High Noon (1952)
- kbroer
- Jun 28, 2024
- 2 min read
Gary Cooper, Grace Kelly
Directed by Fred Zinnemann
Available to stream on Prime Video
Our last "Gunslinger" film of the month is another classic Western -- High Noon.
Even though he has just retired from being the town marshal, Gary Cooper decides to take on a gang of gunslingers arriving at noon to take revenge on the town. Despite all his efforts, he cannot persuade anyone to help him, so he stands up to them alone.
Why we love it: This is Gary Cooper's film and it is wonderful. Watch it on the largest screen possible because his face tells it all. It's an unforgettable movie.
In The Essentials vol. 2, Jeremy Arnold states,
"An inexpensive, unadorned black-and-white western, High Noon surprised everybody, including its makers, when it became a sleeper hit in the summer of 1952 and won four Academy Awards. In the decades since, it has continually ranked among the most popular westerns ever made . . . High Noon is considered by many to be the quintessential film about standing up for what is right no matter what - even if you are standing all alone and your life is on the line."
Fun Facts:
Russian American composer Dmitri Tiomkin wrote the title song and score, both of which won Oscars.
This is one of Grace Kelly's early performances as Cooper's newlywedded wife. Producer Stanley Kramer had seen her in an off-Broadway play and offered her the role. She was only 21 and Cooper was 50, but their age difference wasn't remarked on at the time.
The film was nominated for seven Academy Awards and won four, including Best Actor for Gary Cooper.
The story is an allegory of the Communist "witchhunt" happening in Hollywood at the time. Screenwriter Carl Foreman, a former member of the Communist Party, was called to appear before the House Un-American Activities Committee and refused to name other members. Foreman was blacklisted in Hollywood and moved to England in 1951 before the movie even debuted.
This was the favorite movie of three former Presidents -- Dwight D. Eisenhower, Ronald Reagan, and Bill Clinton.
The film is told in real time, continually showing the clock as it ticks closer to noon.
For reviews from the time, go to the Fan Magazine Reviews page.
Featured Cocktail:
Ranch Water
The "unofficial drink of West Texas," has now spread throughout the state and, indeed, much farther. While some people make additions to the recipe, this simple version is probably close to the first concoctions.
2 oz (60 ml) tequila blanco
1 oz (30 ml) lime juice
4-6 oz (120-180 ml) Topo Chico or other sparkling water
Pour tequila and lime juice into ice filled tall glass. Top with Topo Chico and lightly stir. Garnish with a lime wedge. An interesting serving suggestion is to pour 3 oz (90 ml) of the Topo Chico out of the bottle, pour in the tequila and lime juice and drink!
Comments