HIGH NOON is often regarded as one of the best Westerns, if not one of the greatest films, ever made. Based off the short story "The Tin Star" by John W. Cunningham, HIGH NOON tells the story of sheriff Will Kane (Gary Cooper), who is getting married to Amy (Grace Kelly), a Quaker, and stepping down. But a dark cloud comes over this happy occasion: Frank Miller (Ian MacDonald), a man Kane sent to prison, is getting out and will be arriving in town on the noon train. It is 10:35 AM at the moment and the movie unfolds in an approximation of real time. Waiting at the train station are Miller's boys, they all have one objective: kill Kane.
At first, Kane and Amy are going to just leave, but Kane feels that he owes the town one last defense. This goes against the pacifistic beliefs of Amy, who simply wants to leave town. Back in the town of Hadleyville, the citizens are divided over what should be Kane's course of action: some think Kane should just leave and there won't be any trouble. Others want to see Kane gunned down because he cleaned up the town and they all lost money from when Miller ran things. One of those who wants Kane to leave is his former deputy Harvey Pell (Lloyd Bridges), although not for any altruistic reason. Pell wants the sheriff's job and feels that it will impress his woman, Helen Ramirez (Katy Jurado). Helen has had romantic dealings with both Kane and Miller and, from the looks of things, is constantly comparing Pell to these two men. This leads to a big fight between Pell and Kane and further isolates Kane from the situation.
Kane tries to get help from the townspeople, but feel that it isn't exactly their problem anymore since Kane has resigned. As the time runs down and no one will stand with him, Kane is shown to be more human as the film progresses. This is also shown in one of the best shots in cinema history as Kane is shown alone on the streets of the town. The climactic shootout is a real nail-biter and a departure from the conventional way gunfights had been shown in Westerns up until then. Despite being deserted by the townspeople, Kane receives some help from a very unlikely source, which I feel heightens the situation even more. The movie's final image is now iconic.
One might wonder why John Wayne didn't play a part like this. He had been approached, but thought that HIGH NOON didn't properly portray the true spirit of the Old West. He would later lament that he wished he could get a part like Kane when he presented Cooper with his second Best Actor Oscar. The film also won Oscars for its film editing, musical score and song "Do Not Forsake Me, Oh, My Darlin'". Do not forsake this classic.
At first, Kane and Amy are going to just leave, but Kane feels that he owes the town one last defense. This goes against the pacifistic beliefs of Amy, who simply wants to leave town. Back in the town of Hadleyville, the citizens are divided over what should be Kane's course of action: some think Kane should just leave and there won't be any trouble. Others want to see Kane gunned down because he cleaned up the town and they all lost money from when Miller ran things. One of those who wants Kane to leave is his former deputy Harvey Pell (Lloyd Bridges), although not for any altruistic reason. Pell wants the sheriff's job and feels that it will impress his woman, Helen Ramirez (Katy Jurado). Helen has had romantic dealings with both Kane and Miller and, from the looks of things, is constantly comparing Pell to these two men. This leads to a big fight between Pell and Kane and further isolates Kane from the situation.
Kane tries to get help from the townspeople, but feel that it isn't exactly their problem anymore since Kane has resigned. As the time runs down and no one will stand with him, Kane is shown to be more human as the film progresses. This is also shown in one of the best shots in cinema history as Kane is shown alone on the streets of the town. The climactic shootout is a real nail-biter and a departure from the conventional way gunfights had been shown in Westerns up until then. Despite being deserted by the townspeople, Kane receives some help from a very unlikely source, which I feel heightens the situation even more. The movie's final image is now iconic.
One might wonder why John Wayne didn't play a part like this. He had been approached, but thought that HIGH NOON didn't properly portray the true spirit of the Old West. He would later lament that he wished he could get a part like Kane when he presented Cooper with his second Best Actor Oscar. The film also won Oscars for its film editing, musical score and song "Do Not Forsake Me, Oh, My Darlin'". Do not forsake this classic.