This movie is the proof that the world is becoming a sick and dumb place

Pretty good movie overall. First half was nothing special but it got better as it went along.

Ok... Let's be honest. It cannot be the best movie but is quite enjoyable. The movie has the potential to develop a great plot for future movies

.Like the great film, it's made with a great deal of visible affection both in front of and behind the camera.

Although the film, directed so ably by Fred Zinnemann, was written as an allegory of the anti-communism crusade of Senator Joseph McCarthy, specifically as that campaign personally affected screenplay writer Carl Foreman, during the time of its production in the early 1950's, its message to me is far more universal and not confined to a very brief period of modern American history. For me, the key theme concerns the uncommon courage that is often required in the face of bullying or extreme forms of intimidation. In this case, an entire town is threatened by the terror of a lawless, depraved gang, and only one man has the will and the ability to confront it head-on.The famous "pull back" shot of Gary Cooper in the middle of the town has been frequently mentioned in user reviews here, but I have to repeat its powerful impact as it conveys the stark solitude of his character, Will Kane, in the face of overwhelming and very dangerous odds. While Cooper was not well during the making of the film, his worn physical appearance only served to enhance the crushing pressure that so heavily weighed upon his character, Will Kane.Although I have not always appreciated the films and the roles of Gary Cooper, to no fault of his own, his understated yet powerful performance here amounts to the best of his career. We are so very fortunate that he was able to complete the task while he was physically strong enough. The fight with Lloyd Bridges was apparently enough of a challenge by itself. Grace Kelly, a newcomer to Hollywood, may have been wooden in appearance, but her stiffness and discomfort only heightened the very real predicament of Amy Fowler Kane, a Quaker pacifist from the east on the first day of her marriage. What the heck was she doing in the wilds of New Mexico Territory in the first place? She would have been much more fulfilled on the Main Line of Philadelphia where she belonged. Katy Jurado as the much more "worldly" Helen Ramirez, the sheriff's former Latino lover, was stunning in her subdued and dignified presence. The rest of the cast, from Bridges to Harry Morgan to Lon Chaney Jr to Thomas Mitchell and beyond, provided excellent support to the outstanding and very appealing leads.The music by Dimitri Tiomkin solidly boosts the dramatic tension from start to finish. Yes, the same song is repeated throughout the film's nearly real time duration of eighty five minutes, but what a captivating song it is, and he varies the basic melody to suit the mood of the moment, which I think is brilliant on his part. Accolades to director Zinnemann and cinematographer Floyd Crosby, musician David's father, for their very tight, highly efficient use of every, single moment to its maximum advantage. In a world consisting of so many overly long, self-indulgent, and downright boring movies, I very much appreciate their abilities and talent. In this masterpiece, and I do not use that term as loosely as others, every element, including the finest acting by Cooper and Jurado, superb direction, innovative photographic techniques, a compelling story, and a beautiful, basic theme song that is adaptable enough to express each different mood of the moment, blend together to create a highly successful product that not only stands among the best westerns of all time but among the best films ever.

Despite the fact that "High Noon" is highly regarded as one of the greatest western films of all- time, it took me a long time to actually spin it up in the DVD player. Probably because, to be honest, I was afraid it would be little more than a "stock western". When I did "give in", however, I now completely understand the praise.For a basic plot summary, "High Noon" is a story about an Old West town that is about to see the return of Frank Miller (Ian MacDonald), a convicted gunslinger freshly released and ready to wreak havoc on the town that sent him "up the river". Waiting for him is a posse led by fellow no- gooder Jack Colby (Lee Van Cleef). In the town itself, Marshal Will Kane (Gary Cooper) has just been wed to his beloved Amy (Grace Kelly) and about to begin the honeymoon when he gets news of Frank Miller's return. Kane's high moral standards compel him to stick around for the confrontation, but will he be able to rally the town around him to clean up the streets once again?There are two reasons why I consider this movie to be a cinematic classic:First, it is actually a very complex film in terms of thematic material. It is most definitely NOT the traditional 1950s western flick. The movie really delves into themes of humanity and how people react in times of great stress. Seemingly every single person or group of people in the film have their own set of values, and at some point they are all called into question as the intensity ratchets up.Secondly, the tension just continues to pick up as "high noon" (the train's destination time) approaches. With every passing moment, the weight of the day pushes down harder on Marshal Kane.The acting in this movie is also top-notch. Besides those already mentioned above, Thomas Mitchell, Lloyd Bridges, and Katy Jurado play great auxiliary roles, adding their own little niches to the overall tapestry.Overall, I really had no expectations going into this movie and by the time the credits rolled I was thoroughly impressed by the human drama. This is one of the most entertaining westerns ever made, provided you enjoy movies with great character interactions. Yes, you do get the gunfights and the typical western iconic landmarks, but you also get top-notch drama to boot.

HIGH NOON is an exciting and inspiring western. Honestly, this is the little piece of art. The sheriff of a town in the Wild West all alone must confront the gang killer. This is a film in which all components are working properly.Through the story permeate the diversity of human character. This is a movie about a brave and standoffish sheriff who at any moment to firmly take a stand. Opposite him are new wife, former love, a city full of punk and a coward (each has a valid reason) and a group of bandits. The director conceived action, so that it coincides duration of the story and the actual duration of the film. Innovative and successful. Zinnemann scored steady growth of tension, which further intensified the use of close-ups of the main character, from which emanated despair and loneliness. Several anthology, visually magnificent scene was achieved by using a camera on the crane, which, although not entirely a novelty, is not overly used in the cinema of the time. Black - white photography is more than impressive.It is important to recognize the courage and composure in a man. All against one. The film touches on many issues that were not typical of westerns, such as individual responsibility, alienation, hypocrisy and of course human morality. People are often in difficult or desperate situations on their own. I have the impression that this simple story with dramatic consequences. I do not mean you no harm, on the contrary I want you well, but I can not help you. People are too often silent observers, although "something" directly concerns them.Gary Cooper as Marshal Will Kane simply dominated in this film. Age and visible fatigue contribute to realistic presentation of his character. Grace Kelly as Amy Fowler Kane was a young wife who is coping quite well. Pacific attitude is ordered at the right time. Katy Jurado as Helen Ramírez is a mysterious Mexican tied to both sides. Lloyd Bridges as Deputy Marshal Harvey Pell was deputy to whom no one can rely on.Emotional and moral film with good climatic ending. If you go against the will of the people, you generally stay alone, in this case, one man can spit in the face of the people, because he saved their asses. This is not a controversial film. It is quite interesting and somewhat intriguing.

...a quote from Men in Black that applies here if it ever applied anywhere.Gary Cooper plays marshal Will Kaine, who turns in his star immediately after he marries Amy, a Quaker girl (Grace Kelly). Upsetting the celebration is the news that killer Frank Miller is due on the noon train and his first order of business is to kill Kaine, a man who Kaine helped send to prison five years ago and swore blood vengeance at the time. The three members of his gang are waiting at the depot. Miller escaped hanging, got a long sentence, and some knuckleheads on the parole board have turned him loose. At first Kaine is with the popular sentiment - Run!. But then he realizes that Miller will lay waste to the town if he isn't there - the new marshal isn't due in until the next day - plus Miller will hunt him down wherever he is - Kaine will always be looking over his shoulder.He goes around looking for deputies to help him make his stand. Oh, everybody talks about what a good job Kaine did, but nobody stands up for him. They have all kinds of excuses. That a shootout will cause investors from the east and north to think their town is just another shoot em up town, that if Will isn't there Miller will just leave etc. In the end the result is NOBODY stood by him in his hour of need, in spite of the fact that many in the town owed their lives and fortunes to Kaine cleaning up the town.The best device in this movie - added after a preview called the film dull - is the constant showing of the clock, ticking away the precious minutes Kaine has. And he is a human hero - because you can tell dying is on his mind, running is on his mind, but in the end he stays to face his enemies. The scene towards the end, with him standing in the middle of a dusty abandoned main street as the camera pulls back just to show how alone Kaine is in this battle is iconic.Where is his wife you might ask? With a ticket in hand to get on the next train out. At least Grace Kelly's character has a reason for her pacifism - her newly found Quaker faith. What she fails to realize is that unless you are willing to be a slave you have to be strong enough that you can afford pacifism.There are some great performances here. There is Lon Chaney as the old sheriff who Will goes to for help. The old sheriff has the best excuse of all - he is just too old for this. Will would be looking after him instead of himself. Then there is Lloyd Bridges as one of the most unlikeable characters in film history. He's Kane's ex-deputy Harvey Pell and he is a weasel without the cuteness factor. He is tired of living in Kaine's shadow, just a little jealous that Kaine had Harvey's girl before he had her, very resentful that Kaine would not recommend him to be the new marshal. But here is his chance - if Kaine runs, Kaine is no better than he is. That is why he beats Will up trying to put him on a horse towards the end of the film. He doesn't want Will to live, he wants him to run, to somehow prove he is a coward.And you have to love the townspeople thinking that this will just "all go away" if everybody hides. The first act of the foursome of gunslingers when they hit town is not to kill Kaine, but to smash a store window and take a woman's bonnet that one of the killers fancies - an act of theft. They'll be stealing more than stuff by nightfall if nobody stops them.Highly recommended.