High Noon
HIGH NOON (PG)
D: Fred Zinnemann
United Artists (Stanley Kramer)
US 1952
85 mins
Western
W: Carl Foreman [based on the story "The Tin
Star" by John W. Cunningham]
DP: Floyd Crosby
Ed: Elmo Williams & Harry
Gerstad
Mus: Dimitri Tiomkin
PD: Rudolph Sternad
Gary Cooper (Will Kane), Grace Kelly (Amy Kane),
Thomas Mitchell (Jonas Henderson), Lloyd Bridges (Harvey Pell), Katy Jurado (Helen Ramirez)
High Noon is a seminal western which many others have aspired
to be, but don't come close to touching distance.
Gary Cooper won his second Oscar for his portrayal of town
marshal Will Kane, who, on his wedding day, receives warning that a rival is on his way with revenge his mind. Too proud to leave town and against the wishes of his new wife, Kane is determined
to stay and fight, but the rest of the townsfolk are reluctant to help him.
Billed as the first "adult western", the story has some
complex allegorical parables with American politics of the 1950's, especially with the dawn of the Cold War and McCarthyism.
Every moment of the film is brilliantly realised, cranking up
the tension as the film progresses. It's all down to top notch direction from Fred Zinnemann, believable acting performances, taut editing, engaging cinematography and a classic music theme. An
absolute must-see, even for those who aren't particularly fond of Westerns.
10/10
