It is often said that "The Greatest Show on Earth" is the worst film to win the Best Picture Oscar. That may be, but I disagree with those who would pick "High Noon" as Best Picture of 1952. "The Quiet Man" would be my choice. Or "Singin' in the Rain", which was not even nominated.
"High Noon" is an iconic western, by reputation. Though I like the film, I think it is over-rated. Gary Cooper fits the role of Marshal Will Kane well. He's a reserved man with a strong physical presence. When he hears that Frank Miller is coming on the noon train, he knows why the man is coming and he knows what to do about it, despite the fact the marshal was married that morning. His bride, however, is a Quaker and only wants her new husband to be safe. Grace Kelly fits that role well, with her prim and proper bearing, and a visual purity that makes her seem above the issues of the grimy little town of Hadleysville.
As the clocks (which seem to be everywhere) count down the minutes until noon, the Marshal looks for allies---a difficult task, considering his history with certain parties and the fact that the townspeople have divided loyalties.
The suspense of the countdown is what drives the film. Kane is not some superhuman, untouchable gunslinger. He knows what his chances are and he feels the pressure. Dmitri Tiomkin's music does a good job of reinforcing the mounting stress.
The ending is somewhat anticlimactic for me. Other westerns that lead up to a final confrontation have done it better.
Watch for strong performances by Lloyd Bridges as Deputy Marshal Pell and Katy Jurado as Helen Ramirez, a savvy businesswoman whose past relationships complicate matters.
"High Noon" is an iconic western, by reputation. Though I like the film, I think it is over-rated. Gary Cooper fits the role of Marshal Will Kane well. He's a reserved man with a strong physical presence. When he hears that Frank Miller is coming on the noon train, he knows why the man is coming and he knows what to do about it, despite the fact the marshal was married that morning. His bride, however, is a Quaker and only wants her new husband to be safe. Grace Kelly fits that role well, with her prim and proper bearing, and a visual purity that makes her seem above the issues of the grimy little town of Hadleysville.
As the clocks (which seem to be everywhere) count down the minutes until noon, the Marshal looks for allies---a difficult task, considering his history with certain parties and the fact that the townspeople have divided loyalties.
The suspense of the countdown is what drives the film. Kane is not some superhuman, untouchable gunslinger. He knows what his chances are and he feels the pressure. Dmitri Tiomkin's music does a good job of reinforcing the mounting stress.
The ending is somewhat anticlimactic for me. Other westerns that lead up to a final confrontation have done it better.
Watch for strong performances by Lloyd Bridges as Deputy Marshal Pell and Katy Jurado as Helen Ramirez, a savvy businesswoman whose past relationships complicate matters.