High Noon (1952)

Director:

Fred Zinnemann

Writers:

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

Release Date:

30 July 1952 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Western

Tagline:

Simple. Powerful. Unforgettable.

Plot:

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

Plot Keywords:

Revenge | Wedding | Badge | Based On Magazine Article | Famous Song

Awards:

Won 4 Oscars. Another 11 wins & 8 nominations

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
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Lee Aaker	...	Boy (uncredited)
Guy Beach	...	Fred - Coffinmaker (uncredited)
Jeanne Blackford	...	Mrs. Henderson (uncredited)
Larry J. Blake	...	Gillis - Saloon Owner (uncredited)
Roy Bucko	...	Barfly (uncredited)
Bob Carson	...	Barfly (uncredited)
Howland Chamberlain	...	Hotel Clerk (uncredited)
Virginia Christine	...	Mrs. Simpson (uncredited)
Cliff Clark	...	Ed Weaver (uncredited)
Ben Corbett	...	Townsman (uncredited)
John Doucette	...	Trumbull (uncredited)
Paul Dubov	...	Scott (uncredited)
Jack Elam	...	Charlie - Drunk in Jail (uncredited)
Dick Elliott	...	Kibbee (uncredited)
Virginia Farmer	...	Mrs. Fletcher (uncredited)
Tim Graham	...	Sawyer (uncredited)
Tom Greenway	...	Ezra (uncredited)
Harry Harvey	...	Coy (uncredited)
Chuck Hayward	...	Townsman (uncredited)
Chubby Johnson	...	First Old Timer on Hotel Porch (uncredited)
Nolan Leary	...	Lewis (uncredited)
Tom London	...	Sam (uncredited)
Merrill McCormick	...	Fletcher (uncredited)
James Millican	...	Deputy Sheriff Herb Baker (uncredited)
William Newell	...	Jimmy - Drunk with Eye Patch (uncredited)
William 'Bill' Phillips	...	Barber (uncredited)
Lucien Prival	...	Joe - Ramirez Saloon Bartender (uncredited)
Ralph Reed	...	Johnny - Town Boy (uncredited)
Syd Saylor	...	Second Old Timer on Hotel Porch (uncredited)
Ted Stanhope	...	Station Master (uncredited)

Directed by
Fred Zinnemann

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

Produced by
Carl Foreman	....	associate producer (uncredited)
Stanley Kramer	....	producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Dimitri Tiomkin

Cinematography by
Floyd Crosby

Film Editing by
Elmo Williams

Casting by
Jack Murton		(uncredited)

Production Design by
Rudolph Sternad

Art Direction by
Ben Hayne

Set Decoration by
Murray Waite

Makeup Department
Louise Miehle	....	hair stylist
Gustaf Norin	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Clem Beauchamp	....	production supervisor
Percy Ikerd	....	unit manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Emmett Emerson	....	assistant director

Sound Department
Jean L. Speak	....	sound engineer (as Jean Speak)
John Speak	....	sound (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Willis Cook	....	special effects (uncredited)

Stunts
Regis Parton	....	stunts (uncredited)
Slim Talbot	....	stunt double (uncredited)
Don Turner	....	stunts (uncredited)
Jack N. Young	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Morris Rosen	....	head grip
Homer Plannette	....	gaffer (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Joe King	....	wardrobe: men
Ann Peck	....	wardrobe: women

Editorial Department
Harry W. Gerstad	....	editorial supervisor (as Harry Gerstad)

Music Department
George C. Emick	....	music editor (as George Emick)
Dimitri Tiomkin	....	musical director
Manuel Emanuel	....	orchestrator (uncredited)
Anthony Galla-Rini	....	musician: accordions (uncredited)
Paul Marquardt	....	orchestrator (uncredited)
Herbert Taylor	....	orchestrator (uncredited)

Other crew
Sam Freedle	....	script clerk
Sally Hamilton	....	executive secretary (uncredited)
Nina Moise	....	dialogue director (uncredited)
Fred Polangin	....	merchandising director (uncredited)
Len Simpson	....	publicity director (uncredited)
Calvin Spencer	....	double: Lloyd Bridges (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Stanley Kramer Productions

Distributors

• United Artists (1952) (USA) (theatrical)
• United Artists (1953) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• United Artists (1956) (USA) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Constantin Film (1960) (West Germany) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Republic Pictures Home Video (1987) (USA) (VHS)
• Lions Gate Films Home Entertainment (1992) (USA) (VHS)
• Republic Pictures Home Video (1992) (USA) (VHS)
• Chapel Distribution (1997) (Australia) (theatrical) (16mm print)
• Republic Pictures Home Video (1997) (USA) (VHS)
• Republic Pictures Home Video (1998) (USA) (DVD)
• Republic Pictures Home Video (1998) (USA) (VHS)
• Kinowelt Home Entertainment (1999) (Germany) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures (2001) (UK) (DVD)
• Artisan Entertainment (2002) (USA) (DVD)
• VellaVisión (2002) (Spain) (DVD)
• Paramount Home Entertainment (2004) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Maple Pictures (2006) (Canada) (DVD)
• Emerald (2007) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Kinowelt Home Entertainment (2008) (Germany) (DVD) (special edition)
• Criterion Collection, The (19??) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Paramount Home Entertainment (2004) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Republic Pictures Home Video (19??) (Brazil) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Sound Services  magnetic recording
• Stanley Kramer Productions  current owner

Runtime:

85 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Spanish

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Certification:

Canada:G (Nova Scotia/Quebec) | Canada:PG (Ontario) | Canada:G (Manitoba) | Iceland:L | South Korea:15 | Germany:12 (DVD rating) | West Germany:12 (f) | USA:Passed (National Board of Review) | Argentina:Atp | Australia:PG | Finland:K-16 | Norway:16 (original rating) | Spain:13 | Sweden:11 (re-release) | Sweden:15 | UK:U | USA:Approved (PCA #15653)

Filming Locations:

Burbank, California, USA

Company:

Stanley Kramer Productions

Trivia:

Though supposed to be the older man, at 45 Lon Chaney Jr. was actually five years younger than Gary Cooper.

Goofs:

Continuity: As a result of the barn fight scene between Cooper and Bridges, Cooper is left with a large abrasion on the right side of his face and goes to the barber shop to cleaned up. The abrasion is gone while in the barber shop but can be seen in subsequent scenes.

Quotes:

Martin: People gotta talk themselves into law and order before they do anything about it. Maybe because down deep they don't care. They just don't care.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Fuks (1999)

Soundtrack:

Battle Hymn of the Republic

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.