High Noon

High Noon (1952)
United Artists
Directed by Fred Zinnermann
Starring Gary Cooper, Grace Kelly, Katy Jurado, Ian MacDonald

In the 1950s, the second Red Scare was still in full force. The House of Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) was blacklisting several Hollywood actors, directors, and writers who were believed to be Communists. This was severely interfering with Hollywood in terms of loans, and who could be trusted for film roles, without hurting your own career. Many people were against the blacklisting, which others such as John Wayne, were huge supporters of anything “un-American.” Director Fred Zinnermann decided to create a controversial film that served as an allegory to this ridiculous blacklisting. The film was set in the Old West in a time of masculinity, duty, and honor. The film was called High Noon and caused some major controversy in Hollywood. Gary Cooper stars as Marshal Will Kane in the small New Mexico town of Hadleyville. He has just married his wife, Amy (Kelly), and is about to retire and go on his honeymoon. He receives a telegram that Frank Miller has just been pardoned and is heading back to Hadleyville to kill Kane. Everyone tells Kane and Amy to leave before he arrives on the noon train, but Kane cannot run from this threat. He decides to stay and fight back against Miller and his posse. But unfortunately, no one will help stand up to the outlaws. His deputy quits, his friends hide, and the other townsfolk do not care. When the train arrives at high noon, Kane must face Miller by himself.

Will Kane is one of the greatest film heroes of all time. He embodies masculinity, duty, morals, and law. He has stronger morals than most John Wayne heroes; he is more courageous than Robin Hood. Kane stood up to Miller by himself when everyone turned on him. Gary Cooper gives the performance of a lifetime as the Marshal. His performance is sincere, masculine, and authentic. Cooper’s performance is better than any other Western until that time. John Wayne cannot touch Kane. The rest of the cast is tremendous. Newcomer Grace Kelly is wonderful as Amy. She is innocent and wants to be happy with Kane. She would stay with him, no matter the costs. In fact, Amy is the only one who helps Kane against Miller.

As previously mentioned, High Noon is an allegory towards blacklisting in Hollywood. Will Kane represents the last remaining piece of Hollywood that will stand against the blacklisting, while Miller represents the remainder, who has embraced the practice. Zinnermann was an advocate of blacklisting and this is his response towards it. He chose the Western genre because it showed a time of masculinity and morals, when friends band together to fight off a common enemy. However, this Western does not feature vast landscapes, multiple gunfights, or a classic story. The only action occurs during the last scene between Miller and Kane. The reason that this is not a classic Western is because times have changed. It is no longer about morals and honor, but instead of treachery and backstabbing.

One of the only problems with this film is the fact that not a single person would help Kane. This is a film about blacklisting, which is accomplishes, but in reality, someone would have helped Kane. This is a very controversial film. The film portrays that no one will stand against the Red Scare, but it takes one man to become a martyr to start the movement. Kane and High Noon serve as a martyr against the Red Scare. Zinnerman hoped to show how ridiculous it was with his excellent film.

High Noon is an amazing film that serves its purpose. It wants to showcase the limelight of blacklisting, and how Hollywood needs to stand up against the HUAC. Zinnerman and Cooper do not want others such as John Wayne to run Hollywood and only select certain people for films. Featuring a tremendous performance by Cooper and a very personal and political story, High Noon is a classic Western that changes the genre.

Rating: A-


July 8, 2010