Cooper plays the most sympathetic western character I can remember. Will Kane has his wedding day ruined by the memory of a past a devotion and a promise that must take precedence over his new marriage. A promise of duty, a devotion that cannot be escaped.
What a beautiful movie. The shots of solitary Kane walking through the streets with the pitiful refrain of the title song ("do not forsake me oh my darling," as much words between Kane and his wife as between the town and Kane) are close to tear-provoking.
A western that elevates emotional involvement over the genre's classical stylistic and thematic elements. Unique and vital.
Something about this movie draws you in right away and, over the span of its hour and 45 minute runtime, Cooper's increasingly desperate situation holds you until the finale despite the lack of traditional western action.
A serious man's western about moral imperatives and a town's collective social conscious.
I liked this right up until the end when I found it a little soft. The build-up was good, I especially liked the use of time/clocks to build tension. The strong female characters were interesting for the period in which it was filmed. The sparse town and townspeople as they gradually turned away from the sheriff was interesting and different compared to most westerns, which was obviously why its considered a western for non-western fans. However the backstory of the screenwriter and the Un-American committee was especially interesting, and perhaps more interesting than the film itself. Tid-bits about how popular it is in the White house, John Wayne hating it and a reference to High Noon in Die Hard is quite cool. I liked it more than I expected and given the historical significance it does help explain the sudden and predictable ending. I suspect the theme here is universal and one that I’ll be referencing and seeing in other genre’s time and time again.
Well, I'll admit that I wasn't so crazy about this while watching, but a bit of research on Wikipedia makes me appreciate it for being bold enough to go against the grain of the classic Western. Maybe that's why the protagonist seems like such a pansy half the time. Regardless, it's certainly good.
I was immediately taken by High Noon's silvery sheen, like a daguerreotype come to life, but more than that, it provides an unusually complex western narrative for one made in the early '50s. High Noon is more or less told in real time, with its title acting as a veritable ticking time bomb, as Gary Cooper's Marshal tries in vain to assemble a posse to help him with an outlaw coming to town. As the suspense reaches its crescendo, the editing works like clockwork. I actually started doing that thing where you count out beats and snap your fingers to the rhythm, and the picture would change on cue. Has the film lost its original meaning, as a reaction to McCarthyism and a condemnation of Hollywood hanging some of its people out to dry? Or is that still a relevant, even universal theme? Having one of the appeals take place in a church perhaps purposefully evokes Peter repudiating Christ three times. And so, High Noon asks whether we will stand together or let others fight our battles for us, even if they may fall from lack of support. And then some smart gunfighting choreography, making this a satisfying entry in the genre and not just an off-brand Waiting for Godot.
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Comments 1 - 15 of 24
besch64
The comments on this page are a real shame.Cooper plays the most sympathetic western character I can remember. Will Kane has his wedding day ruined by the memory of a past a devotion and a promise that must take precedence over his new marriage. A promise of duty, a devotion that cannot be escaped.
What a beautiful movie. The shots of solitary Kane walking through the streets with the pitiful refrain of the title song ("do not forsake me oh my darling," as much words between Kane and his wife as between the town and Kane) are close to tear-provoking.
A western that elevates emotional involvement over the genre's classical stylistic and thematic elements. Unique and vital.
sushantv10
Different from the regular westerns in so many ways, yet one of the best . One of my all time fav.frankqb
Something about this movie draws you in right away and, over the span of its hour and 45 minute runtime, Cooper's increasingly desperate situation holds you until the finale despite the lack of traditional western action.A serious man's western about moral imperatives and a town's collective social conscious.
danascully
Amazing film. Gary Cooper's acting is fantastic.Miss Jitterbug
I am giving it a 8/10 and I am not even a fan of westerns.Typically Thomas
I liked it a lot but it heavily overused "Do not forsake me, oh my darling". Really got sick of that song by the endcanaan
I liked this right up until the end when I found it a little soft. The build-up was good, I especially liked the use of time/clocks to build tension. The strong female characters were interesting for the period in which it was filmed. The sparse town and townspeople as they gradually turned away from the sheriff was interesting and different compared to most westerns, which was obviously why its considered a western for non-western fans. However the backstory of the screenwriter and the Un-American committee was especially interesting, and perhaps more interesting than the film itself. Tid-bits about how popular it is in the White house, John Wayne hating it and a reference to High Noon in Die Hard is quite cool. I liked it more than I expected and given the historical significance it does help explain the sudden and predictable ending. I suspect the theme here is universal and one that I’ll be referencing and seeing in other genre’s time and time again.TeaDrinker3000
Well, I'll admit that I wasn't so crazy about this while watching, but a bit of research on Wikipedia makes me appreciate it for being bold enough to go against the grain of the classic Western. Maybe that's why the protagonist seems like such a pansy half the time. Regardless, it's certainly good.Scratch47
Solid and thoughtful, but not great.Siskoid
I was immediately taken by High Noon's silvery sheen, like a daguerreotype come to life, but more than that, it provides an unusually complex western narrative for one made in the early '50s. High Noon is more or less told in real time, with its title acting as a veritable ticking time bomb, as Gary Cooper's Marshal tries in vain to assemble a posse to help him with an outlaw coming to town. As the suspense reaches its crescendo, the editing works like clockwork. I actually started doing that thing where you count out beats and snap your fingers to the rhythm, and the picture would change on cue. Has the film lost its original meaning, as a reaction to McCarthyism and a condemnation of Hollywood hanging some of its people out to dry? Or is that still a relevant, even universal theme? Having one of the appeals take place in a church perhaps purposefully evokes Peter repudiating Christ three times. And so, High Noon asks whether we will stand together or let others fight our battles for us, even if they may fall from lack of support. And then some smart gunfighting choreography, making this a satisfying entry in the genre and not just an off-brand Waiting for Godot.duchin6
I don't rate it as one of the best westerns,but still watchable.coffeejazzlofi
(comment removed by mod, please post in English)andyreilly
Fantastic filmDieguito
A classic westernTezzed
Best western so far.Not a real western by the way.
A 50s' movie with contemporary themes and issues.
Love Grace Kelly <3
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