High Noon Dominoes

High Noon - review

Here is a film review by critic James Berardinelli. Give it a read and check in at the end.

High Noon

Review by James Berardinelli

By 1952, movie-goers knew exactly what to expect from a Western: a clean-cut, self-assured hero facing down a good-for-nothing villain in a climactic shoot-out, lots of action, gorgeous scenery, and not much in the way of thematic depth. This was a time when the Western was at the height of its popularity, and when stars of the genre, like John Wayne and Gary Cooper, were revered as heroes of the Old West. Then along came Stanley Kramer and Fred Zinnemann's High Noon, and the Western was never quite the same.

Many fans of the genre regard High Noon as the best Western ever made. There are other contenders for the titles (including, but not limited to The Searchers; The Good, the Bad and the Ugly; The Wild Bunch; Unforgiven; and Dances With Wolves), but there's no debating that High Noon is amongst the elite - it is as much above the garden variety Western as something like Die Hard is above the generic shoot-'em-up action thriller.

High Noon contains many of the elements of the traditional Western: the gun-toting bad guys, the moral lawman, the pretty girl, and the climactic gunfight. But it's in the way these elements are blended together, with the slight spin put on them by Zinnemann and screenwriter Carl Foreman, that makes High Noon unlike any other Western. Audiences in the early '50s were drawn to the theater by the promise of a Gary Cooper film. Many viewers left confused, consternated, or vaguely dissatisfied, because things didn't play out in the expected way. It is rumored that John Wayne criticized High Noon's ending as being "un-American."

Indeed, 1952 was the time of "un-American" things, with Senator Joseph McCarthy wielding the power of paranoia and fear in Washington as he presided over the 20th century Salem Witch Trials. This time, the targets weren't servants of the Devil, but Communists (although some at the time might have said there was no difference). Carl Foreman, the screenwriter of High Noon, was blacklisted soon after writing the script. Also on McCarthy's list were actor Lloyd Bridges and cinematographer Floyd Crosby. To hear McCarthy tell it, High Noon was a veritable hotbed of "un-American" activity. And the story can easily be seen as allegorical -a man is turned on by those he called friends and comrades, and comes to see that the most valued principle of the masses is self-preservation.

[...]

The more one considers the atmosphere in which Foreman wrote High Noon, the easier it is understand the grim tone that underscores nearly every frame of the motion picture. The typical Western was a story of great heroism and derring-do. High Noon highlights much of humanity's base nature.

[...]

High Noon is about loyalty and betrayal. Loyalty on Kane's part - even when everyone deserts him, he stands his ground, though it seems inevitable that the action will cost him his life. And betrayal on the town's part. Many of the locals are agreed that they owe their prosperity to Kane, but they will not help him or defend him, because they believe his cause to be hopeless. There are even those who welcome Miller's return. In the end, Kane is forced into the showdown on his own, until, at a crucial moment, Amy proves herself to be a worthy wife.

The movie transpires virtually in real time, with a minute on screen equaling one in the theater. In one of many departures from the traditional Western, there is little action until the final ten minutes, when Kane shoots it out with Miller's gang. The lone exception is a fistfight between Kane and a former deputy, Harvey Pell (Lloyd Bridges). Other than that, the movie is comprised primarily of Kane's failed attempts to rally the townspeople to his cause. High Noon's tension comes through Kane's desperation, aided in no small part by Elmo Williams' brilliant editing as the clock ticks down to twelve. For a motion picture with so little action, the suspense builds to almost unbearable levels.

Many have called High Noon more of a morality play than a Western, and, in some ways, that's an accurate description. Aside from the primary plot thread, there are other quandries to be considered. Amy must choose between her dearly-held peaceful beliefs (which she adopted after her brother and father were killed) and standing by her husband. It's easy to be non-violent when there's no price to pay. Harvey Pell must decide between ego and friendship. High Noon places many facets of human nature under the microscope, and therein lies the complexity in a seemingly simple idea. The deeper one looks, the more High Noon has to offer.

The climactic gunfight is not played out with two men staring down one another across an empty expanse of street, with a tumbleweed or two blowing around in the background. Instead, it's a quick and dirty business, with a hostage-taking and a man being shot in the back. When Kane wins the day, as he must (this is, after all, Gary Cooper), it has the feeling of a hollow victory. And the Marshal's final action - throwing his badge into the dirt before he and Amy ride out of town - gives us a taste of the bitterness that has settled in his mouth.

There are really only two men one could envision playing the part of Marshal Kane - James Stewart and Gary Cooper. Cooper, the older of the two men, is the better choice. He brings a world-weariness to the part. From the beginning, we sense that he's a reluctant hero, and this is confirmed as the story moves along. He admits to being afraid, and one senses that he wants nothing more than to get on the wagon with his wife and head out of town before Miller's arrival. But his overpowering sense of duty, coupled with the concern that Miller will eventually hunt him down, is strong enough to keep him where he is. Cooper imbues Kane with equal parts dignity and humanity. There's no doubt that he's a hero, but, unlike the usual Western good guy, he is filled with doubts and all-too-human weaknesses. These are the frailties each of us finds in ourselves; seeing them in Kane allows us to identify with him intimately. It makes the film more personal. In 1952, the movie was unsettling for some because they were unprepared to see a reflection of themselves on the screen. They expected an invulnerable hero; they got a man.

As important as it was to humanize High Noon's protagonist, so the villain remained largely faceless - an unseen menace riding in on the railroad tracks. Although his presence looms large over the proceedings, it isn't until the final fifteen minutes that Miller finally shows up, disembarking from the train, girded for battle. In a way, the arrival of actor Ian MacDonald is almost anti-climactic. By this point, Miller had been so thoroughly demonized that the appearance of a normal (albeit tough-looking) man is a little disappointing.

[...]

As is true of nearly every great film, all of the elements mix together in High Noon. The black-and-white cinematography is perfect for setting the dark mood. The music is relentless. And the editing (with the possible exception of the fight between Kane and Pell, which is choppy) is nearly flawless. But the real elements to applaud are the acting, the script, and the direction, all of which are top-notch. Cooper appeared in more than 100 films during his long career; few aspired to the level of High Noon, much less attained it. And no credit on Zimmermann's resume is as impressive. The Western may be one of the few truly American art forms, and High Noon shows exactly how much potential it can embrace.

Reactions? Post in the comments below. Extra credit for additional comments and reactions to peers...as always.

The Great Train Robbery

Well, here it is. The world's first western movie...

Here is some trivia about the film:

• The film uses simple editing techniques (each scene is a single shot) and the story is mostly linear (with only a few "meanwhile" moments) but it represents a significant step in movie making, being one of the first "narrative" movies. 
• The final shot of a gun being fired toward the camera had a profound effect on audiences. As cinema was in its infancy, many people who saw the film thought that they were actually about to be shot. 
• The film was originally distributed with a note saying that the famous shot of the bandit firing his gun at the camera could be placed either at the beginning or at the end of the film. All known prints put it at the end. 
• The original camera negative still exists in excellent condition. The Library of Congress, who holds it, can still make new prints. 

What KIND of movies would you like to study?

I'm just looking for some input for the semester. What kind of movies would you like to learn about? I'm not asking for specific titles - leave that up to me. I'm looking for themes, genres, time periods, cultures, etc.

For example, I was thinking you might enjoy learning about animated movies. Or maybe Asian cinema. Comedies would probably be a good idea, right? Are you guys more interested in Hollywood classics of the 1940s and 50s, or are you more interested in the independent film production movement of the 1960s and 70s? Do you want to see a documentary? Horror movies? Silent era movies? Oscar Award winners? Movies you've never heard of?

Let me know your thoughts. I'll be checking this entry for at least a week, so if anything comes to mind, let me know in the comments section below.

In all seriousness, this is you chance to write the curriculum of the class as you see fit. We can tackle whatever you want to learn.

Note - If you don't chime in with your thoughts and perspectives, then I'm the one steering the ship and no griping allowed. Also, just because you write something doesn't mean we'll automatically do it. My final choices will be based on what is best for the class overall.

The Western

Here are some things I know about Westerns...


1.  Westerns take place in one of three eras: (I) conquering the Western Frontier,  (II) establishing law and order, and (III) the death of the Western Myth and the birth of the Industrial Age.















2.  In the Western, the code of the West is founded in the notion of personal honor and private justice, not the abstract philosophy of law and government.





3.  Common Western motifs include few against many, the life of the nameless nomadic gunfighter, man against the harsh ruggedness of nature and 'savagery.'





4.  Early-to-mid century Western tales are often morality tales; later Westerns explore the ambiguity of such naivete and question whether or not life actually does have value.








5.  The wandering protagonists of Westerns are quite similar to the ronins (masterless samurai) of Japanese culture.







6. Just because a film takes place in the west, does not necessarily make it a Western.



Any comments or questions?

Psycho: Old VS New

The post is extra credit.

In 1998, director Gus Van Sant remade Hitchcock's Psycho. Unlike most remakes, it was nearly a beat-for-beat re-filming. Here are a few clips that stack the two aside one another.

Parlor Scene

Police Officer Scene

The opening scene can be found by CLICKING HERE.

Reactions? Post below.

Hitchcock Interview

For anyone who is interested, here is a short interview with Alfred Hitchcock about Psycho.




And here is a short segment on the making of the shower scene.

The Mechanics of Psycho

Check out these three scenes from Hitchcock's Psycho. Definately not the most famous of shots from the film, but still pretty interesting in terms of cinematography, editing, and background music.









I take it back. That last one is pretty famous.

Here's your task:

Watch all three clips. Select one that you'd like to write about.

Break it down - moment by moment, frame by frame. Identify techniques of cinematography, sound editing, and film editing. For each element, explain in detail what effect it creates for the viewer.

Your essay should NOT be a five paragraph essay. Instead, it should be organized by technique, with many short paragraphs. Use your note packets for reference.

You will have two days in the IMC to work on your essay. Essays will be due on Thursday. If you have any questions, feel free to address them in the comments section below. Remember, your objective here is to demonstrate an understanding of how filmmakers use cinematography, sound editing, and film editing to manipulate an audience.

Good Luck. Have fun.

Alfred Hitchcock Goes Psycho

Now that we've viewed Hitchcock's Psycho, read the article entitled "Alfred Hitchcock Goes Psycho." As you read your copy of the article, annotate it: underline or highlight interesting or compelling facts and ideas, and write in the margin questions that the article raises. That's step one.

Here's step two: In the comments section below, post a perspective/reaction you have not just to the film, but to the article. Your post should be thoughtful and thorough, and grammar and spelling counts. Once you've posted your comment, you're ready for step three: extra credit. You may comment on your peers' responses as much as you'd like. Feel free to agree, disagree, build, re-direct, etc. Just keep it friendly.

Scenic Routes - Psycho

Critic Mike D'Angelo from The A.V. Club wrote an interesting analysis of Janet Leigh's night driving scene in Psycho. You can find it BY CLICKING HERE. Read it and come back for more...

...Okay. So here's your task: Read D'Angelo's essay, cite a specific claim from the essay that you find interesting (with which you either agree or disagree), and discuss why you find the idea intriguing.

Your response should be thoughtful and thorough. For extra credit, you may, as always, post multiple responses or reflect on your peers' comments. Our goal here is rich, interesting discussion.

Hitchcock's Trailers

Welcome to your first extra credit blog entry. Here are a few trailers from Hitchcock. Take a look...









Here's the question: Would this technique work today? Would audiences see the next Transformers if Michael Bey did a tongue-in-cheek introductory trailer to it? How about Spielberg and War Horse? How effective were Hitchcock's trailers, and why?

Post your responses below.

Psycho - First Reactions

Now that we've (1) gotten a handle on film space, film time, and film sound and (2) seen the first few minutes of Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho, it's time to formally begin class.

Your first job is to review the opening scene. View the video from minutes 1:55 to 4:55.

CLICK HERE for the video.

Now, in the comments below, dig in with what you're experiencing. In other words, what elements of film space, time, and sound does Hitchcock use, and for what effects does he use them? Be specific. Refer to your notes. You must publish at least one comment bellow in which you identify one element/technique and analyze the effect that it creates.

You may, as always, post additional comments and/or reflect on your peers' comments for extra credit.

Please be thoughtful and thorough. Use correct grammar, spelling, etc.