Movie #33: High Noon. Or really, "24," western style.

Title: High Noon

Starring: Gary Cooper and Grace Kelly

Directed by: Fred Zinnemann

Number on the AFI List: 27

Year: 1952

Westerns seem to me to be the super hero movies of the past-one man, flawed yet strong, overcomes all inevitable odds to right the wrongs of injustice. I have to admit, I'm not the biggest fan. Gun slingin', chaps wearin', horse ridin' adventures just don't quite cut it for me. However, High Noon is a cinematic achievement, with compelling storytelling, beautiful cinematography, and great acting. This movie poses a lot of questions of what is just and how far does one have to go to maintain peace for his people (even when they don't want help), what sacrifices must be made, and how does one right the wrongs of one's past. I love the dichotomy from the beginning of the wedding of former Marshall Will Kane (Gary Cooper) and Amy Kane (Grace Kelly) while the "bad guys" are coming back to town to enact their revenge. The intensity builds over an hour while Will Kane tries to rally troops to help him fight the returning Frank Miller and his gang of roughriders to no avail. He sacrifices leaving for his honeymoon with his pacifist, quaker wife, in order to make sure the town he currently is no longer in charge of remains safe. Unfortunately, no one in the town stands by him, and this marshall has to fight the battle himself (...or does he?). 

The cinematography of this film is fantastic. Zinnemann creates the feeling of aloneness not only in Kane's circumstances but also in showing how "alone" this town really is-the train is coming from miles away with no other town in sight. Also, the most powerful shot of the movie is when Gary Cooper is alone, walking the street in the middle of town, with no help in sight, and the camera pans out ever so slowly to reveal just how deserted the town really is. 

Favorite moment: My favorite moment would ruin the movie, so I'll just give a screenshot of Gary Cooper walking in town:

Also, here's a picture of Grace Kelly with Fred Zinnemann. Cause why not?

Will I watch it again? Hmm...probably not.