High Noon is a 1952 film directed by Fred Zinnemann. This is a classic Western known for its real-time storytelling and the iconic performance by Gary Cooper. 

Plot

The story is set in the small town of Hadleyville in the New Mexico territory. The film begins with the wedding of Sheriff Will Kane (played by Gary Cooper) to Amy Fowler (played by Grace Kelly). However, their moment of happiness is interrupted when news arrives that Frank Miller (played by Ian MacDonald), a dangerous outlaw whom Kane had sent to prison, has been released and is on his way to Hadleyville for revenge.

Kane decides not to flee, despite Amy's pleas for him to do so, and attempts to form a posse of volunteers to confront Miller and his men. However, most of the townspeople are reluctant to fight, and Kane finds himself alone in his challenge. As time inexorably ticks away toward Miller's arrival, Kane prepares to defend the town on his own.

The real-time narration of the film creates escalating tension as Kane awaits the imminent arrival of the outlaws. The film explores themes of courage, duty, and isolation as Kane grapples with the moral decision to uphold the law and justice.

"High Noon" is known for Gary Cooper's extraordinary performance, which earned him the Academy Award for Best Actor, and for its memorable soundtrack. It is considered one of the masterpieces of the Western genre and an iconic film in cinema history.

Complete Cast:

• Gary Cooper as Marshal Will Kane
• Grace Kelly as Amy Fowler Kane
• Thomas Mitchell as Mayor Jonas Henderson
• Lloyd Bridges as Deputy Marshal Harvey Pell
• Katy Jurado as Helen Ramírez
• Otto Kruger as Judge Percy Mettrick
• Lon Chaney Jr. as Martin Howe
• Harry Morgan as Sam Fuller
• Ian MacDonald as Frank Miller

Director: Fred Zinnemann

Producer: Stanley Kramer

Writer: Carl Foreman (based on the short story "The Tin Star" by John W. Cunningham)

Music by: Dimitri Tiomkin

Cinematographer: Floyd Crosby

Production Cost: Approximately $750,000.

Box Office: Approximately $12 million worldwide at the box office.

Awards: Won four Oscars, including Best Actor (Gary Cooper) and Best Original Song. It received three other Oscar nominations.

Critics' Reception

High Noon is considered one of the greatest western films of all time and a classic of cinema. It was praised for its tense narrative, Fred Zinnemann's direction, and Gary Cooper's iconic performance. The film is known for its unconventional approach to the western genre and its political and moral subtext. It has been interpreted as a metaphor for McCarthyism and the Red Scare of the 1950s.