*May Contain Spoilers
The film tells the story of Marshall Will Kane who is willing to face his foes even when no one else will help him. Gary Cooper plays the newlywed lawman who must flee town or face the killer coming on the noon train. He resolves to do just that despite the pleas of his loving wife. The sheriff scrambles against the clock to get help. However no one is brave enough to face the enemy with him. Even with the odds against him he faces them in a showdown. Cooper is outgunned but not outmatched and heroically prevails. This is film is so powerful because it is full of human emotions and it feels so real since the events unfold almost in real time. The somber ballad sung by Tex Ritter also help to create the mood right from the opening credits. In fact, I must admit that multiple times I have found my self humming or crooning the words, but then again I suppose it makes sense because the song is woven into the very fabric of the film. The score by Dimitri Tiomkin utilizes the tune throughout to complement the images throughout town. In that respect "Do Not Forsake Me, Oh My Darlin'" is not just a song, but an important piece of this story. It is easy to forget the supporting players since Cooper often steals the show. Nevertheless there's Lloyd Bridges, Grace Kelly, Katy Jurado, Thomas Mitchell, Lon Chaney Jr., Harry Morgan, and even a young Lee Van Cleef. Many have pasts with Kane that we cannot expect to fully know. All we can understand is the here and now that causes a person to weigh their options and either follow or go against their conscience. Kane and then his bride both did what they thought was right even when others would not follow suit.
It struck me how simple the story is and yet on the other side it is a complex allegory that critiques humanity. Will Kane is a man who helped make the town what it is but when trouble comes and the odds are bad no one is willing to help him. Besides the obvious positives like a good story and a heroic protagonist, this film stands out because it feels so human. Here we are as an audience watching the events unfold almost minute for minute. Then we see the various town folk and their fear of getting involved, and to make matters worse a lot of them are Kane's very good friends. It makes us question what we would have done in their position. Because some of them were obviously good people but they were scared to be involved. Of course, during this time McCarthyism was prevalent and it is suggested that this film alluded to that. However, whatever you think it is still unquestionable that High Noon is a powerful film, a love story, and at its simplest a classic western.
5/5 Stars
It struck me how simple the story is and yet on the other side it is a complex allegory that critiques humanity. Will Kane is a man who helped make the town what it is but when trouble comes and the odds are bad no one is willing to help him. Besides the obvious positives like a good story and a heroic protagonist, this film stands out because it feels so human. Here we are as an audience watching the events unfold almost minute for minute. Then we see the various town folk and their fear of getting involved, and to make matters worse a lot of them are Kane's very good friends. It makes us question what we would have done in their position. Because some of them were obviously good people but they were scared to be involved. Of course, during this time McCarthyism was prevalent and it is suggested that this film alluded to that. However, whatever you think it is still unquestionable that High Noon is a powerful film, a love story, and at its simplest a classic western.
5/5 Stars
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