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High Noon (re-release)

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High Noon (re-release) reviews
89
8.6 User Score:

Movie Info

Genre(s): Classic  |  Suspense/Thriller  |  Western

Written by: Carl Foreman
John W. Cunningham (story)

Directed by: Fred Zinnemann

Release Date:
Theatrical: April 30, 2004
DVD: February 17, 2004

Running Time: 85 minutes, B/W

Origin: USA

Summary

RATING: Not Rated

Starring Gary Cooper, Thomas Mitchell, Lloyd Bridges, Katy Jurado, Grace Kelly, Otto Kruger, Lon Chaney Jr., and Harry Morgan

This classic 1952 Western stars Gary Cooper as just-married lawman Will Kane, who is about to retire as a small-town sheriff and begin a new life with his bride (Grace Kelly) when he learns that gunslinger Frank Miller (Ian MacDonald) is due to arrive at high noon to settle an old score.

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

100

The New York Times Bosley Crowther

Meaningful in its implications, as well as loaded with interest and suspense, High Noon is a western to challenge “Stagecoach” for the all-time championship. (Review of Original Release)

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100

ReelViews James Berardinelli

The Western may be one of the few truly American art forms, and High Noon shows exactly how much potential it can embrace.

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100

TV Guide Staff (Not Credited)

Not a frame is wasted in this taut, superbly directed, masterfully acted film, the first so-called "adult Western." (Review of Original Release)

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100

Washington Post Stephen Hunter

A terrific piece of filmmaking. It's taut, believable as it unspools. It's charismatic, with a slow buildup of tension in near-real time that finally explodes into a blast of violence.

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80

Village Voice Michael Atkinson

Possibly the most Rorschachian film of all time, a symbol-only text that effortlessly conforms to any political present, and finds a foothold in your social sphere whether you're a free radical or reactionary wing nut.

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80

Variety Staff (Not Credited)

Cooper does an unusually able job of portraying the marshal. (Review of Original Release)

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70

Chicago Reader Jonathan Rosenbaum

Some of the results ring false, but the memorable theme song and some equally memorable character acting (by Thomas Mitchell and Lon Chaney Jr. more than Lloyd Bridges and Katy Jurado) help things along.

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What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this movie is 8.6 (out of 10) based on 5 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Jay H gave it a7:
A fine western, but I also feel it is an overrated film. Gary Cooper is very good, the screenplay is excellent, nice pacing. It has some tense moments. It's hard to believe that theme song won an Oscar.

Swoop Loo gave it a10:
High Noon is more than a Western. It is commentary on the weakness of the human race. Fear rules the day and most succumb to its presence. Only a few brave souls are truly willing to risk death (or political office) in order to right a wrong. What is more cowardly, to look for help or to deny that you need to help?

Yoon Min C. gave it a 9:
Sneered at by film geeks as professional than personal, craftmanlike than artistic. it's true that the quirkier westerns of boetticher, mann, hawks, etc offer more in the way of originality and eccentricity. but, high noon is a work of near perfection in terms of performances, dramatic structure, and moral dileneation. cooper's all the more effective for playing it vulnerable as well as tough. hawks complained high noon violated some key rules of western conventions but these very 'flaws' give it a richer texture.

Dan C. gave it a 10:
This is one of the greatest westerns of all time. Cooper and Kelly are great!

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