Within minutes of being married, a US Marshal finds himself at odds with his bride and the townsfolk as news of the imminent arrival of a revenge-seeking outlaw travelling on the noon train.
As Marshal Will Kane (Gary Cooper) is betrothed to Amy Fowler (Grace Kelly), so the news of the pardoning of Frank Miller (Ian MacDonald) hits town. Kane sent him down for murder – and now Miller with his small posse is intent on dishing out his own justice. Encouraged to leave the very town he made safe from the likes of Miller, the Marshal refuses – only to find he’s left to confront the gang alone.
A dramatic psychological build up to noon as the ticking clock counts down the minutes, High Noon is surprisingly brief in its denouement as the four outlaws track Kane through the streets. Director Fred Zinnemann looks instead to the build up and the support eschewed by friends and town members.
Nominated for 7 Oscars in 1953 including best film, director, screenplay – won 4 for best actor, editing, original score (Dimitri Tiomkin), song (High Noon (Do Not Forsake Me, Oh My Darlin’))
Rating: 63%
Director: Fred Zinnemann (The Nun’s Story, From Here to Eternity)
Writer: Carl Foreman (The Guns of Navarone, The Bridge on the River Kwai) – based on the short story by John W. Cunningham
Main cast: Gary Cooper (Pride of the Yankees, For Whom the Bell Tolls), Grace Kelly (Rear Window, To Catch a Thief), Thomas Mitchell (Stagecoach, Gone With the Wind)
An Opinion or Two 