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Regular
Price $14.98
Starring:
Gary Cooper,
Thomas Mitchell,
Lloyd Bridges,
Katy Jurado,
Grace Kelly,
Directed By:
Fred Zinnemann,
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Release Date: 1952
Studio: Republic Pictures
Format:
Black & White,
Closed-captioned,
DVD-Video,
THX,
NTSC,
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Editorial Reviews and
DVD Information about
High Noon
Amazon.com essential video
One of the greatest Westerns ever made gets the deluxe treatment on this superior disc from Republic Home Video's Silver Screen Classics line of special-edition DVDs. Written by Carl Foreman (who was later blacklisted during the anticommunist hearings of the '50s) and superbly directed by Fred Zinnemann, this 1952 classic stars Gary Cooper as just-married lawman Will Kane, who is about to retire as a small-town sheriff and begin a new life with his bride (Grace Kelly) when he learns that gunslinger Frank Miller (Ian MacDonald) is due to arrive at high noon to settle an old score. Kane seeks assistance from deputies and townsfolk, but soon realizes he'll have to stand alone in his showdown with Miller and his henchmen. Innovative for its time, the suspenseful story unfolds in approximate real time (from 10:40 a.m. to high noon in an 84-minute film), and many interpreted Foreman's drama as an allegorical reflection of apathy and passive acceptance of Senator Joseph McCarthy's anticommunist campaign. Political underpinnings aside, this remains a milestone of its genre (often referred to as the first "adult" Western), and Cooper is flawless in his Oscar-winning role. The first-rate DVD gives this landmark film all the respect it deserves, beginning with a digitally remastered transfer from the original film negative. Additional features include the exclusive documentary The Making of High Noon, hosted by film historian Leonard Maltin and featuring interviews with the late Lloyd Bridges (who played Cooper's rival ex-deputy), director Fred Zinnemann, and producer Stanley Kramer. Also included is the original theatrical trailer and a special chapter stop highlighting the Oscar-winning song "Do Not Forsake Me." Offered in English and dubbed French and Spanish, with English closed-captioning or Spanish and French subtitles. --Jeff Shannon
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Customer Reviews for
High Noon
The quintessential western with deeper meaning
This is the quintessential western with a subtle but unmistakable reference to the bullying techniques of McCarthyism. One man stands alone in the face of intimidation because those who should be his friends fear to share in his fate. This is the common-man, Gary Cooper, at his best and most noble. A must have for any video collection.High Noon
The Gunman is Coming
First of all, I have seen High Noon but not this particular DVD so I can't comment on the special features.
The film itself is a pretty interesting concept for a western. Gary Cooper plays a local sheriff who learns he will soon be facing a quartet of armed outlaws when the final one arrives on the noon locomotive. Grace Kelly plays his wife who happens to be a pacifist. Other performers include Katy Jurado and Lon Chaney Jr. As time ticks down, Cooper attepmts to get others in the town to join him but ultimately no one is willing. The film plays out essentially in real time on a single day and there are no gunfights until the final shootout. Overall though, the suspense and acting actually build up to the final scenes. Overall, a pretty good western.High Noon
" STAR IN THE DUST"
Absolutely the best western ever made. One of the best romances ever made as the somewhat older sheriff and his dainty, cool and, particular younger bride start out their marriage looking down the gunbarrels of oullaws coming to "settle the score with Sheriff Will Kane." The tension builds as the sheriff nervously watches the clock. He does not really want to die this early into his new marriage--the honeymoon has not even quite begun. His frustration boils over as he cannot get even one man to stand up with him against these murderers. Then. . .when he has used up all his ammo and luck, the little woman steps in to. . .
to prove she has more moxie than anyone could have possibly thought. A perfect movie, the sweet and tender romance, the protective older man and helpless young bride sweep up the streets for all the ingrates who would not help. Now, what will they do for a sheriff?High Noon
An 'Ultimate' Edition that Lives Up to It's Name!
When a film has been available on DVD in a number of editions for a number of years, as "High Noon" has, a new edition had better be pretty impressive to justify shelling out more money.
"High Noon (Two-Disc Ultimate Collector's Edition)" is more than pretty impressive...it is superb!
First off, the print is about as close to perfect as you'll ever find, with picture and sound vastly improved over previous releases. Next, the Special Features are engrossing, with a new documentary about the making of the legendary Western, including appreciations by a number of actors and fans (including ex-President Bill Clinton), and a long-overdue look at the remarkable Oscar-winning Dimitri Tiomkin score and song, "Do Not Forsake Me, Oh My Darlin'", and it's iconic performer, Tex Ritter, plus a 'live' Ritter performance (on radio), and much more. Finally, the packaging is beautiful, so nice that you may be tempted to keep it on the coffee table rather than on the shelf!
That the film was ever made is the stuff of legend...A producer better known for contemporary 'message' films (Stanley Kramer), a European director who had never made a Western (Fred Zinnemann), a screenwriter about to be blacklisted for refusing to buckle under the paranoia of the times (Carl Foreman), and an ailing, aging superstar who was considered 'washed up' after a string of flops (Gary Cooper), combined their talents for a film that flew against all the 'rules' for a successful Western...filmed in black and while, in near-documentary style, with no sweeping vistas, and at nearly 'real' time...and stirred immediate controversy with it's less-than-flattering portrayal of a town's cowardice, incurring the anger of no less than John Ford, Howard Hawks, and John Wayne. Yet the film received 7 Oscar nominations, and 4 wins, including a 'Best Actor' Oscar for Cooper (which, surprisingly, was accepted by Wayne, as Cooper was unavailable). "High Noon" is on the short list of not only the 'Greatest Westerns', but 'Greatest Films' ever made, and is a film that deserves a spot in every DVD collection...it's that good!
So chuck your old copy, and buy this one...you'll be glad you did!
High Noon
Don't shove me Harv. I'm tired of being shoved.
High Noon (Two-Disc Ultimate Collector's Edition)
Quite a bit has been said about this film.
Then again, it's 56 years old.
Forget about the Hollywood blacklist period, the trouble behind the scenes, and any politically inclined agenda.
This is probably the first adult western that "holds up".
A good script.
A good director.
A good cast.
A good soundtrack.
All on a small budget and short shooting schedule.
Unheard of now-a-days.
No color.
No CGI.
No fancy hoop-dee-doo credits.
This version deserves some attention.
The restoration is totally amazing. More so if you've seen the original.
3 tracks available. Re-mastered. Enhanced re-mastered. Commentary...which is very low key and quite entertaining.
A classic film with stars long gone...not forgotten.
Go.
High Noon
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