After finishing 24 in 24, I was drawn to one of the first films ever done in a real time format. And while never into westerns, I had to check out 1952’s “High Noon” for that facet alone.
There are enjoyable elements, particularly for a fan of RDR2. “High Noon” has saloons, brawls, posses, and Main Street shootouts. It’s the film Hans Gruber references in “Die Hard.” And it stars Hollywood royalty, Gary Cooper.
Westerns – Jazz of the Movie World
Like most westerns, its ultra-simple. Marshal Will Kane (Cooper) is on the eve of retirement. Word comes that the outlaw Miller gang is en route to settle an old score ie kill Marshal Kane. They will be arriving at – you guessed it – high noon. Kane’s sense of loyalty and duty are tested as he must decide whether to face the gang or flee town with his hot wife, played by Grace Kelly in only her second role on film.
I was shocked to discover the acclaim “High Noon” received. The film was nominated for seven Academy Awards and won four. In 1989 it was selected by the Library of Congress as one of the first 25 films for preservation in the United States National Film Registry for being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.” It was also mired in controversy for its parallels to blacklisting.
Real Time
What makes “High Noon’ stand out from any random wild west picture is the real time format. When Marshal Kane is first informed of the impending arrival of the Miller gang, we have 85 minutes. A wall clock in his office serves as a consistent reminder that time, and his life, may be nearing an end.
While I won’t pretend that I was enthralled, it is interesting to see a movie that was made over 70 years ago, and just how different things were done at that time.
There are some cool shots of the landscapes and characters. I loved the final moments as we get quick cuts between the clock, Marshal Kane, and the members of the Miller gang played by Ian MacDonald, Lee Van Cleef, Robert J. Wilke, and Sheb Wooley. I can see why people watching at the time were enthralled.
Movie Stars
There’s a great humorous moment where Kane observes a group of kids playing with toy guns. One of the kids yells “bang your dead!” to the kid posing as Kane. Gary Cooper displays great emotion with his always constant stoic face. Its das that he died just ten years later at the age of 60.
Thespian Lloyd Bridges costars as Deputy Marshal Harvey Pell. Thomas Mitchell of “It’s a Wonderful Life” plays Mayor Jonas Henderson.
Westerns serve as an excuse for adults to play dress up. “High Noon” shows artistry can touch even the dryest of deserts. Even those who aren’t fans of the genre can watch this simple and fast paced film for better insight on classic Hollywood, and a long-gone era.
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