High noon [4K UHD]

High noon [4K UHD]

Studio: Kino Lorber Studio Classics

07 May 2024
Web Exclusive

By Kaveh Jalinous
Photo by Kino Lorber

by Fred Zinnemann High noon is a riveting, wildly entertaining western that focuses on the moments leading up to a confrontation rather than the confrontation itself.

In High noon, Marshal Will Kane's (Gary Cooper) outlook looks good for about five minutes. The film opens with a scene that captures the small-town sheriff getting married and getting his badge, ready to leave his position as Hadleyville's chief defender for good. Moments after his resignation, a telegram arrives, informing him (and the townspeople) that one of the worst men he sent to prison, Frank Miller (Ian MacDonald), has somehow been pardoned. Even worse: Miller went back to town on the noon train to get his revenge on the sheriff. Kane checks the clock. The arrival of the train is only a little over an hour away.

Upon hearing the news, the townspeople encourage Kane and his wife, Amy (Grace Kelly), to leave town, which they do. Shortly afterwards, however, Kane forces them to turn back, declaring that the fight with Miller is his duty and immediately driving a rift between him and Amy, who declares that she will be leaving town on the 12 o'clock train, with or without Kane. . Amy leaves him and waits for the train at a nearby hotel.

Following this setup, most of the film captures Kane trying to recruit a group of honorary marshals, visiting the town's main institutions—the police station, the saloon, and the Church, to name a few—to see who may be interested in standing by his side. side. It is through this plot that most of the tension of the film is created – especially since no one volunteers to support the marshal. Zinnemann and screenwriter Carl Foreman cleverly build the film's tension by juxtaposing the literal ticking down of the clock with the growing sense of hopelessness Kane faces. As the film progresses, and as the marshal comes up short, a sense of dread prevails as we watch the character realize that he will likely have to face Miller and his gang alone, with nothing but his gun and pride. In that sense, even though the film subverts certain aspects of the typical Western – eschewing the usual, action-packed showdowns and instead leaning into the power of dialogue – it's just as tense as any other film of its kind.

Exploring the moments before confrontation also allows High noon to deliver poignant themes of both individual and communal pride. Based on how the townspeople first react to the news of Miller's return to Hadleyville during the film's opening sequence, it's almost surprising how everyone avoids Kane, diminishes him, or bets on his defeat. But Kane is neither the perfect figure nor the perfect hero. Sure, defending the city was his duty, but the character's refusal to let go of his duty—determining that only he can lead the charge against Miller—often complicates his relationships with other people in the city, including his colleagues. In this sense, the film can be seen as a showcase of how difficult it is to unite a group of people against a cause, but also an exposition of how too much pride can change our relationships with those closest to us and our wider community.

Of course, for Western fans, fear not: High noon it concludes with a sharp shot and precisely blocked confrontation that provides fun, popcorn-worthy relief to some of the film's heavier ideas. By exploring these broader concepts first and letting the film's tension build gradually but effectively throughout the film, this final sequence is so satisfying.

Kino Lorber's new 4K master High noon it looks incredible, bringing Hadleyville and its problems to life in a visually appealing and memorable way. In addition to the 4K UHD and regular Blu-ray versions of the movie, the release includes a long list of extras. Among the best: two new audio commentaries, a featurette exploring the film's relationship to Hollywood blacklists, and several featurettes focused on the making of the film.

(www.kinolorber.com/product/high-noon-special-edition)