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High Noon

Play trailer Poster for High Noon PG 1952 1h 25m Western Play Trailer Watchlist
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94% Tomatometer 90 Reviews 89% Popcornmeter 25,000+ Ratings
Former marshal Will Kane (Gary Cooper) is preparing to leave the small town of Hadleyville, New Mexico, with his new bride, Amy (Grace Kelly), when he learns that local criminal Frank Miller has been set free and is coming to seek revenge on the marshal who turned him in. When he starts recruiting deputies to fight Miller, Kane is discouraged to find that the people of Hadleyville turn cowardly when the time comes for a showdown, and he must face Miller and his cronies alone.
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High Noon

High Noon

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Critics Consensus

A classic of the Western genre that broke with many of the traditions at the time, High Noon endures -- in no small part thanks to Gary Cooper's defiant, Oscar-winning performance.

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Critics Reviews

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Kate Cameron New York Daily News 09/20/2022
3.5/4
Not since My Darling Clementine have we seen a more exciting gun battle on the screen than that in High Noon. Go to Full Review
Newsweek Staff Newsweek 09/20/2022
Add a string of plausible characterizations and an excellent performance by Gary Cooper as a former town marshal, and High Noon moves up into the class of absorbing drama. Go to Full Review
Richard L. Coe Washington Post 09/20/2022
This gives us some time-tested staples: Gary Cooper, a pioneer Western town, lawlessness, gun-shootin' and a haunting theme song you've probably heard already. To these add a movie rarity -- a mature point of view. Go to Full Review
Bianca Garner InSession Film 07/31/2024
It’s a film with an universal and timeless story, good versus evil. It’s an straightforward film with a clearly defined hero and villain. To say that they don’t make films quite like High Noon, is an understatement. Go to Full Review
Danielle Solzman Solzy at the Movies 05/07/2024
5/5
High Noon is not only one of the best Western films of all time but changed the way people viewed the Western genre. Go to Full Review
André Bazin L'Obs (France) 10/04/2022
Without question, this is one of the three best westerns since Stagecoach (the other two being The Westerner and My Darling Clementine). But my admiration for it is not without qualification. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Logan D Apr 17 When a prisoner is released and seeks revenge on the man (Gary Cooper) who put him there, the town fails to rally and help defend their town. I've yet to be too impressed by Cooper as an actor. He spends half the film impassively dealing with rejection of his pleas for help and the refusal of his new Quaker bride to support his choice. Thankfully he opens up more nearing the end of the film. I was struck how different this is from most Westerns at the time. John Wayne hated it for it's portrayal of the Western spirit. Cooper's character is surrounded by cowards or those too old to help him. The film does have some intriguing dialogue. Like many films of that time, the film features many actors known throughout the movie world: Harry Morgan (MASH); Thomas Mitchell (Gone with the Wind); Katy Jurado; Lloyd Bridges; Grace Kelly; Lee Van Cleef; Sheb Wooley (The Purple People Eater). I really enjoyed seeing Long Chaney Jr in another role in which he shines regardless of it being a small part. I was raised on television and found many of the fade to black transitions as if we were going to commercial. One of the first 25 films to be chosen for preservation by the National Film Registry. Second film role for Grace Kelly See more Oscar B Mar 27 I don't understand why people like this movie. It's horrible, the story is very very bad and the pace a pain to endure. See more alan g @agenser Mar 9 A great western. Unfortunately Grace is not up to her billing. See more P W Dec 15 A retiring marshall hears about a pack of criminals coming back to town. His duty is up, however he feels responsible for the people and commits himself to stand up against the incoming danger. He tries to find people to support him, however everybody leaves him. Everything left to him is his integrity, which shines through as a moral principle, making the marshall a figure of sympathy for the viewer. He is ready to sacrifice it all to save a town, unwilling to help or assist him. A town, not deserving his help, however he realizes his moral obligation and can not face away from the incoming threat. This threat is not seen until the very end of the movie, however this lurking shadow is building up more and more tension in the conversations within the desperate town. The Marshall does his duty, but he has seen the real face of the people and leaves. See more Dionisis T Dec 14 A loveable western with a protagonist,who makes me truly understand why Tony Soprano idolises. See more Jim H 11/24/2024 The Best movie ever made. See more Read all reviews
High Noon

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Movie Info

Synopsis Former marshal Will Kane (Gary Cooper) is preparing to leave the small town of Hadleyville, New Mexico, with his new bride, Amy (Grace Kelly), when he learns that local criminal Frank Miller has been set free and is coming to seek revenge on the marshal who turned him in. When he starts recruiting deputies to fight Miller, Kane is discouraged to find that the people of Hadleyville turn cowardly when the time comes for a showdown, and he must face Miller and his cronies alone.
Director
Fred Zinnemann
Producer
Stanley Kramer
Screenwriter
John W. Cunningham, Carl Foreman
Distributor
United Artists, Criterion Collection, Republic Pictures
Production Co
Stanley Kramer Company
Rating
PG (Some Western Violence|Smoking)
Genre
Western
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jul 24, 1952, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Jan 1, 2011
Runtime
1h 25m
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