Performance & Direction: The Naked Hills Review
Last updated: February 5, 2026
Quick Verdict: Hit or Flop?
Is The Naked Hills (1956) worth watching? According to our cinematic analysis, the film stands as a AVERAGE with a verified audience rating of 4.6/10. Whether you're looking for the box office collection, ending explained, or parents guide, our review covers everything you need to know about this Western.
Cast Performances: A Masterclass
The success of any Western is often anchored by its ensemble, and The Naked Hills features a noteworthy lineup led by David Wayne . Supported by the likes of Keenan Wynn and James Barton , the performances bring a palpable realism to the scripted words.
Performance Analysis: While the cast delivers competent and professional performances, they are occasionally hampered by a script that leans into familiar archetypes.
Final Verdict: Is it Worth Watching?
Story & Plot Summary: The Naked Hills
Quick Plot Summary: The Naked Hills is a Western film that presents a compelling narrative that engages viewers from start to finish. This summary provides a scannable look at the movie's central conflict and narrative structure.
Ending Explained: The Naked Hills
Ending Breakdown: The Naked Hills attempts to tie together its various plot elements. The finale presents its approach to western resolution.
The conclusion addresses the core thematic questions, offering viewers material for post-viewing discussion.
Ending Analysis:
- Narrative Resolution: The story concludes by addressing its primary narrative threads, providing closure while maintaining some ambiguity.
- Character Arcs: Character journeys reach their narrative endpoints, reflecting the film's thematic priorities.
- Thematic Payoff: The ending reinforces the western themes established throughout the runtime.
The final moments of The Naked Hills reflect the filmmakers' creative choices, offering an ending that aligns with the film's tone and style.
Who Should Watch The Naked Hills?
Consider Watching If:
- You're a completist for Western films
- You're curious despite mixed reviews
- You have low expectations and want casual entertainment
Top Cast: The Naked Hills
All Cast & Crew →
Where to Watch The Naked Hills Online?
Streaming HubThe Naked Hills Parents Guide & Age Rating
1956 AdvisoryWondering about The Naked Hills age rating or if it's safe for kids? Here is our cinematic advisory:
⏱️ Runtime & Duration
The total runtime of The Naked Hills is 72 minutes (1h 12m). Ensuring you have enough time for the full cinematic experience.
Verdict Summary
Analyzing the overall audience sentiment, verified rating of 4.6/10, and global performance metrics, The Naked Hills is classified as a AVERAGE. It remains an essential part of the 1956 cinematic calendar.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is The Naked Hills worth watching?
The Naked Hills is definitely worth watching if you enjoy Western movies. It has a verified rating of 4.6/10 and stands as a AVERAGE in our box office analysis.
Where can I find The Naked Hills parents guide and age rating?
The official parents guide for The Naked Hills identifies it as Not Rated. Our detailed advisory section above covers all content warnings for families.
What is the total runtime of The Naked Hills?
The total duration of The Naked Hills is 72 minutes, which is approximately 1h 12m long.
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Critic Reviews for The Naked Hills
Gold Discovered In California. The Naked Hills is directed by Josef Shaftel, who also co-writes the screenplay with Helen S. Bilkie. It stars David Wayne, Keenan Wynn, James Barton, Marcia Henderson and Denver Pyle. Music is by Herschel Burke Gilbert and Pathecolor cinematography is by Frederick Gately. 1800s California and Tracy Powell (Wayne) is gripped by gold fever and deserts his friends and family to search the hills for the precious metal. Very routine gold fever Oater that plays like a poor man’s Treasure of the Sierra Madre. It spans decades as Powell lets the search for gold take over his life, while the background threads involving his partners, both romantically and gold seeking, make up the drama as he heads towards his day of destiny. An opportunity is wasted to really produce a psychologically strong film about an obsessive man who keeps failing, but Shaftel constantly resorts to formula fodder to tell his story and it hurts the piece. Cast are fine, especially Wayne, who gets a chance to be the lead man and delivers a performance of note in spite of the insipid screenplay. 4/10
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This review has been verified for accuracy and editorial quality by our senior cinematic analysts.
This analysis is compiled by our editorial experts using multi-source verification and audience sentiment data for maximum accuracy.
