High Noon (1952)

Director:

Fred Zinnemann

Writers:

John W. Cunningham (story)
Carl Foreman (screenplay)

Release Date:

7 July 1952 (Sweden)

Genre:

Thriller | Western

Tagline:

Simple. Powerful. Unforgettable.

Plot:

A marshall, personally compelled to face a returning deadly enemy, finds that his own town refuses to help him.

Plot Keywords:

Cult Western | Time For Title | Sheriff | Gunfight | Morality

Awards:

Won 4 Oscars. Another 11 wins & 8 nominations

Cast

Gary Cooper	...	Marshal Will Kane
Thomas Mitchell	...	Mayor Jonas Henderson
Lloyd Bridges	...	Deputy Marshal Harvey Pell
Katy Jurado	...	Helen Ramírez
Grace Kelly	...	Amy Fowler Kane
Otto Kruger	...	Judge Percy Mettrick
Lon Chaney Jr.	...	Martin Howe (as Lon Chaney)
Harry Morgan	...	Sam Fuller (as Henry Morgan)
Ian MacDonald	...	Frank Miller
Eve McVeagh	...	Mildred Fuller
Morgan Farley	...	Dr. Mahin, minister
Harry Shannon	...	Cooper
Lee Van Cleef	...	Jack Colby
Robert J. Wilke	...	Jim Pierce (as Robert Wilke)
Sheb Wooley	...	Ben Miller
Tom London	...	Sam
Ted Stanhope	...	Station Master
Larry J. Blake	...	Gillis, saloon owner
William 'Bill' Phillips	...	Barber
Jeanne Blackford	...	Mrs. Henderson
James Millican	...	Deputy Sheriff Herb Baker
Cliff Clark	...	Ed Weaver
Ralph Reed	...	Johnny, town boy
William Newell	...	Jimmy, drunk with eye patch
Lucien Prival	...	Joe, Ramirez Saloon bartender
Guy Beach	...	Fred, coffinmaker
Howland Chamberlain	...	Hotel clerk
Virginia Christine	...	Mrs. Simpson
Jack Elam	...	Charlie, drunk in jail
Paul Dubov	...	Scott
Harry Harvey	...	Coy
Tim Graham	...	Sawyer
Nolan Leary	...	Lewis
Tom Greenway	...	Ezra
Dick Elliott	...	Kibbee
John Doucette	...	Trumbull
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Lee Aaker	...	Boy (uncredited)
Roy Bucko	...	Barfly (uncredited)
Bob Carson	...	Barfly (uncredited)
Ben Corbett	...	Townsman (uncredited)
Virginia Farmer	...	Mrs. Fletcher (uncredited)
Chuck Hayward	...	Townsman (uncredited)
Chubby Johnson	...	First old timer on hotel porch (uncredited)
Merrill McCormick	...	Fletcher (uncredited)
Syd Saylor	...	Second old timer on hotel porch (uncredited)

Directed by
Fred Zinnemann

Writing credits
John W. Cunningham		(story "The Tin Star")
Carl Foreman		(screenplay)

Produced by
Carl Foreman	....	associate producer (uncredited)
Stanley Kramer	....	producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Dimitri Tiomkin

Cinematography by
Floyd Crosby

Film Editing by
Elmo Williams

Production Design by
Rudolph Sternad

Art Direction by
Ben Hayne

Set Decoration by
Murray Waite

Makeup Department
Louise Miehle	....	hair stylist
Gustaf Norin	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Clem Beauchamp	....	production supervisor
Percy Ikerd	....	unit manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Emmett Emerson	....	assistant director

Sound Department
Jean L. Speak	....	sound engineer (as Jean Speak)
John Speak	....	sound (uncredited)

Stunts
Regis Parton	....	stunts (uncredited)
Slim Talbot	....	stunt double (uncredited)
Don Turner	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Morris Rosen	....	head grip
Homer Plannette	....	gaffer (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Joe King	....	wardrobe: men
Ann Peck	....	wardrobe: women

Editorial Department
Harry W. Gerstad	....	editorial supervisor (as Harry Gerstad)

Music Department
George C. Emick	....	music editor (as George Emick)
Anthony Galla-Rini	....	musician: accordions
Dimitri Tiomkin	....	musical director

Other crew
Sam Freedle	....	script clerk
Calvin Spencer	....	double: Lloyd Bridges
Sally Hamilton	....	executive secretary (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Stanley Kramer Productions

Distributors

• United Artists (1952) (USA) (theatrical)
• United Artists (1953) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• Lions Gate Films Home Entertainment (1992) (USA) (VHS)
• United Artists (1956) (USA) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Constantin Film (1960) (West Germany) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Republic Pictures Home Video (1992) (USA) (VHS)
• Republic Pictures Home Video (1997) (USA) (VHS)
• Republic Pictures Home Video (1998) (USA) (DVD)
• Republic Pictures Home Video (1998) (USA) (VHS)
• Kinowelt Home Entertainment (1999) (Germany) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures (2001) (UK) (DVD)
• Artisan Entertainment (2002) (USA) (DVD)
• Republic Pictures Home Video (2002) (USA) (DVD)
• VellaVisión (2002) (Spain) (DVD)
• Republic Pictures Home Video (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• Paramount Home Entertainment (2004) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Maple Pictures (2006) (Canada) (DVD)
• Criterion Collection, The (19??) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Kinowelt Home Entertainment (2008) (Germany) (DVD) (special edition)
• Republic Pictures Home Video (19??) (Brazil) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Chapman / Leonard Studio Equipment  cranes
• Republic Pictures (II)  current copyright proprietor
• Sound Services  magnetic recording
• Stanley Kramer Productions  current owner

Runtime:

85 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Certification:

South Korea:15 | Iceland:L | West Germany:12 (f) | Canada:PG (Ontario) | Germany:12 (DVD rating) | Canada:G (Manitoba) | Canada:G (Nova Scotia/Quebec) | Argentina:Atp | Australia:PG | Finland:K-16 | Norway:16 (original rating) | Spain:13 | Sweden:11 (re-release) | Sweden:15 | UK:U | USA:Approved (PCA #15653)

Filming Locations:

Burbank, California, USA

Company:

Stanley Kramer Productions

Trivia:

Fred Zinnemann wanted a hot, stark look to the film. Cinematographer Floyd Crosby achieved this by not filtering the sky and having the prints made a few points lighter than normal.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Kane is in his office and puts his head down on his desk, he did not have a badge on when his head went down, but he has a badge when his head comes up.

Quotes:

Will: Stay at the hotel until it's over.
Amy: No, I won't be here when it's over. You're asking me to wait an hour to find out if I'm going to be a wife or a widow. I say it's too long to wait! I won't do it!
Will: Amy!
Amy: I mean it! If you won't go with me now, I'll be on that train when it leaves here.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Zomergasten: (#17.4)" (2004)

Soundtrack:

High Noon

The definitive western movie

This is the definitive Western. There are other excellent Westerns of course ("The Unforgiven," "Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid," "The Searchers," "My Darling Clementine," and "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance" come immediately to mind), but none tops this one. Even though the difference in age between Gary Cooper and Grace Kelley makes the thought of their marriage seem a little kinky, it's easy to buy into the story. Katy Jurado is sexy, Lloyd Bridges is callow, and the townspeople mean well, but when push comes to shove, they reveal their cowardice. (If you remember the scene in "Blazing Saddles" in which Van Johnson says, "Howard Johnson is right," you'll almost certainly laugh at an inappropriate moment in "High Noon." ) "High Noon" is a textbook example of the storyteller's art. The drama begins with the opening credits and doesn't let up until everyone's true character has been laid bare. This one is suspenseful and thrilling, and I find more to admire with every viewing.