Is The Naked Hills Worth Watching? Honest Movie Review & Audience Verdict (1956)

📖 The Core Premise

The Naked Hills stands as a 1956 entry that attempts to leave its mark on the Western landscape. At its heart, the film explores complex themes wrapped in a compelling storyline. As the plot unfolds, we see characters navigating a world where stakes are high. "Tracy Powell, an Indiana farmer, gets the gold fever and heads for Stockton, California in 1849. There, he abandons his first partner, Bert Killian, and teams up with Sam Wilkins, a claim jumper employed by Willis Haver. Six years later, Powell returns to Indiana and his sweetheart, Julie. They marry and he tries farming again but, on the night their son is born, he takes off again searching for gold. This time he heads for the hills with an inveterate prospector, Jimmo McCann. A decade later, the two are still hunting for their big strike when McCann is killed in an accident. Powell returns home with news of a big strike but the deserted Julie will have nothing to do with him. His friend Killian will not believe him but Haver, now a banker gives him a small loan and then beats him out of his claim. Many years pass before he comes home, now sixty-years-old, and this time, his wife and son open their home to him. But he vows to go prospecting come next spring."

🎬 Performance & Direction

A movie's success often hinges on its execution. In The Naked Hills, even the presence of David Wayne struggles to save a script that feels disjointed. The direction aims to balance pacing with character development, a hallmark of good Western. While there are moments of brilliance, the pacing occasionally dips.

🤔 Why You Should Watch (or Skip)

Is The Naked Hills worth your time? If you appreciate Western films that take risks, this is likely a decent one-time watch. However, if you are looking for a flawless masterpiece, you might find some plot points predictable.

🏆 Final Verdict

Ultimately, The Naked Hills misses the mark on several fronts. With a runtime of 72 minutes, it asks for a significant time investment, but for the right audience, it pays off.

Our recommendation: Skip It.