MovieChat Forums > The Hanging Tree (1959) Discussion > The Ending (spoilers!)

The Ending (spoilers!)

posted 12 years ago by zuzupetal_99
3 replies | jump to latest

I really liked the way the movie was bookended with "the hanging tree", and how Doc Frail saves Rune from it and vice-versa at the end. It doesn't take a genius to figure out why the lost lady wants to save Dr. Frail - she was in love with him even before he took the bandages from her eyes. Frail saved both of them and in the end they save him. But I can't help but wonder why it all went down the way it did. Frail comes to town and helps & mends the people (LOVE that scene with the little girl who gives him a kiss - very sweet!) And then all of a sudden these same people are crucifying him and trying to burn down his house and murder him! Frail made Rune pay the price for his life; and he also let Elizabeth go - actually pushed her away. And yet they both in turn give up everything they'd worked for to save him. I thought it was foolish to give up the claim as well as all their gold, but it made for a great ending - the three of them standing there together. But I wondered what happened next? I thought Rune & Elizabeth actually made a nice couple - he took care of her too when she was sick and helped her work the claim. Why wouldn't he be in love with her also? And if Frail & Elizabeth become the couple, then why on earth would Rune give up everything for that to happen. He seemed to resent Frail, and had already paid his debt to him on top of it. So Frail & Elizabeth will have eachother, and Rune has nothing except maybe a couple friends, but considering how he'd risked his neck for a bit of gold at the beginning, I would think he'd need gold more than friends.

"Are you going to your grave with unlived lives in your veins?" ~ The Good Girl

[–] bosslarry40 11 years ago

I figured Doc and Elizabeth get married, they adopt Rune and tomorrow they go to pick out furniture.

[–] mdonln 8 years ago

I really liked the way the movie was bookended with "the hanging tree", and how Doc Frail saves Rune from it and vice-versa at the end.

1. Yes, that was a good touch especially given the title. Until I read your post I hadn't noticed the contrasts between events at the beginning and the end of the movie. As you mentioned Frail saves both Rune and Elizabeth then later they come to his rescue.

There are also contrasts involving Frenchy and Grubb. Early on, Frenchy was Frail's patient; later, Frail goes against his oath as a physician and kills him. Frenchy was the one who found, and probably saved Elizabeth's life. Later, he tries to rape her then smacks her around, putting her life and safety at risk when she refuses him. Frenchy was a real idiot who acted before, or instead of, thinking. He had basically called it quits at the time Elizabeth and Rune found the gold so the fact they shared their bounty with him should have paid off whatever debt he may have felt she owed him.

In regards to Grubb, he was preaching about how evil the doctor was and how he needed to be driven out of town. He was a 'holy' man quoting scripture and being judgmental over those, especially Frail, who he thought were evil. Later he was as greedy as all the rest. If he truly believed Frail had murdered Frenchy and had to pay with his life for having taken a life, how could he be so easily be bought off? Truly pious man would not sellout his beliefs in favor of money.

2. Elizabeth and Rune came to Frail's rescue because they were indebted to him. Despite their history; he had dealt with them harshly, pushed them away, and indirectly made Elizabeth seem like a cheap tramp who was exchanging favors for money, Frail not only saved but changed both their lives. He saved Rune from the men who were pursuing him and from himself. When they met Rune was an angry thief with no one in his life; no one to care for or to care about him. Later he had Elizabeth and the doctor in his corner. Frail taught him the value of work. Instead of taking what wasn't his, he put in long hours digging for gold and making himself useful in other ways.

I believe Frail pushed them away so they'd realize they could do for themselves. That's the same thing he did when he put Elizabeth on the cliff, stepped away, and let her manage on her own. She gained confidence in herself. It's the same with Rune. Had Frail told him he was free to go he would have left long before he was ready. Frail treated him like a slave so he would not get too comfortable or become complacent and weak.

3. What happens next? Elizabeth and Rune helped Frail evolve as well. Moving forward, they can find a better place to put down roots. Elizabeth and Rune may have given up their claim to the mine but they'll manage. The doctor can set up his practice wherever they go. They can help him with that and/or go into some other line of work. Besides medicine, Frail had a knack of winning big through his gambling. Elizabeth and Frail will, of course marry, and Rune, still quite young, will eventually find a decent girl to settle down with as well. The end.

Woman, man! That's the way it should be Tarzan. [Tarzan and his mate]

[–] ironskeletor 8 years ago

The ending kind of ruined the movie for me. Instead of demonstrating Frail's innocence (because the kill was completely justified - Plante shot first), they pay the lynch mob off. Are they supposed to be proto-mafiosos?