High Noon (1952)

“High Noon” is the story of a small town named Hadeyville marshal who must face up to four professional killers alone, after he is deserted to die by all the townspeople who profess to admire him. It is perhaps the greatest western ever filmed, with Gary Cooper, who portrays the marshal Will Kane with a strong presence that overwhelms the viewer, and a continuous use of the ballad written by Dimitri Tiomkin, “Do Not Forsake Me, Oh My Darlin’,” sung by Tex Ritter. Both of these elements, plus Fred Zinnemann’s expert hand of direction heighten the tension that builds to climactic action in the film.

 

Fred Zinnemann’s credits before “High Noon” were “The Seventh Cross” (1944), “The Search” (1948), “The Men” (1950), and “The Member of the Wedding” (1952). The year after he made “High Noon,” 1953, he directed “From Here To Eternity.” He then went on to make such revered films as “Oklahoma!” (1955), “The Nun’s Story” (1959), “The Sundowners” (1960), “A Man for All Seasons” (1966), “The Day of the Jackal” (1973), and “Julia” (1977).

 

Though only 85 minutes long, “High Noon” is a memorable western that evokes genuine emotions, and stands for the greater good. The laserdisc and DVD versions include such extras as the original trailer, an essay by Howard Suber on audio 2, a photo essay of production stills, Carl Forman’s original notes of the film, and a complete text of “The Tin Star,” the story on which the film is based.

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Trivia about High Noon:

 

• Director Fred Zinnemann said that the black smoke billowing from the train is a sign that the brakes were failing. He and the cameraman didn't know it at the time, and barely got out of the way. The camera tripod snagged itself on the track and fell over, smashing the camera, but the film survived and was left in the film.
• Lee van Cleef does not have one word of dialogue.
• The pained expression on Gary Cooper’s face throughout the film was entirely realistic, as Cooper had a bleeding ulcer at the time.

·        This movie is rumored to be able to be viewed in real time. Several camera shots of clocks are present in the movie and they correspond with actual minutes ticking by.

·        Anachronisms: Dolly shot at the end shows downtown Los Angeles in the background.

·        Revealing mistakes: A badge from a previous shot can be seen behind Kane's boot heel in the climactic scene when Kane throws his badge to the ground before leaving town.

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Quotes from High Noon:

 

Martin Howe: And in the end you wind up dyin' all alone on some dusty street. For what? For a tin star. It's all for nothin', Will. It's all for nothin'.

 

Helen Ramirez: You're a good-looking boy: you've big, broad shoulders. But he's a man. And it takes more than big, broad shoulders to make a man.

 

Martin Howe: The public doesn't give a damn about integrity. A town that won't defend itself deserves no help.

 

 

Cast overview, first billed only:

Gary Cooper ....  Will Kane 

Thomas Mitchell  ....  Jonas Henderson 

Lloyd Bridges ....  Harvey Pell 

Katy Jurado ....  Helen Ramirez 

Grace Kelly ....  Amy Kane 

Otto Kruger ....  Percy Mettrick 

Lon Chaney Jr. ....  Martin Howe 

Harry Morgan ....  Sam Fuller 

Ian MacDonald  ....  Frank Miller 

Eve McVeagh ....  Mildred Fuller 

Morgan Farley ....  Minister  

Harry Shannon  ....  Cooper 

Lee Van Cleef ....  Jack Colby 

Robert J. Wilke ....  James Pierce 

Sheb Wooley ....  Ben Miller 

 

 

 

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