She starred opposite some of the most talented and handsome actors in the business. She worked under some of the most brilliant directors in the world. Her charm, sophistication, and beauty radiated off the big screen. She rose to fame and became one of Hollywood’s most popular movie stars, and then she walked away from it all. Some people know her as Princess Grace; some as Jimmy Stewart’s co-star; some as Hitchcock’s favorite leading lady, and some simply as Grace Kelly. Starting out acting in small parts on television and then the silver screen, Kelly didn’t receive her break out role until she starred alongside Gary Cooper in the classic western High Noon (1952).
Directed by Fred Zinnemann, High Noon stars Cooper and Kelly as newlyweds Will and Amy Kane. Will has recently decided to retire as the marshal of Hadleyville, a small town in New Mexico. When Will learns that Frank Miller (Ian MacDonald), a criminal Will put behind bars, is about to be released from prison, Will must postpone his new life with his new wife. After all, Miller has already declared revenge on Will when the clock hits twelve and will destroy the whole town to get to him. To protect the town, Will sticks around to stand his ground. The town isn’t as courageous as Will though, and he has a hard time trying to find people to get his back.
Soon Frank hops on the train headed toward Hadleyville with three of his gang members.
Time keeps ticking and everyone has an excuse not to help Will. Amy, who just wants to leave town, threatens to leave Will if he doesn’t come with. Unlike her new husband, she doesn’t believe in violence and wants no part of it. As the clock strikes high noon, Will must face off alone with one of the most dangerous criminals in the west. Cue the slow cowboy music and release the tumbleweeds. This shootout is history in the making.
Though this film was made nearing the end of Cooper’s career, Kelly was just coming into her own. They were actually almost thirty years apart in age, but that didn’t stop this untraditional casting. The subject would pop up often throughout Cooper’s later films and would be something that remained controversial for much of his later career. He did receive an Oscar for his portrayal of Will Kane (a companion for his Sergeant York Oscar). I wouldn’t say this film relies heavily on a stellar acting performance from Kelly but she fills her role nicely. She’s well cast as the wholesome, peaceful wife.
Written by Carl Foreman, this film does an excellent job of balancing the action. Unlike many westerns (cough cough Once Upon a Time in the West), this film doesn’t dwell on the slow paced aspects of the west commonly portrayed in westerns. They are in there, but certainly do not bore their audience to death. It’s hard to be bored when the anticipation of the inevitable event is very present. Intercutting images of the clock ticking away, adds a great sense of urgency. The script makes us feel just as anxious and worried as Will does.
Oh yeah, and there was speculation about High Noon being a metaphor for blacklisting, something about it containing communistic ideas, something about the Red Scare and McCarthyism, and blah blah blah. That stuff seems far fetched and just boring compared to the actual film's integrity and its lasting legacy in cinema history. But you be the judge. Despite the fire this film was under, High Noon still holds its own as one of the best westerns around.
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