High Noon
1952  NR  WESTERN  1h 25min
CAST— Gary Cooper, Thomas Mitchell, Lloyd Bridges, Katy Jurado, Grace Kelly, Otto Kruger, Lon Chaney (Jr.), Henry (Harry) Morgan, Lee Van Cleef, Robert Wilke, Sheb Wooley
MUSIC— Dimitri Tiomkin  DIRECTOR— Fred Zinnemann  BASED ON— The Tin Star (story), by John W. Cunningham

     More a dramatic story as opposed to a violent Western, High Noon is all about the pitch perfect performances and the detailed direction. Gary Cooper stars as a soft-spoken marshal who has just married and retired, all on the same day. But his retirement may have been a bit premature, for who should come riding into town but three cronies of the legendary outlaw Frank Miller. Miller, who has vowed revenge against the marshal for sending him up the river, will be arriving on the noon train. That gives the marshal about an hour’s prep time to gather backup. Simple, unfolds with ease, with an edge-of-your-seat finale. Classic Western buffs shouldn’t miss out. Oscar-winner for Best Actor (Cooper), Best Score, Best Editing, Best Song (Do Not Forsake Me, Oh My Darlin’, by Tex Ritter). Deemed “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant” by the United States Library of Congress National Film Registry.
OUR RATING— ** ½
FOLLOWED BY— High Noon Part II: The Return of Will Kane (1980)
REMADE AS— High Noon (2000)