Gary Cooper is stoic lawman Marshall Will Kane. He's taken a small, frontier town, and turned it into a respectable place, safe for the women and children. But you can tell in his face, the years of being a lawman have taken its toll. Kane is ready to step aside and move into a new phase of his life. He has found a young Quaker woman to marry, and thus, retire his guns. As the wedding ceremony comes to a conclusion, news arrives that Frank Miller coming back to town for revenge on Marshall Kane. From here, the film soars.
Revisionist westerns often like to paint their heroes with a shade of gray. "High Noon" takes it in a different direction. Kane is a servant of the law and wants to do right by his community. While it's no longer his obligation, because of his moral standard, he feels he still owes the town. You watch as Kane weighs the dilemma in his head. Instead, the film casts the shadow of gray on the townspeople and his friends. These are the very people that should be standing by his side. Instead, he gets a varying response. One man is willing to help the cause, then backs down when no one else wants to fight. Others simply hide, while some are brazen enough to root against Kane. And as noon approaches, Kane finds himself alone, facing a battle on the main street of town.
John Wayne referred to this film as un-American. I would have to disagree. Strong-willed individuals are indeed hard to find, and cowardly behavior is more the norm. If put in that situation and given a chance to ponder the consequences, which path would most people take?
Cooper won the Oscar, but he's surrounded by a strong supporting cast which includes Grace Kelly, Lloyd Bridges, and Katy Jurado. The final scene of the film is brilliant because it is punctuated only by a look instead of words. Westerns really don't get much better than "High Noon".
Rating: 10/10
Movies I've previously seen: 6
First time viewings: 71
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