HIGH NOON

Music: Original Soundtrack: Do Not Forsake Me – Tex Ritter

Title Screenshot

Trailers / Clips

Video Clip: High Noon Official Trailer #1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9CR_tib0CA
Video Clip: High Noon Intro: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QKLvKZ6nIiA&feature=related
TCM Sydney Pollack Intro: http://www.tcm.com/mediaroom/video/73605/High-Noon-Sydney-Pollack-Intro.html
High_Noon_Video_Preview.avi: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4nlrgb1tcmE
High Noon Clip: I’m Sorry, Parson: http://www.tcm.com/mediaroom/video/247746/High-Noon-Movie-Clip-I-m-Sorry-Parson.html
si toi aussi tu m’abandonnes: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=fvwp&v=bvg94i8d9EQ&NR=1

1952 Oscars

Best Actor in a Leading Role – Gary Cooper
Best Film EditingElmo Williams and Harry W. Gerstad
Best Music, Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture – Dimitri Tiomkin
Best Music, SongDimitri Tiomkin and Ned Washington for “Do Not Forsake Me, Oh My Darlin'”, sung by Tex Ritter

Reviews:

“Loved and loathed in almost equal measure on its first release in 1952 (John Wayne felt, as many did, that the film was ‘unpatriotic’, and a thinly veiled allegory of the McCarthy Communist witch-hunts), High Noon is these days quite rightly regarded as one of the greatest westerns of all time.”
Movie Mail: Peter Wild explains why High Noon is one of the greatest westerns of all time – 7th October 2008  http://www.moviemail.com/film/dvd/High-Noon/

” … Considered a landmark of the “adult western,” High Noon won four Academy Awards (including Best Actor for Cooper) and Best Song for the hit, {&”Do Not Forsake Me, O My Darling”} sung by Tex Ritter. The screenplay was written by Carl Foreman, whose blacklisting was temporarily prevented by star Cooper, one of Hollywood’s most virulent anti-Communists. John Wayne, another notable showbiz right-winger and Western hero, was so appalled at the notion that a Western marshal would beg for help in a showdown that he and director Howard Hawks “answered” High Noon with Rio Bravo (1959).
Hal Erickson, Rovi http://movies.msn.com/movies/movie-synopsis/high-noon.2/

“Every five years or so, somebody—somebody of talent and taste, with a full appreciation of legend and a strong trace of poetry in their soul—scoops up a handful of clichés from the vast lore of Western films and turns them into a thrilling and inspiring work of art in this genre. Such a rare and exciting achievement is Stanley Kramer‘s production, “High Noon,” …” “Meaningful in its implications, as well as loaded with interest and suspense, “High Noon” is a western to challenge “Stagecoach” for the all-time championship.”
High Noon,’ a Western of Rare Achievement By BOSLEY CROWTHER – Published: July 25, 1952 http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/22384/High-Noon/overview

Posters


http://www.moviegoods.com/movie_product_static.asp?master_movie_id=13123&sku=213866

Many years after High Noon hit the screens (1953) Lee Van Cleef became a mega star in Spaghetti Westerns. Thus some enterprising Italian designer inserted his image prominently on this poster. In truth High Noon had been Van Cleef’s first movie appearance – and he had no dialogue.

Gary Cooper

Born Frank James Cooper, (May 7, 1901 – May 13, 1961
– Gary Cooper made over 100 films.
– Cooper
received five Academy Award nominations for Best Actor, winning twice for Sergeant York and High Noon.
He also received an Honorary Award in 1961 from the Academy.
– Cooper
worked at various odd jobs until getting work as a film Extra in 1925.
– Cooper
broke through in a supporting role in the silent film Wings (1927), the first film to win an Academy Award for Best Picture.
– Cooper
became a major star with his first sound picture, The Virginian (1929).
Cooper starred in a total number of 20 westerns, 3 of those were silent.
Cooper was producer David O. Selznick’s first choice for the role of Rhett Butler in Gone with the Wind. He turned the role down.
–  Cooper was a very close friend with Ernest Hemingway and Pablo Picasso.
–  Ill with an ulcer, Cooper asked John Wayne to accept the Best Actor Academy Award for his performance as Marshal Will Kane in High Noon (1952) on his behalf – a strong bit of irony in light of Wayne’s stated distaste for the film. Wayne accepted.
– In 1966, Cooper was inducted into the Western Performers Hall of Fame at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
– Named the #11 Greatest Actor on The 50 Greatest Screen Legends list by the American Film Institute
– He declined roles in The Big Trail (1930), Stagecoach (1939) and Red River (1948).
All of these were subsequently played by John Wayne.
– In 1925 he befriended another young, struggling, would-be actor named Walter Brennan.
Over the years they made 7 movies together.

Grace Kelly

Some people are special.

The Stars – and a few dozen constellations must have been lined up – and cheering – when Grace Kelly was born.

Her name says it all.

But I wouldn’t say Stardom just fell into Grace Kelly’s lap – she had a dream – and pursued it – even against the will of her parents who looked down on acting. Yet who could have predicted she move from film Stardom become a real Princess – Princess Grace of Monaco. That’s fairy tale stuff. And her destiny was our loss – as she only made a fistfull of movies – High Noon being her only Western. But if you are going to only make one Western why not chose one of the most celebrated Westerns of all time?

That’s real grace.

“Kane will be a dead man in half an hour and nobody’s gonna do anything about it. And when he dies, this town dies too.”
– Helen Ramirez (Katy Jurado)

 Cast / Credits

Gary Cooper …. Marshal Will Kane
Grace Kelly …. Amy Kane
Lloyd Bridges …. Deputy Sheriff Harvey Pell
 Katy Jurado …. Helen Ramirez
Thomas Mitchell …. Mayor Jonas Henderson
 Otto Kruger …. Judge Percy Mettrick
Lon Chaney …. Martin Howe
Harry Morgan …. Sam Fuller
 Sheb Wooley …. Ben Miller
Ian MacDonald …. Frank Miller
 Eve McVeagh …. Mildred Fuller
 Morgan Farley …. Dr. Mahin, Minister
Harry Shannon …. Cooper
 Lee Van Cleef …. Jack Colby
 Robert J. Wilke …. Pierce
Original Music …. Dimitri Tiomkin
Written by Carl Foreman
Produced by Stanley Kramer
Directed by Fred Zinnemann

Gary Coop Westerns

The Virginian / Only the Brave /The Texan / A Man from Wyoming / The Plainsman
The Cowboy and the Lady / The Westerner / North West Mounted Police
Sergeant York / Along Came Jones / Unconquered / Dallas / It’s a Big Country
Distant Drums / High Noon / Springfield Rifle / Blowing Wild / Vera Cruz / Man of the West
The Hanging Tree / Alias Jesse James / They Came to Cordura

“People gotta talk themselves into law and order before they do anything about it.
Maybe because down deep they don’t care. They just don’t care.”
“The public doesn’t give a damn about integrity.  A town that won’t defend itself deserves no help.”
– Martin (Lon Chaney Jr.)

Guns: Internet Movie Firearms Database: http://www.imfdb.org/w/High_Noon

“It takes more than big broad shoulders to make a man, Harvey, and you have a long way to go.
You know something? I don’t think you will ever make it.” Helen Ramirez (Katy Jurado) to Harvey (Lloyd Bridges)

The pained expression on Kane’s (Gary Cooper) face throughout the film was entirely realistic,
as Cooper had a bleeding ulcer at the time.

High Noon and Politics

 High Noon, What Happens: Posted by Brent Allard Wednesday, March 28, 2012  http://criminalmovies.blogspot.ca/2012_03_01_archive.html: John Wayne (a HUAC supporter) called High Noon Un-American for it’s portrayal of the townspeople and Will Kane’s seeking help and throwing the badge in the dirt. He teamed with Howard Hawks (who called Will Kane “unprofessional”) to make Rio Bravo as a response to the film. In Rio Bravo, Wayne plays a Sheriff who with the help of a only a drunk, a kid, and a crippled man, have to prevent a gang from breaking one of their members out of jail. Wayne’s larger than life enthusiasm, is certainly a sharp contrast to Cooper’s haunted Marshal. Though both films are worth viewing, I find it difficult to side with Wayne’s optimism, although it is a pleasant diversion. Certainly to this day we have arguments about HUAC, but the beauty of western morality plays and film in general is that a good story can transcend the specific events that inspired it. High Noon is a parable for any times, including our own current extremely polarized ones. It’s difficult to live your own life, and its easy to find a justification for any moral position you can think of, or find an opinion from someone else, but ultimately the question it asks is whether or not you can live up to your own code, no matter what it costs, even if no one in the world will stand with you.

Dwight Eisenhower, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush all claim High Noon as their favorite movie. Clinton is said to have viewed
High Noon at the Whitehouse 17 times.

Jack Elam played Charlie the Drunk in Jail (uncredited)

High Tech Noon

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1m44VNw3O0

Do not forsake me O my darlin’
On this our wedding day.
Do not forsake me O my darlin’
Wait, wait along.

The noonday train will bring Frank Miller.
If I’m a man I must be brave
And I must face that deadly killer
Or lie a coward, a craven coward,
Or lie a coward in my grave.

O to be torn ‘twixt love and duty!
S’posin’ I lose my fair-haired beauty!
Look at that big hand move along
Nearin’ high noon.

He made a vow while in State’s Prison,
Vow’d it would be my life or his and
I’m not afraid of death, but O,
What will I do if you leave me?

Do not forsake me O my darlin’
You made that promise when we wed.
Do not forsake me O my darlin’
Although you’re grievin’, I can’t be leavin’
Until I shoot Frank Miller dead.

Wait along,
wait along
Wait along
Wait along

– “Do Not Forsake Me [The Ballad of High Noon]”, words by Ned Washington, music by Dmitri Tiomkin

9 thoughts on “HIGH NOON”

  1. I was just reading your updates. I never knew that John Wayne accepted Cooper’s ‘High Noon’ Oscar for him. I wonder what that back stage discussion was like?

  2. John Wayne said this was the most Un-American movie he had ever seen, and inspired him to make Rio Bravo as an answer to it.

    I think he was referring to the Anti-McCarthy tone that everyone detected in the film at the time of its release, and Wayne was a big McCarthy supporter.

    I just think it is a good western. I never really understood the political symbolism of it. I guess if I was around at the time, maybe it would be more clear to me.

    1. Many political statements are poignant to that moment- and can become obscure to us in the present. I watched High Noon several times with no knowledge of any politics involved. And enjoyed it. Though, it did bother me that the people wouldn’t back Cooper. I hoped people wouldn’t be that spineless or have such a lack of vision. Cooper won Best Actor Oscar for High Noon so obviously there was a lot of favor toward the film’s statement. Cooper’s politics and his testimony at the McCarthy trials all plays into things here as well. An interesting study.
      According to one of Wayne’s wives, Wayne’s ‘Super Patriot’ stance was due to his guilt in not fighting in WW2. ?
      Overall I would say that the movie can be enjoyed with no political knowledge whatsoever, but once you know some of the background, it does make a difference.

  3. The best western ever maid. very symbolic and a lesson for the age. How a man must be true to himself. How people are used when its to their good. It shows that the only one you can count on is yourself.

    1. Thanks for your comment. So true. A lot of intentional symbolism in this movie pertinent to the politics of that time. Probably a lot translates to our day as well.
      The same theme that people will not stand up is played upon again in a new Westerns called The Salvation.

  4. This is a great film, and back in 1952 when it was released many people didn’t understand it. It was a bold film that probably influenced many other actors & directors. I even think it influenced John Wayne later on in his career. A lot of us baby boomers only remember Cooper for this film, his crowning achievement. And he had bleeding ulcers while making it, that is commitment.

    1. Hi Gene. Yes a Classic and an important movie. Much of it’s political overtones are lost or not understood today. But it still stands as a great Western by itself. Coop was great in most everything he did. Notable cast Bridges, Jurado, Van cleef many others …

    1. I just skulk around the net … not really a very good or professional method – though different Search Engines will find different things.
      ‘Pin It’ seems like a good place to find some excellent images. Image Shack ? Tumblr.
      I have modified a few images of Gregory (hopefully well) that you are welcome to use.
      Happy Trails.

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