_High Noon_ was controversial at the time of its release due to the overt political themes. John Wayne was first offered the role of Will Kane but turned it down. Because the townspeople turn their backs on Kane, refusing to help defend their town, Wayne called it the most un-American script he'd ever read. Will Kane was played by Gary Cooper, one of Hollywood's greatest male stars. This was, as you can imagine, late in his career, but his performance earned him his second Best Actor Oscar. Amy Kane was played by Grace Kelly, one of the most beautiful women to ever appear in American films. Kelly was a favorite of Alfred Hitchcock, who cast her in three films: _Dial M for Murder, Rear Window_ (with James Stewart), and _To Catch a Thief_ (with Cary Grant). While filming _To Catch a Thief_ on the French Riviera she met Prince Rainier of Monaco, who fell in love with her. One year later, 1956, they married. She retired from acting and became even more famous as Princess Grace. Katy Jurado who played Helen Ramirez won the Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress, a rarity for a Mexican actor at the time. This was her first American film, and she learned English specifically for the role. Harvey was played by Lloyd Bridges, who would go on to have a long film and television career. You've seen him in _Airplane!_ He was the one who kept saying, "I guess I picked the wrong day to quit smoking... drinking... taking amphetamines... sniffing glue." He has two sons who are also actors, Beau Bridges and Jeff Bridges. Jeff Bridges played The Dude in _The Big Lebowski._ This was Lee Van Cleef's first movie.
The screenwriter was a left wing screenwriter who was in danger of being blacklisted but people like Gary Cooper, a lifelong Republican, defended him. People love this movie to this day from Ronald Reagan to Bill Clinton
@@captbunnykiller1.0 Realism would be those men wouldn't cower to a few thugs, Wayne was right. But in order to get suspense, sometime one man alone is needed. Its Hollywood. I never cared that much for Cooper, but I do like him in Mr. Deeds Goes to Town. Go figure, a comedy.
One of the greatest movies ever made. The shot where Kane steps into the street and the camera zooms in for a close up and then slowly backs away and lifts high into the air and shows him completely alone, is one of the most iconic shots in cinema history.
It's a metaphor for the Hollywood blacklist era. People who a day or even hours earlier were popular were suddenly abandoned by every fake "friend" and even every stranger.
the shot (or rather the edit) that impressed me the most, though I don't think I've heard anyone talk about it - is the edit from the church to the train tracks showing the incoming train for high noon, and the perspective of the church aisle aligns perfectly with the train tracks stretching towards the horizon.What would you even call that - compositional rhyming?
In 1979 my wife was a nurses aide for Slim Talbot, Talbot was the man in the barbers chair. Talbot made a career of being Gary Cooper's stunt double as he looked a lot like him. My wife just loved the old man.
Dawn, One reason that the tension works so well is that the film is in "real time", in the sense that at the beginning the clocks are showing 10.30 and exactly 90 minutes into the film they are showing 12.00,
Tuco was played by Eli Wallach. Loved that guy. This was 1952, so long before the Man With No Name trilogy. Early 50's westerns were dominated by John Wayne (check out "The Searchers"). Gary Cooper was awesome, IRL he was a lanky cowboy from Montana, very rugged land. His BEST movie, well IMO, is "Sergeant York". Excellent actor.
Grace Kelly was a Quaker in this movie and Gary Cooper played a Quaker in "Sergeant York". Quakers are non-violent, so it was unexpected when Grace shoots one of the bad guys.
@creech54 I don't think, that Alivin York was a Quaker. He was just a serious Christian who interpreted war as being against the commandment. "Though shall not kill".
Quakers, or Religious Society of Friends, are a set of Christian denominations that began during the English Civil War. They have a number of distinctive beliefs, the most important of which for this movie is their adherence to non-violence and pacifism. They had a rough time of it in England, with official State persecution in the Quaker Act of 1662 and others, so large numbers of them fled to North America. They had a rough time of it in the Colonies, too, being imprisoned, banished and executed by the Puritans in the Massachusetts Bay Colony before settling in several of the northern colonies, especially Pennsylvania, which was founded by William Penn, a Quaker.
There's a really good movie featuring a Quaker family and community, starring Gary Cooper here, called The Friendly Persuasion. It's set during the American Civil War (1861-65). Quakers were also known as Friends.
The Quakers were anti slavery and some participated in the Underground Railroad. I wonder if their vocal stance against slavery is one of the reasons they had be persecuted.
This film was written by Karl Foreman, a Blacklisted writer who fled to England where he became a Producer for such films as The Bridge on the River Kwai. High Noon is an Allegory about effect of the Blacklist.
It's "Carl" Foreman, but yes. It's an allegory about how the bullies came and too many in Hollywood sold out their friends rather than take a stand. Notably Ronald Reagan, who was the President of the Screen Actors Guild, but "named names" and let McCarthy smear others, ruining careers and even lives. Walt Disney, who arguably started the whole problem by blaming "Communists" for an animators' strike in 1941, also testified about "the Communist menace", feeding McCarthy's publicity-hungry campaign to blacklist performers. (In fact, the animators were simply on strike because Disney was a cheapskate and a jerk.)
This is the movie that's referenced in "Die Hard" when Jon McClane and Hans Gruber (Bruce Willis and Alan Rickman) banter about Gary Cooper riding off into the sunset with Grace Kelly.
Grace Kelly was one of the most beautiful creatures to ever walk the earth. High recommend you to watch Rear Window. She and Jimmy Stewart in my favorite Hitchcock film
It is so cool how you like westerns. A couple of good ones you might like are "The Outlaw Josey Wales" (Clint Eastwood movie) and "Shane" (with an ending that leaves you guessing).
If you liked his wife (Grace Kelly), consider watching my favorite of her movies: Rear Window. A great suspense movie also starring Jimmy Stewart and directed by the master of suspense, Alfred Hitchcock.
Dimitri Tiomkin's score is really great, other movies with an iconic theme music before "High Noon" are Carol Reed's "The Third Man" and of course Fritz Lang's "M".
It is so refreshing to watch your reaction videos Dawn Marie! So proud of you that you're willing to watch black & white movies. I know too many young people who just dismiss it because it's b&w. Keep up the good work!!
In 1952 October we moved to California from Chicago and in February of 1953 I saw this movie in my first drive-in theater in Burbank CA and I never forgot that experience to this day. To be in the state where the cowboy movies were filmed 👩🏻🌾
The second guy after Lee Van Cleef that you didn't recognize is Sheb Wooley. Shelby Fredrick "Sheb" Wooley was an American singer, songwriter, actor and comedian. He recorded a series of novelty songs including the 1958 hit rock and roll comedy single "The Purple People Eater" and under the name Ben Colder.
I think its great that you show such interest in westerns, been loving your choices and re-actions! Now its time to re-act to one of the best westerns ever made, my all time favorite, "Lonesome Dove"
@@brycehiigel235 One of my favorite movies...and the origin of Woody from "Toy Story", of course named after Woody Strode. Although not celebrated like Jackie Robinson, Woody Strode played professional football a year before Jackie "broke the color barrier". In those days, baseball was far more popular.
Hey Dawn, you reacted to Die Hard with Bruce Willis. Well, High Noon is the movie that inspired the makers of Die Hard. There even is a line in Die Hard where the bad guy mistakenly references John Wayne riding off into the sunset with Grace Kelly. Bruce immediately points out that it was Gary Cooper. High Noon wasn't mentioned so now you know what that was all about.
The old guy sitting down in the rocking chair, was Lon Chaney Jr. He and his dad were among the earliest of Hollywood royalty. His dad started in silent movies, and did everything with expressions hand gestures and a toolbox of makeup bits. Arguably the greatest actor ever. Even made an honorary marine and buried in a Marine cemetery, for his amazing role in a movie called I think, the D.I. or Drill Instructor!
The Mayor, by the way, is Thomas Mitchell: you know him as Uncle Billy from "It's a Wonderful Life": he's one of those really wonderful character actors who show up in lots of movies, and who always make that move better by being there. Helen Ramirez is played by Katy Jurado, a Mexican actress who learned to speak English for this movie. One of my favorite characters in the story. Kudos for recognizing Lee van Cleef!!!!
The second actor shown is Sheb Wooley, a regular on Rawhide and Hee-Haw who appeared in tons of westerns usually in small parts (sometimes without any lines) and was the voice behind the Wilhelm Scream heard in all the classic Stars Wars and Indiana Jones films. Wooley was also a musician whose biggest claim to fame is his #1 song, "Purple People Eater." He can be spotted in The Outlaw Josey Wales as one of the town's residents in the last third of the movie.
One of my favorite things is that if you count up all the men who almost helped you get to about a dozen guys, there’s his deputy, the guy who volunteered, the three guys he sent the kid to find, 5 guys who immediately jumped up to help him at the church and then throw in couple from the bar and yeah he’d have like 11-12 guys backing him up.
Gary Cooper's first movie was the silent film "Wings," he had a very short part. My favorite Gary Cooper films were "Ball of Fire" with Barbara Stanwyck, "Meet John Doe," also with Stanwyck, and "Mr. Deeds goes to Town," with Jean Arthur.
I’m glad someone mentioned Ball of Fire, it’s my favourite Gary Cooper film too. I would love to see a Dawn reaction to it. I recon she’d have a blast.
Lee van Cleef spent most of the 50s standing behind western villains looking mean before getting shot by the hero. He was literally penniless and looking for a job after quitting acting when in 1965 a tubby little Italian who spoke no English turned up at his flat with a suitcase full of cash wanting him to appear in a cowboy film with Clint Eastwood... My "OMG there's one already" moment is at 13:27 when none other than Scarlett O'Hara's dad starts lecturing the town's people :o)
Dawn, Gary Cooper was in the silent movie, "Wings", early in his career. It's a great film which won the first Best Picture Academy Award. He doesn't star in it but has a brief, but significant role.
A couple of other classics from that era with similar pacing are Shane with Alan Ladd, and The Big Country with Gregory Peck and Charlton Heston. And an even older one from the 1940s is Angel and the Badman with John Wayne. All three among my favorite westerns.
A timeless allegory of a good man facing the odds in spite of those who defied him. Of the times too - the '50s w/the McCarthy era of 'the Red Scare' (The Communist Witch Hunt by Sen. Joe McCarthy). Gary Cooper was of the strong silent type and his stoicism truly shows still waters run deep in this classic Western. Some fun facts: the gent he tussles w/in the barn was Lloyd Bridges - father of Jeff & Beau; Harry Morgan - Col. Potter of M*A*S*H has a small role & horror icon Lon Chaney, Jr. (THE WOLFMAN) has a small put pivotal role. Nice job Dawn :D
This is my favourite western of all time. Even my school teacher used to rave about it. You did another fantastic reaction too - you really get involved in the action and with the characters.
Grace Kelly, the beautiful and much younger wife, is in Rear Window, my favourite Hitchcock film, with James Stewart, and a couple of other good Hitchcocks too, Dial M for Murder and To Catch a Thief. She was his favourite actress. This was the very beginning of her career. She retired from movies to marry a prince.
3:44--Lloyd Bridges (Jeff Bridges' father) from the TV show Sea Hunt 10:40--Harry Morgan (Col. Potter) from the TV show MASH 13:31--Thomas Mitchell (Uncle Billy Bailey) from the movie It's a Wonderful Life 14:31--Lon Chaney Jr. (son of Sr)
You should see some westerns that are comedies also. BEFORE Blazing Saddles. Support Your Local Sheriff [1969] is funny as hell, with James Garner. It also has Harry Morgan in it, who was in this movie, and Walter Brennan, Bruce Dern [the jail no bars scene cracks me up every time with Bruce]. And the drunk in the jail cell in High Noon, Jack Elam [that guy was always funny as hell].
Loved your reaction to this classic western! So glad you are taking the time to investigate these old classics. They are truly nuggets of gold! Worth watching! Two suggestions for you to consider: First, Alfred Hitchcock's Rear Window pairs Grace Kelly (the wife in this movie) with Jimmy Stewart (you saw him in "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valence) and second another Alfred Hitchcock movie "Dial M for Murder". It stars Grace Kelly and Ray Milland. It's a murder suspense movie set in London.
"High Noon" had an amazing cast. Dawn Marie, you saw Gary Cooper's wife before, she is Grace Kelly, and she played Jimmy Stewart's girl friend in "Rear Window". You got Lee Van Cleef, and the other Bad Guy, Pierce, was played by the guy who challenged James Coburn to a duel between a gun and a knife in "The Magnificent Seven", but I forget his name. Also, the old Sheriff Cooper tried to recruit was Lon Chaney, Jr., who played The Wolf Man, in the early Universal Studios Horror movies. Also, Harry Morgan, the guy who was hiding from Cooper, played Colonel Potter on the TV show "MASH", and he was also on the TV show "Dragnet".
My goodness Dawn ,every time I think you couldn't be cute to the 10th power, you exceed my expectations. You're very astute in what you watch, even when there's times you don't understand. I have resigned myself to watch and enjoy whatever you post 😉 ❤
Okay Dawn, now that you've seen a few American made westerns and a few Italian made(spaghetti) westerns, which do you like better, there is still one awesome spaghetti western left, "Once Upon a Time in the West" it has a great cast, great music, amazing scenery and a little bit more of a complicated plot, with a very satisfying ending.
watching this on TV in 1972, Kane give a speech before he through his badge on the ground, if I rember correctly, absolutly loved this movie, was singing the theme song for days,
I love this movie. It's so strange watching Lloyd Bridges play a serious role after I grew up seeing him in Airplane, Hotshots and Seinfeld. (It's go time!) ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-K6zsAyoRA1I.html
I remember Lloyd Bridges from "Sea Hunt," the cop show "Joe Forrester" and many dramatic guest appearances in TV series, TV movies and the min-series "Roots."
A similar type of suspense movie, although only western for being set in a remote post-WWII town in the west, "Bad Day at Black Rock' is another less known great.
The cinematography was done by Floyd Crosby, already an Oscar winner for another film 2 decades before. He was nominated for this one...Floyd was the father of the recent late David Crosby of the singing group Crosby Stills Nash and Young. Floyd captured Cooper's eyes and facial expressions beautifully for full effect of the story as well movement of the wife's wagon out of town from both perspectives, the moment where Cooper, standing in the middle of the street, realizes this is it, he's alone. Floyd pans the cameras away and up, adding to the intensity and helplessness...and the constant looking at the clock, speeded up just before the noon train arrives. Great editing. The musical score for the film, by Dimitri Tiomkin, was brilliant.
I’m a big movie buff but I had no idea about the father-son relationship between Floyd & David Crosby. Just the kind of movie trivia I love. Thanks for the info !!
Amazing classic High Noon starring by Gary Cooper, Grace Kelly, Lloyd Bridges, Katy Jurado, Lee Van Cleef and music score by Dimitri Tiomkin. Thank you Dawn Marie great reaction excellent. 🎵 Do not Forsake me oh my Darlin 🎵
The lead actor in this movie was Gary Cooper, a huge Hollywood star back in the day. Another movie with Cooper you might like is Sergeant York. A true story about the most decorated American soldier of WWI. Well written and well acted.
I was getting tense just watch Dawn getting tense. 😄 I recognized some of the minor actors who were really young in this movie. Harry Morgan from Dragnet and MASH (colonel Potter), Lloyd Bridges Airplane. Both had long careers but I only knew them for their later work. Despite the movie being tame for today's standards still a satisfying movie.
The guy who's playing Harvey, his name is Lloyd Bridges. He's the father of Jeff Bridges, Jeff Bridges was the star of the movie that you watched, The Big Lebowski.
The guy at the start of the movie with Lee Van Cleef was Sheb Wooley,who starred with Clint Eastwood in the tv western Rawhide ,some years before the Dollars movies..
This was not some typical Western, but a more psychological thriller for how it keeps you afraid for every minute passing. Each passing moment and more of the capable or upright citizens running or hiding. It's an intense classic.
This movie was a favorite of many American presidents who identified with story of someone who has to stand alone while everybody who said they'd stand with him abandons him. Pres. Bill Clinton screened it sixteen times at the Whire House.
A few years after this movie Grace Kelly married Prince Rainier of Monaco and became a real princess. Gary Cooper was in "Pride of the Yankees", "Sergeant York", "Mr. Deeds Goes to Town" and a lot of great movies. Singing cowboy Tex Ritter sang the theme song. His son John Ritter was in Three's Company in the 1970's.
High Noon is the time of day where a person has the shortest shadow of the day if they have any, when the sun is directly above and at its highest point in the sky. Due to the advent of the Train and associated train schedules time zones were created and so in some places noon on the clock could either be before or after when the actual solar noon occurs. It was useful to refer to high noon rather than noon by clock/watch because everyone can know when that time is regardless of whether they have a watch or not, or whether a clock is set accurately.
Others have given details about the main cast so here's a few other details? Along with Lee Van Cleef,the gang were Sheb Wooley(Miller's brother)who starred as Pete Nolan in the classic western series 'Rawhide' with Clint Eastwood. He was also a prolific singer and writer who created the famous character 'The Purple People Eater'. Robert J.Wilkie who had the gun/knife fight with James Coburn in 'The Magnificent Seven'. Ian McDonald played Frank Miller. The former marshall was played by Lon Chaney Jnr who was famous for playing The Wolf Man as well as Frankenstein's monster and The Mummy. Harry Morgan(husband who hid from Kane)went on to be in MASH. Theme song was sung by country artist Tex Ritter who's son was actor John Ritter. Frankie Laine is also known for singing High Noon as well as loads of famous Western themes including 'Rawhide' '3.10 to Yuma' and 'Champion The Wonder Horse' 😊
The female lead was Grace Kelly who left Hollywood to marry Prince Rainier of Monaco and become Her Royal highness Princess Grace of Monaco. Gary Cooper won his second Oscar for this movie. He was one of the great Hollywood Stars of the Golden era.
Grace Kelley married Prince Rainer and became the Princess of Monaco. The Mayor, Thomas Mitchell, was Uncle Billy in It's a Wonderful Life Sam Fuller, Harry Morgan, was Cnl Potter in MASH The title song is sung by B-movie western star Tex Ritter (actor John Ritter's father) The Old Sheriff was Lon Cheney
They filmed BACK TO THE FUTURE III (And Engine #3) & FOR WHO THE BELL TOLES. The ending train seen in THE MAN WHO KILLED LIBERTY VALINCE (Engine # 3) AND MANY OTHER FILMS. TOULONME COUNTY. 45 miles East of Modesto, California, U.S.A.
