HIGH NOON (1952)

Film of the Day #264

HIGH NOON
1952 • Fred Zinnemann

Cast: Gary Cooper, Thomas Mitchell, Lloyd Bridges, Katy Jurado, Grace Kelly, Otto Kruger, Lon Chaney Jr., Henry Morgan
Screenplay: Carl Foreman Based on “The Tin Star" 1947 short story in Collier's by John W. Cunningham
Cinematography: Floyd Crosby
Music: Dimitri Tiomkin

United Artists

You risk your skin catching killers and the juries turn them loose so they can come back and shoot at you again. If you're honest you're poor your whole life and in the end you wind up dying all alone on some dirty street. For what? For nothing. For a tin star.

Will Kane (Gary Cooper) has just gotten married to Amy Fowler (Grace Kelly) and is about to leave town, retiring as town Marshal, when news arrives that Frank Miller (Ian MacDonald), a notorious outlaw whom Kane sent to prison, has been released and is arriving on the noon train seeking revenge. As Kane attempts to rally the townspeople to help him defend against Miller and his gang, he is met with apathy and cowardice. His former friends and allies turn their backs on him, finding excuses to avoid confronting Miller. The tension mounts in real-time as Kane realizes he must face Miller alone.

High Noon continues to resonate with audiences decades later for its gripping portrayal of duty, honor, and the stark divide between courage and cowardice. Directed by Fred Zinnemann and starring the legendary Gary Cooper in what many consider his finest role, the film unfolds in real time, building tension as the clock ticks away the precious minutes before a fateful showdown.

What sets High Noon apart is its unflinching exploration of cowardice as an immoral trait. Kane's solitary stand against Miller and his gang is a powerful reminder of the consequences of forsaking one's principles in the face of adversity. As the clock ticks relentlessly towards noon, the tension mounts, forcing you to feel the anxiety of Kane’s unavoidable situation.

Despite its acclaim, High Noon faced criticism from some quarters, including Hollywood icon John Wayne, who deemed the film "un-American." (In fact, Rio Bravo is a direct response to this film.) Wayne was a proud anti-communist and this hatred was probably fueled by the McCarthy hysteria at the time. I have my own issues with Wayne, who made great movies, yet he himself avoided World War II when many of his acting peers went into battle. But enough about Wayne’s hypocrisy.

Central to the film's success is Gary Cooper's masterful performance as Marshal Will Kane. His portrayal of a man torn between his sense of duty and the desire to ride off into the sunset with his new, Quaker wife, is what makes Kane one of the great movie heroes. Cooper's ability to convey a sense of quiet strength and moral integrity is unparalleled. Kane grapples with the weight of his duty and the betrayal of those around him. His subtle gestures and expressions speak volumes. What makes Cooper's performance so remarkable is its restraint. Rather than relying on grandiose theatrics or overt displays of heroism, Cooper portrays Kane with quiet dignity and understated grace. This quality makes Kane's eventual stand against Frank Miller and his gang all the more powerful.

One of the most striking devices in High Noon is the constant presence of the clock, literally showing the passage of time and the urgency of Kane's mission. From the opening moments of the film, when Kane learns of Frank Miller's impending arrival, the ticking of the clock becomes almost a threat. Moreover, the clock serves as a practical device within the narrative, helping to structure the film's real-time format. Each tick serves as a reminder of the precious minutes slipping away, heightening the film's suspense and driving home the stakes of the impending confrontation. It’s a brilliant bit of editing and it drives the tension of the film.

Despite John Wayne’s whining, High Noon received widespread acclaim upon its release, garnering seven Oscar nominations and winning four, including Best Actor for Gary Cooper.

I've got to, that's the whole thing.

Notable Awards & Accomplishments

• Academy Award Nominee: Best Picture

• Academy Award Nominee: Best Director

• Academy Award Winner: Best Actor in a Leading Role (Cooper)

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