The Wasteland Reviewer

The Wasteland Gems: High Noon (1952)

How do you choose what to watch on all those streaming services you have access to? There are so many options that it is just overwhelming. These services constantly release new content and overshadow all the great films from the past that are already there and ready to watch. Now there is The Wasteland Gems! Here is a great film on streaming right now that you should check out this weekend:

High Noon (1952)

What is the western that challenged the conventions of the classic western back in 1952? Director Fred Zinnemann delivered a compelling and challenging cinematic experience with High Noon. Marshal Will Kane (Gary Cooper) is about to retire and move out of town with his new bride (Grace Kelly) when news of a terrible criminal arriving on the noon train to town arrives. Will is stuck between a rock and a hard place. Does he give up his responsibility to this town and move on, or does he take a stand against this criminal and his associates when the whole town refuses to stand with him? Shot in almost real time (with a lean runtime of just 85 minutes), High Noon is a powder keg of a thriller that has stood the test of time.

What does Zinnemann bring to the table with his direction? The tension in this film is quite impressive, and the urgency can be felt throughout the film. The ticking clock is a powerful mechanism to build up the tension of Zinnemann’s films. The film moves along at a steady rate which keeps the narrative flow going. There is plenty of tension and suspense that builds through the character work conflicts that materialize between them along the way. The tone is intense yet still digestible, crafting both an entertaining and poignant way. The film also looks gorgeous with its striking black-and-white cinematography (courtesy of Floyd Crosby, the cinematographer of the piece). The final confrontation between the marshal and these outlaws is intense and thrilling with Zinnemann shooting quite the engrossing experience.

What gives the film its powerful dynamic? The screenplay from Carl Foreman is rich and layered with plenty of character dynamics and conflicts. Marshal Kane is at the center of the film, and he has quite the dynamic with plenty of the characters in the town. You have the conflict between his Quaker wife’s aversion to violence and the violent nature of his marshal work. This becomes quite the arc for her as she must confront this aversion to help protect the man she loves.  You have Lloyd Bridges’ Deputy Marshal Harvey Pell who is frustrated by Kane’s decisions and wants the opportunity to fulfill his own ambition. Katy Jurado’s Helen Ramirez is a truly fascinating character who has a bit of history with both the Marshal and this criminal arriving back in town while also being a business owner and disconnected due to being of a different race. Kane’s mission to bring the town together against this criminal is fascinating as everyone is confronted with their worst traits. Cowardice. Greed. For just 85 minutes, High Noon packs layers into this simple narrative.

What is the added layer that makes this film so special? There is an incredible cast that fills out Zinnemann’s film. Cooper was not the most dynamic actor, but he had a good old-fashioned element of Americana to him. That fits so perfectly with this strait-laced Marshal who struggles with his own fear, insecurity, and sense of duty. He is not your John Wayne type western protagonist and that is for the best in this complex narrative. Kelly’s presence and looks make her an angelic type of figure in the film and watching her get her hands dirty is quite a subversion. Bridges delivers a manic and angsty performance which works for this ambitious young man. Supporting turns from the likes of Thomas Mitchell, Lon Chaney Jr, and more give the film a strong foundation for the drama. Jurado delivers a mysterious and confident performance that stands out quite a bit. From top to bottom, this cast is authentic and brings this town to life.

Is High Noon a genre defining experience? Zinnemann crafts a film that subverts so many tropes of the western genre while delivering a thrilling and compelling cinematic experience. This looks deep into small town dynamics and a layered exploration of morality. A stacked cast and some sharp filmmaking just ties it all together.

High Nooni is streaming on Paramount+.