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:

Train | Lawman | Revenge | Wedding | Outlaw

Awards:

Won 4 Oscars. Another 12 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)
John L. Cason	...	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)
Jack Tornek	...	Barfly (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)
Robert L. Lippert Jr.	....	assistant editor

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) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Paramount Home Entertainment (2004) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Maple Pictures (2006) (Canada) (DVD)
• Emerald (2007) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Kinowelt Home Entertainment (2008) (Germany) (DVD) (special edition)
• Constantin-Filmverleih (1953) (Austria) (theatrical)
• Criterion Collection, The (19??) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Olive Films (2012) (Canada) (DVD) (DVD and Blu-ray)
• Olive Films (2012) (USA) (DVD) (DVD and Blu-ray)
• Republic Pictures Home Video (19??) (Brazil) (VHS)
• Video Collection International (198?) (UK) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Sound Services  magnetic recording
• Stanley Kramer Productions  current owner

Also Known As:

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 | West Germany:12 (f) | Germany:12 (DVD rating) | USA:Passed (National Board of Review) | Portugal:M/12 | 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:

Brooks Ranch, Jamestown, California, USA

Company:

Stanley Kramer Productions

Trivia:

A comic relief scene involving town drunk Jack Elam and an entire subplot with James Brown playing another marshal didn't make it into the final cut.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: The pre-gummed rectangular envelope that Kane puts his folded Last Will and Testament into was not the type used in the 1867-1876 era that the 37-starred US Flag suggests and was not made until about the 1890's. Envelopes in that era were diamond-shaped with the user having to provide the sealant, wax for example.

Quotes:

Judge:This is just a dirty little village in the middle of nowhere. Nothing that happens here is really important.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Falcon Crest: Crimes of the Past (#9.19)" (1990)

Soundtrack:

High Noon

Timeless

I just watched this movie again. I have no idea how many times I have seen this movie over the span of my 52 years (yes I was born the same year the movie was released). Each time I have seen it, of late, I continue to develop a greater appreciation for it. I normally liked to be lightly entertained by a movie. This movie provides a glimps at so many varied characters, showing such a variety of emotions and complex personal issues. This is no-nonsense, un-contrived, straight forward story telling, at its best. I truly enjoy the restrained use of dialogue. It is amazing how much story is told with so few words, in a limited running time. WOW, I love it.