High Noon (1952)

A marshall, personally compelled to face a returning deadly enemy, finds that his own town refuses to help him.

Director:

Fred Zinnemann

Writers:

Carl Foreman (screenplay), John W. Cunningham (magazine story "The Tin Star")

Stars:

Gary Cooper, Thomas Mitchell, Lloyd Bridges

Top 250 #151 | Won 4 Oscars. Another 12 wins & 10 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Gary Cooper	...	Marshal Will Kane
Thomas Mitchell	...	Mayor Jonas Henderson
Lloyd Bridges	...	Deputy Marshal Harvey Pell
Katy Jurado	...	Helen Ramírez
Grace Kelly	...	Amy Fowler Kane
Otto Kruger	...	Judge Percy Mettrick
Lon Chaney Jr.	...	Martin Howe (as Lon Chaney)
Harry Morgan	...	Sam Fuller (as Henry Morgan)
Ian MacDonald	...	Frank Miller
Eve McVeagh	...	Mildred Fuller
Morgan Farley	...	Dr. Mahin - Minister
Harry Shannon	...	Cooper
Lee Van Cleef	...	Jack Colby
Robert J. Wilke	...	Jim Pierce (as Robert Wilke)
Sheb Wooley	...	Ben Miller

Storyline

On the day he gets married and hangs up his badge, lawman Will Kane is told that a man he sent to prison years before, Frank Miller, is returning on the noon train to exact his revenge. Having initially decided to leave with his new spouse, Will decides he must go back and face Miller. However, when he seeks the help of the townspeople he has protected for so long, they turn their backs on him. It seems Kane may have to face Miller alone, as well as the rest of Miller's gang, who are waiting for him at the station...

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Plot Keywords:

lawman | train | revenge | wedding | outlaw | 

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Taglines:

There Is Nothing Under The Sun Like The High Adventure Of "High Noon"!

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Genres:

Drama | Western

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for some western violence, and smoking

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Spanish

Release Date:

30 July 1952 (USA)

Also Known As:

A la hora señalada

Filming Locations:

Brooks Ranch, Jamestown, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$750,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Stanley Kramer Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

85 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Gary Cooper worked on the film for three weeks in September 1951.

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Goofs

In the climactic crane shot when Kane is alone in the town square, modern day buildings are clearly visible in the skyline.

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Quotes

[to Deputy Harvey Pell]
Joe: I knew you had guts but I never figured you for brains. It takes a pretty smart man to know when to back away.

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Connections

Referenced in Supernova: Where Men Are Men (2005)

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Soundtracks

"Battle Hymn of the Republic"
(ca 1856) (uncredited)
Music by William Steffe
Lyrics by Julia Ward Howe (1862)
Sung by the parishioners in church

User Reviews

The definitive western movie

This is the definitive Western. There are other excellent Westerns of course ("The Unforgiven," "Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid," "The Searchers," "My Darling Clementine," and "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance" come immediately to mind), but none tops this one. Even though the difference in age between Gary Cooper and Grace Kelley makes the thought of their marriage seem a little kinky, it's easy to buy into the story. Katy Jurado is sexy, Lloyd Bridges is callow, and the townspeople mean well, but when push comes to shove, they reveal their cowardice. (If you remember the scene in "Blazing Saddles" in which Van Johnson says, "Howard Johnson is right," you'll almost certainly laugh at an inappropriate moment in "High Noon." ) "High Noon" is a textbook example of the storyteller's art. The drama begins with the opening credits and doesn't let up until everyone's true character has been laid bare. This one is suspenseful and thrilling, and I find more to admire with every viewing.