Goodnight for Justice: The Measure of a Man

Goodnight for Justice: The Measure of a Man

Year: 2012

Runtime: 86 mins

Language: English

Director: Kristoffer Tabori

ActionWestern

John Goodnight’s lone trek across the lawless Wild West brings him to a dusty frontier town where he witnesses a violent, murderous bank robbery. The attack is led by the dangerous masked outlaw Deke Spradling, who commands a ruthless gang of bandits, leaving a trail of blood and chaos.

Hopeful
Happy ending
Moderately emotional
Medium intensity
Steady pacing
Simple story

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – Goodnight for Justice: The Measure of a Man (2012)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Goodnight for Justice: The Measure of a Man (2012). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

1880s

The events take place on the Western frontier during the 1880s, a time when law enforcement often arrived late and violence arrived early. Stagecoaches, riverboats, and rough outposts frame the daily peril and improvisational justice. The era's rough manners and frontier manners shape the choices of characters who patrol the margins of law. It is a time of scarcity, harsh travel, and shifting loyalties.

Location

Fort Collins, Cody, frontier towns along dusty Western routes, riverboat on a western river

Set across rough frontier towns and the river routes of the 1880s, the story follows judges and fugitives traveling along dusty trails. Fort Collins and Cody serve as key waypoints where danger meets the law. The journey unfolds along a river and a moving riverboat, highlighting the harsh, lawless edge of the era. The landscape—a mix of stage routes, river crossings, and frontier settlements—frames the moral tension of justice and survival.

🏜️ Frontier 🗺️ Western Towns

Last Updated: October 03, 2025 at 09:59

Main Characters – Goodnight for Justice: The Measure of a Man (2012)

Meet the key characters of Goodnight for Justice: The Measure of a Man (2012), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

John Goodnight (Luke Perry)

A circuit judge roaming the 1880s Western frontier, Goodnight embodies fairness and restraint. He protects the innocent and pursues justice with calm authority, even when danger closes in. His old-fashioned courtesy drives him to rescue Lucy, testing the line between law and mercy.

⚖️ Judge 🛡️ Protector

Lucy Truffaut

A wily con artist who drifts through the frontier with counterfeit fortunes and deft misdirection. Her guarded charm hides a difficult past, shaping both ruthlessness and capacity for change. As she meets Goodnight, she is drawn to his honesty and begins to reveal glimpses of vulnerability.

💰 Con Artist 🗝️ Enigmatic

Colonel Cyril Knox

A relentless enemy of Lucy who pursues revenge and aims to recapture her, driving the chase across towns, river routes, and the riverboat. He embodies the ruthless side of frontier justice, often clashing with the law in the pursuit of his quarry. His presence heightens danger and pushes the lovers toward a decisive, perilous confrontation.

🗡️ Rival 🧭 Pursuer

Last Updated: October 03, 2025 at 09:59

Major Themes – Goodnight for Justice: The Measure of a Man (2012)

Explore the central themes of Goodnight for Justice: The Measure of a Man (2012), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

⚖️ Justice vs Mercy

In the frontier setting, law and mercy clash as protagonists navigate duty and compassion. John Goodnight embodies a steady, fair lawman who must confront Lucy's past and potential for change. Lucy's guarded charm challenges the absolute need for punishment, testing the judge's leniency. The film uses this tension to explore whether mercy can coexist with the strict demands of justice.

💘 Romance

A cautious bond grows between a hardened judge and a resourceful con artist. Their partnership blends shelter, trust, and tentative affection against the backdrop of pursuit. The romance emerges from shared danger and the respect that can form between two people who see past each other's masks. It remains uneasy, tempered by the weight of past deeds and moral choices.

🗺️ Trust and Deception

The chase exposes how deception builds a life on the frontier, while trust offers a path to redemption. Lucy's schemes and Goodnight's faith in her collide, forcing both to reevaluate loyalties. A wanted poster tests their fragile alliance and the boundary between law and love. Ultimately, trust becomes the force that could redefine both characters' futures.

Last Updated: October 03, 2025 at 09:59

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Hopeful frontier justice movies like Goodnight for Justice: The Measure of a Man

Lone heroes find redemption and romance while upholding justice on the frontier.If you enjoyed the blend of justice and hope in Goodnight for Justice: The Measure of a Man, explore these movies. This list features Westerns and similar stories where a lone hero's quest for justice is intertwined with themes of redemption and a surprisingly optimistic tone.

hopefultenselonelyromanticdangerousredemptivefrontierjustice

Narrative Summary

The narrative follows a morally centered protagonist, often isolated or burdened by their past, who is drawn into a conflict that tests their principles. Through dangerous journeys and confrontations with lawlessness, they not only dispense justice but also find personal healing, often through an unexpected connection or romance, leading to a positive resolution.

Why These Movies?

Movies are grouped here for their shared ambiance of a hopeful tone within a classic Western or frontier setting. They balance medium-intensity action with character-driven stories focused on themes of honor, redemption, and the possibility of a better future, resulting in a satisfying and uplifting experience.

Movies about criminal redemption like in Goodnight for Justice: The Measure of a Man

Characters with a shady past seek a new life, tested by love and danger.Fans of Lucy's redemption story in Goodnight for Justice: The Measure of a Man will appreciate these films. Discover similar narratives where characters with a criminal past struggle for a second chance, facing dangers and moral tests while building an unlikely romance.

redemptivehopefultensemelancholicunlikely romancedangerous journeypast traumasecond chance

Narrative Summary

The plot revolves around a character haunted by their past misdeeds who is presented with an opportunity for change. This journey is fraught with tension as their old life and associates threaten their new path. A key element is often a relationship with someone who represents the honest life they desire, forcing them to prove their change is real, culminating in a hard-won happy ending.

Why These Movies?

These films are united by the powerful character arc of redemption. They share a medium emotional weight, exploring the conflict between past and future selves. The tone is cautiously hopeful, and the pacing is steady, allowing for character development amidst tense situations that test the protagonist's resolve.

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Goodnight for Justice: The Measure of a Man Summary

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Goodnight for Justice: The Measure of a Man Summary

Goodnight for Justice: The Measure of a Man Timeline

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Goodnight for Justice: The Measure of a Man Timeline

Goodnight for Justice: The Measure of a Man Spoiler-Free Summary

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Goodnight for Justice: The Measure of a Man Spoiler-Free Summary

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