High Noon (1952)
Marshal Will Kane is getting married to his lovely bride, Amy, and hangs up his badge as they prepare to leave their small town of Hadleyville, in New Mexico. However, he learns that a local criminal who he put behind bars, Frank Miller, has been set free and is coming to seek his revenge. Having initially decided to leave with his newly wedded bride, Will feels compelled to go back and face Miller. Will asks for the aid of the townspeople he had protected for so long but they turn their backs on him, leaving him to face Miller and his gang alone. Miller's gang awaits his arrival at the train station and with every minute that passes, the closer they get to their revenge. Rushed for time and with little help, Will is left to protect the cowardly townsfolk one against four. This is one of the most thrilling westerns I have ever seen, which has some great cinematography. I love how the director displays this impending doom for our protagonist Will Kane. The use of the clocks ticking away, growing ever closer as all the townsfolk look and wait with bated breath for the train's arrival is also fabulously shot. Everyone stares at their clocks as each minute passes knowing full well what will happen and yet offer no help. Shots like the train in the distance on the tracks are also ominous and leave us in a constant state of worry for the inevitable arrival of Miller, whilst Will searches desperately for aid. The train slowly edges closer and closer emerging from the distant horizon spelling certain doom, as it nears its destination. With frequent shots of the clocks and train getting closer and closer, it is displayed both by the time of the arrival etching nearer but also through the camera getting closer to the objects, which also switches to close-ups of the townfolk's faces. Having Will alone in the fight definitely ups the tension and has us rooting for him to make it out alive and to be reunited with his wife. Amy is understandably very upset about his choice to return putting his life on the line and constantly threatens to leave on the very train carrying his deadly opponent. You can sympathise with her frustration but hope for her to come back and help her husband rather than leave, abandoning him at his most desperate hour. We share Will's sense of panic and desperation as he searches everywhere for any help, only to be denied and pushed away. It leaves us wanting to help him out ourselves because we feel as helpless as Will and are left to observe, as the final confrontation takes place. Once Miller arrives and is joined by his gang it leads to the action, which is very thrilling and carries many iconic tropes in westerns, which I love. The gunfight showdown has a great setting with the deserted-like town making for a chilling atmosphere. During the shoot out there is a clever use of Will's tactics in the horse stables where he can smartly take one out. We even get to see Amy come to the rescue, managing to help take one of the two pinning Will down with gunfire. I am personally such a big fan of the western genre, especially all the old ones with the gunslinging action we have all come to know so well. I am a fan of western music too and it most definitely applied to this film with the dramatic soundtrack used during the final battle. Overall, High Noon is a fantastic movie and a western one at that. From its superb cinematography, characters, acting and climactic action to the overall story. Honestly, I thoroughly enjoyed this film and it's one all western fans should check out at least once. Even if you are just a regular moviegoer, this is still an outstanding one to check on out. It will get the blood pumping as it slowly creeps up to the climactic showdown. So draw your gun from your holster and blast your way into the thriller that is High Noon.
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