The plot begins with Cooper's character Will Kane, the longtime marshal of Hadleyville, New Mexico, turning in his badge in order to marry Amy Fowler, a pacifist Quaker, played by Grace Kelly. His intention is to become a storekeeper and lead a peaceful life with his new bride. However, fate will not make this as easy to do as it may sound. News has just arrived in town that outlaw Frank Miller, whose capture by Kane had resulted in Miller's conviction and a hanging sentence, was pardoned as a result of a legal technicality.
Kane's life path has just taken a potentially fatal turn as Miller will be arriving on the noon train.
Miller had vowed during his trial that one day he would return to kill Kane. With the encouragement of the townspeople, and Miller's gang waiting at the train station, Kane quickly leaves town with his new wife Amy. They hadn't gone far when the realization sets in that Miller and his gang will only follow and track them down. There would never be any peace. Kane returns to town, with Amy refusing to go with him, reclaims his badge and begins to try an assemble enough help from the men in town to deal with the killer and his gang.
However, Kane finds that the townspeople are too frightened to stand up to Miller's gang and he is now forced to face the men on his own. During the fateful showdown, Kane guns down two of the gang members and is wounded in the action. Upon hearing the gunshots, Amy hurries back to town and is taken hostage by Miller who intends to use her as a shield when facing Kane.
High Noon is an exceptional tale of morality in the old west and a western classic in the truest meaning of the term.
The films production was affected by the then current political fever referred to as the Red Scare. Writer and producer Carl Foreman was called before the House Un-American Activities Committee while writing the film. Although Foreman had not been directly involved with the Communist Party for a decade, he was still pressured to sell his portion of the production company and ultimately ended up being exiled to England. As a member of the Hollywood Black List, Foreman was never allowed to work in America again.
In spite of the controversy and negative sentiment regarding the production of High Noon created by Senator Joseph McCarthy and his anti-communist group, Gary Cooper received an Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role. However, the film lost the Best Picture Award to The Greatest Show on Earth, by Cecil B. DeMille, a long time supporter of Senator Joseph McCarthy.
This was one of the biggest Best Picture upsets in the Academy's history and proved to be another unfortunate example of the disturbing influence of the HUAC concerning the production of High Noon and the entire Hollywood movie industry.
Kane's life path has just taken a potentially fatal turn as Miller will be arriving on the noon train.
Miller had vowed during his trial that one day he would return to kill Kane. With the encouragement of the townspeople, and Miller's gang waiting at the train station, Kane quickly leaves town with his new wife Amy. They hadn't gone far when the realization sets in that Miller and his gang will only follow and track them down. There would never be any peace. Kane returns to town, with Amy refusing to go with him, reclaims his badge and begins to try an assemble enough help from the men in town to deal with the killer and his gang.
However, Kane finds that the townspeople are too frightened to stand up to Miller's gang and he is now forced to face the men on his own. During the fateful showdown, Kane guns down two of the gang members and is wounded in the action. Upon hearing the gunshots, Amy hurries back to town and is taken hostage by Miller who intends to use her as a shield when facing Kane.
High Noon is an exceptional tale of morality in the old west and a western classic in the truest meaning of the term.
The films production was affected by the then current political fever referred to as the Red Scare. Writer and producer Carl Foreman was called before the House Un-American Activities Committee while writing the film. Although Foreman had not been directly involved with the Communist Party for a decade, he was still pressured to sell his portion of the production company and ultimately ended up being exiled to England. As a member of the Hollywood Black List, Foreman was never allowed to work in America again.
In spite of the controversy and negative sentiment regarding the production of High Noon created by Senator Joseph McCarthy and his anti-communist group, Gary Cooper received an Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role. However, the film lost the Best Picture Award to The Greatest Show on Earth, by Cecil B. DeMille, a long time supporter of Senator Joseph McCarthy.
This was one of the biggest Best Picture upsets in the Academy's history and proved to be another unfortunate example of the disturbing influence of the HUAC concerning the production of High Noon and the entire Hollywood movie industry.
