Fred MacMurray plays Ben Cutler, a stage line operator forced to take over the job of marshal in Springdale after the bank is held up and his predecessor is shot and killed during the pursuit of the bandits.
One of the outlaws (Robert Vaughn as Eddie) is wounded and hauled back to jail. He’s a former resident of Springdale, a young man who had a rough childhood.
Cutler’s daughter (Joan Blackman as Laurie) is also in love with the young man, putting Ben in the difficult position of bringing Eddie to trial, then carrying out the sentence of hanging despite her insistence that he’s innocent.
Matters don’t get any better. At trial, the other members of the jury say they can’t be certain Eddie was the outlaw who shot the sheriff, leaving Ben as the prime witness for the prosecution, further estranging him from his daughter and fiance Ruth Granger.
Meanwhile, Eddie is plotting his escape, and isn’t bashful about using the affections of a pretty young girl if necessary.
Fred MacMurray as Marshal Ben Cutler, accusing attorney Selby of tainting the jury pool in Good Day for a Hanging (1959)
Robert Vaughn as Eddie Campbell, listening to testimony at his murder trial in Good Day for a Hanging (1959)
Review:
One in a number of solid Westerns MacMurray appeared in before his Walt Disney and “My Three Sons” days. This is a unique twist on the lynching plot. Typically, it’s the sheriff who protects the outlaw from angry residents. Here it’s the residents who insist the sheriff has ulterior motives for wanting the outlaw hanged.
James Drury, in his pre-Virginian days, plays a doctor who loves Laurie, but can’t get her to love him back. Vaughn gives something of an over-the-top performance, but his conniving ways also help make the film.
This marked the first film and only Western for Joan Blackman, who did most of her work on TV, but also appeared in a pair of Elvis Presley films (“Blue Hawaii” and “Kid Galahad”).
Joan Blackman as Laurie Cutler, sympathizing with Eddie Campbell as deputies Avery (Phil Chambers) and Moore (Denver Pyle) look on in Good Day for a Hanging (1959)
Kathryn Card as Molly Cain and Emile Meyer as her husband Hiram, congratulating Ben Cutler on his impending marriage in Good Day for a Hanging (1959)
Directed by:
Nathan Juran
Cast:
Fred MacMurray … Ben Cutler
Joan Blackman … Laurie Cutler
Robert Vaughn … Eddie
Margaret Hayes … Ruth Granger
James Drury … Paul Ridgely
Kathryn Card … Molly Cain
Emile Meyer … Marshal Cain
Wendell Holmes … Tallant Joslin
Edmon Ryan … William Selby
Stacy Harris … Coley
Bing Russell … George Fletcher
Russelll Thorson … Harry Landers
Denver Pyle … Deputy Ed Moore
Phil Chambers … Deputy William Avery
Howard McNear … Olson
Runtime: 85 min.
Edmon Ryan as William P. Selby, the attorney who arrives in Springdale to defend Eddie Campbell in Good Day for a Hanging (1959)
Wendell Holmes as Tallant Joslin, prosecutor for Eddie Campbell’s murder trial in Good Day for a Hanging (1959)
Memorable lines:
Cutler to fiancee Ruth Granger when she defends Eddie Campbell: “Since when did an old rattlesnake become any less poisonous than a young rattlesnake?”
Paul Ridgely, to Laurie: “I’m sorry I had to be the one to patch him (Eddie) up. It’s hard, being the only doctor in town. But the job has its compensations. When they hang him, I’ll be the one to pronounce him officially dead.”
Laurie: “You tell me you love me. Then in the same breath, you tear me apart with those awful words. You don’t love me. You couldn’t love anybody. There’s too much hate in you.”
Attorney Selby to Marshal Ben Cutler: “I’ve run across a lot of men who turn blood thirsty as soon as they’re given a badge, but you’re the worst I’ve ever seen. You can’t wait to hang this boy, can you?””
Marshal Ben Cutler when Doc Ridgely shows up after a fight: “I’m okay. Nothing broken.”
Ruth Ranger: “Just badly bent.”
James Drury as Dr. Paul Ridgely and Fred MacMurray as Marshal Ben Cutler, watching the gallows go up in Good Day for a Hanging (1959)
Howard McNear as Olson, Russell Thorson as Harry Landers and a third town leader trying to convince Ben Cutler to become marshal in Good Day for a Hanging (1959)
Rusty Swope as Midge Granger, Ruth’s young son in Good Day for a Hanging (1959)
Keith Richards as Sam, a townsman opposed to whatever Ben Cutler says in Good Day for a Hanging (1959)
Margaret Hayes as Ruth Granger and Joan Blackman as Laurie Cutler, reacting to Eddie Campbell’s trial in Good Day for a Hanging (1959)
Fred MacMurray as Ben Cutler, arguing about his sense of duty with fiancee Ruth Granger (Margaret Hayes) in Good Day for a Hanging (1959)
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