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This Fred Zinnemann classic has the courage to call itself a Western, but doesn't really have the heart to display it, which is a compliment from me because it is a unique film. Unlike the other Westerns, it is too nicey-nice, with very little shooting and absolutely no bloodshed whatsoever. The reason why High Noon is such an awesome film is because of its simplicity. No trains, no chase sequences, none of the usual characteristics of the genre; instead, the main focus is on the main character Will Kane, arguably the greatest, and coolest, hero to hit the screen, and his attempt at bringing together a posse to defend the town from a notorious outlaw Frank Miller. The whole film, bar the last 5 minutes, show nothing but Will Kane going around the town trying to convince the people to help him. The heroic and likable nature of Will Kane not only makes him stand out like a sore thumb from the town's irrational, fear-driven folks, but also makes him the number one best Western film hero I've ever seen. The reasons are little, but they're enough, and I have already outlined them above.
The characters are realistic, their different natures and personalities are accurate to their character and the dialogues are natural. Like I said before, High Noon is a painfully simple film that will make you love the genre all over again - even if you already do. What I liked best is how they wrote Will Kane for the screen; He laughs, he smiles, he breakdowns, he fights, he considers leaving - all emotions perfectly displayed. The simple-to-the-point character is so well-written, it very well could be the greatest written character for the screen ever.
Changing tracks, even though Gary Cooper received the Oscar for his role as Will Kane, it was the second best performance. The first has to be Katy Jurado as Helen Ramirez, the hot flame of the film. You see, you see, the film belongs to Katy and her only. No-one else. She was amazing in her role. True, it may seem outdated to the modern eye but it certainly will win you over, of that I have no doubt. Her had movements, quite stiff I admit, were something I enjoyed the best. She breathed life into her words and a believable personality in her character. Great performance indeed. Now let's try to tackle Gary Cooper. The face of hero is either very handsome, rugged, stern, normal, or ugly et al. Cooper was a combination of all and then some. He may very well be the most realistic face of a sheriff ever. His performance was good, out-shadowed each & every one except Katy Jurado, a painful confession I must sheepishly admit. Hey, once you watch the film, and try to pay attention to her performance and not just her looks, I think you will come to agree with me!
In conclusion, High Noon is a classic film and probably the simplest in its genre. Awesome films like these don't come around nowadays, a shame really.
10/10
