Part of what made the '50s such a great decade for westerns was a willingness to get substantially grayer with character and theme. So even if The Hanging Tree hits a lot of familiar notes (the movie reminds me a lot of something Anthony Mann would've made), it still manages to feel fresh and modern thanks to its moral ambiguities and darker tones.
I think the casting of Gary Cooper also plays a role in this. We're so used to him being the flawless hero that it's immediately compelling to see him in a more mysterious light. Granted, Doc Frail is mostly good in his nature, but that manipulative, controlling side is always present, enough so that you begin to question the role this guy played in his own backstory. Makes for a strong protagonist, as well as an endearing romance - especially because Elizabeth sees right through him (even when she can't actually see).
More than anything, though, I just love the style of these classics. This is a western that you can really bask in, with its beautifully-photographed scenery, slow-yet-captivating pacing, and superb staging. And I think every movie's better off with an on-the-nose title song, no matter how much it clashes with the overall mood.
Grade: A-
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