large cover image above is the one I was sent ordering through this link.

Very acceptable progressive transfer here from Warner Europe - dual-layered (7.37 Gig), a strong bitrate and few artefacts. Colors are a very dull and washed and I see no apparent digital manipulations to correct the muddy colors of the print used. The film is fairly dark. Image quality is surprisingly sharp for a film this old. I am unsure of the correct aspect ratio but composition seems quite acceptable at 1.33:1 and the image is tight to the frame, but it is highly likely that they used the open matte negative - I can't imagine a major studio film being shown theatrically in 1960 at full frame. There are optional French subtitles and an optional French DUB to go along with the original mono English track. The English audio is weak and inconsistent and I fiddled with the volume several times during my viewing - gunshots very loud and dialogue very soft.

NOTE: Brian says the colors are about 20% of what they should be and concurs that the aspect ratio is incorrect. He is very adamant that this DVD it is not a very accurate representation of the film. In fact he calls it a 'travesty'.

No extras and I'm sad to see PAL DVDs adopting the forced 'Don't Steal' opening advertisement with that annoyingly loud music (kind of like the hypno-toad from Futurama). 

Gary Cooper is in perfect form and I really enjoyed this western - it reminded me of why I like westerns so much. Very interesting to see George C. Scott and Cooper square off... if only in a minor way! 

Gary W. Tooze

 

 



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DVD Box Cover

Correct cover

CLICK to order from:

NOTE: the cover - (below) on Amazon.FR is not the correct one:

Distribution Warner Home Vidéo / M6 Vidéo - Region 2 - PAL




 

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