Anna Daniels
Many film fans consider High Noon to be the first true “adult Western,” one that examines the morals of the Old West and explores the psychology of the men and women living on the frontier. This 1952 movie also won several Academy Awards, including Best Actor for star Gary Cooper. As for the film itself, it’s a tense, pared-down Western that explores the nature of duty and morality, all through one man’s desperate attempts to stay alive.
High Noon stars Cooper as Marshal Will Kane, a man who’s getting married and is about to retire. But right as he’s about to set out for a new life, he learns that an outlaw he put behind bars has been released and is coming to town to exact revenge. His new wife (Grace Kelly) tries to get him to leave, but he refuses to run. Instead, he tries to round up a group to help him fight. However, he slowly learns that the town has turned against him, too cowardly to help, afraid they’ll only get themselves killed trying. So Kane decides to make a solitary, final stand at “high noon” when his nemesis comes into town.
High Noon is a bit slow throughout, but it features some very famous scenes (like an iconic crane shot showing how alone Kane really is), a terrific performance from Cooper, and an exciting finale. It’s a great place to start if you’re exploring Westerns.
Written by: Looper
