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:

Lawman | Train | Revenge | Wedding | Outlaw

Awards:

Won 4 Oscars. Another 12 wins & 10 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)
John Breen	...	Church Member (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)
Tex Driscoll	...	Church Member (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)
Michael Jeffers	...	Townsman (uncredited)
Chubby Johnson	...	First Old Timer on Hotel Porch (uncredited)
Paul Kruger	...	Church Member (uncredited)
Nolan Leary	...	Lewis (uncredited)
Tom London	...	Sam (uncredited)
Merrill McCormick	...	Fletcher (uncredited)
James Millican	...	Deputy Sheriff Herb Baker (uncredited)
Jack Montgomery	...	Townsman (uncredited)
William Newell	...	Jimmy - Drunk with Eye Patch (uncredited)
William H. O'Brien	...	Church Member (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
Stanley Kramer	....	producer (as A Stanley Kramer Production)
Carl Foreman	....	associate producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Dimitri Tiomkin

Cinematography by
Floyd Crosby		(director of photography)

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		(set decorations)

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: ladies

Editorial Department
Harry W. Gerstad	....	editorial supervisor (as Harry Gerstad)
Robert L. Lippert Jr.	....	assistant editor (uncredited)

Music Department
George C. Emick	....	music editor (as George Emick)
Dimitri Tiomkin	....	music 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 (presents)

Distributors

• United Artists (1952) (USA) (theatrical) (released thru) (as A United Artists Release also)
• United Artists (1953) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• United Artists (1956) (USA) (theatrical) (re-release) (released thru) (as A United Artists Release also)
• 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)
• Odeon (2004) (Greece) (DVD)
• 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 by (as Sound Services, Inc.)

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated PG for some western violence, and smoking

Runtime:

85 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Spanish

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Certification:

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) | 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 (The National Board of Review) | Portugal:M/12 | Brazil:12 | USA:Not Rated (DVD rating) | USA:PG | Netherlands:14 (orginal rating)

Filming Locations:

Brooks Ranch, Jamestown, California, USA

Company:

Stanley Kramer Productions

Trivia:

Gary Cooper and Grace Kelly had an affair that lasted for the duration of filming.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Kane is in his office and puts his head down on his desk, he did not have a badge on when his head went down, but he has a badge when his head comes up.

Quotes:

Hotel Clerk:You're Mrs. Kane, ain't you?
Amy:Yes.
Hotel Clerk:You're leaving on the noon train?
Amy:Yes.
Hotel Clerk:But your husband ain't?
Amy:No, why?
Hotel Clerk:No reason, but it's mighty interesting. Now, me, I wouldn't leave this town at noon for all the tea in China. No, sir, it's going to be quite a sight to see!

Movie Connections:

Featured in "The Rotten Tomatoes Show: The Town/I'm Still Here/Easy A (#2.32)" (2010)

Soundtrack:

High Noon

superlative 50s western

Gary Cooper's greatest role, at 50, as the newly-married sheriff, Will Kane, left to fend for himself against his returning enemies, abandoned by the town he remains loyal to, and played out in real time through its 90 minute running time.

Ably supported by Grace Kelly as his pacifist Quaker wife, who discovers love and right triumphs over long-held preconceptions; Katy Jurado as Kane's former mistress, a fiery Latino type; and Lloyd Bridges as the feisty deputy; Cooper runs away with the acting honours. The theme tune by Tex Ritter is also worthy of note.

‘High Noon' works because of its tightly written script, its cracking pace and crackling tension. I've seen the film many times and always see something different to notice and admire; still, I'd love to see it again for the first time and not know the twists and turns, not know how it ends. A fabulous film – one of the best.