High Noon (1952)

The audience feels every moment tick by in High Noon, as time is as much the enemy as the villains themselves.

Kane, played by Gary Cooper, is a retiring Marshal preparing to leave town with his bride Amy, played by Grace Kelly. However, they are unable to depart when news arrives that a local outlaw by the name of Frank Miller is to return to town on the noon train. Kane insists on staying to mount a defense, with only a little over an hour to prepare. Clocks are carefully framed, especially in the opening sequence, showing the film's keen internal awareness of the passage of time.

The best depiction of Kane’s efforts is in the church scene where he seeks to enlist the help of the townspeople. Here, we see a complex display of cowardice. They assign blame, first to the Northern politicians, then to Kane himself. Various grievances are aired, as the civilians feel twice taxed, having paid Kane and now being asked to aid in the town’s defense themselves. Time is even made time for an “I told ya so” and one moron who still doesn’t believe anything is really happening. But the gut punch comes when a character, played by Thomas Mitchell, declares that for the greater good Kane must retreat, telling him, “It’s better for you and it’s better for us”.

Meanwhile, visuals and sound effects advance the story as the clocks tick the seconds by, and the Miller brothers’ revolvers let out small clicks as they are idly inspected in anticipation of the group's ringleader.

But the camera is not fixed to Kane’s shoulder. Amy’s objection to him fighting is rooted in her beliefs as a Quaker. She relates this to Helen Ramírez, portrayed by Katy Jurado, citing violence in her past as the reason for her conversion. Helen, an independent figure with a complicated history with Kane, encourages Amy to support and aid her husband.

But unfortunately, such bravery is in short supply. The commentary on human nature is fairly cynical, with Kane particularly disaffected at the end of the film as he, victorious, throws his badge aside. The film is also a good reminder that action is no substitute for drama; the meat of the film is patiently watching Kane try, and fail, to convince members of the population to help him.

This movie is a striking testament to the amount of ground that can be covered with less than ninety minutes of film. In High Noon, storytelling and tension are at their peak, making it not just a solid western, but an excellent film.