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Hangman's Knot (film)
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| Hangman's Knot | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical poster | |
| Directed by | Roy Huggins |
| Produced by | Harry Joe Brown |
| Written by | Roy Huggins |
| Starring |
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| Music by | Mischa Bakaleinikoff |
| Cinematography | Charles Lawton, Jr. |
| Editing by | Gene Havlick |
| Studio | Columbia Pictures |
| Distributed by | Columbia Pictures |
| Release date(s) |
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| Running time | 81 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Box office | $1.25 million (USA)[1] |
Hangman's Knot is a 1952 American Western film written and directed by Roy Huggins and starring Randolph Scott, Donna Reed, and Claude Jarman, Jr.[2] The film is about a group of Confederate soldiers, unaware that the Civil War is over, who intercept a shipment of gold escorted by Union cavalry troops and are then pursued by a renegade posse. Hangman's Knot was filmed on location in the Alabama Hills in Lone Pine, California.[3]
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[edit]Plot
In the spring of 1865 in Nevada, a small band of Confederate soldiers disguised as civilians intercept a shipment of gold escorted by Union cavalry troops. Following a heated battle that results in losses on both sides, Confederate Major Matt Stewart (Randolph Scott) learns from a dying Union officer that the war ended a month earlier. Matt and his men transport the gold as planned to the scheduled rendezvous with Captain Petersen (Glenn Langan) who has been scouting the area disguised as a traveling peddler. When Petersen confirms that the war is indeed over and admits that he knew of Lee's surrender but made no attempt to tell the men, hot-headed Rolph Bainter (Lee Marvin) shoots him dead. The men briefly debate what to do with the gold. As ranking officer, Matt decides they will take the gold back to the South to help finance their country's reconstruction.
The following day, Matt disguises himself as a peddler and uses Petersen's covered wagon to transport the gold out of the area—his men hidden inside. Soon they are stopped by a posse looking for the gold thieves, but before they discover the Confederate rebels hidden inside the wagon, Matt persuades the posse's leader Quincey (Ray Teal) that they've been caught, and the posse rides off. Matt and his men continue on, but at one point the mules bolt from the wagon an the rebels are forced to commandeer a stagecoach carrying a former Union war nurse Molly Hull (Donna Reed) and her companion Lee Kemper (Richard Denning). Quincey's posse returns and chases the stage to a station house, capturing one of Matt's men, Cass Browne (Frank Faylen), in the process. They drag him through the brush in an effort to discover the location of the gold. Meanwhile, Matt and his men take the stage passengers, the aging station agent Plunkett (Clem Bevans), and his daughter Margaret Harris (Jeanette Nolan) hostage.
Inside the station house, when Kemper accuses Matt and his men of having murdered all of the Union volunteers guarding the gold shipment, Matt explains that they were carrying out a military mission, acting under orders, and that men died on both sides. Margaret is unmoved by the explanation, embittered over the loss of her husband and son in the war. Molly and Kemper remain suspicious, but Molly tends to one of the wounded rebels. Matt then addresses Quincey's posse who have surrounded the station house by now, trying to convince them that the gold is hidden near the abandoned wagon. As night descends, Matt asks each of the hostages to give him their word that they will remain silent while he and the men slip out in the dark. As they leave, Kemper yells out a warning to the posse, and Matt and his men are forced back into the station house. Matt prevents the violent Rolph from killing Kemper. Later that night, the posse try to lure the Confederates out by threatening to hang Cass, but Matt is able to rescue Cass using the remaining sticks of dynamite from their ambush.
The following day, Kemper offers Matt a way of escape in exchange for two gold bars. Giving Matt an Indian token, Kemper explains that his good trading relationship with the local Paiute Indians and this token will guarantee fresh horses and safe passage out of the territory. He also knows by the approaching clouds that a brief torrential rainstorm will soon arrive and supply Matt and his men cover for their escape. Matt agrees to the plan. Later, while Molly is caring for the wounded man in another room, Rolph tries to force himself on her. An enraged Matt stops him and a fistfight ensues. After Rolph is beaten
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