Comfort Films 84: High Noon (1952)

In this second film of our Westerns month, we talk about another classic film that both defines and subverts the genre, High Noon, starring Gary Cooper, Grace Kelly, Lloyd Bridges, Katy Jurado, and the unknown yet soon-to-be staple western bad guy, Lee Van Cleef. We discuss the masterful use of the clock to build suspense, the many excuses (both good and bad) of the townspeople who refuse to help Will Kane, the juxtaposition of Mrs. Ramirez and Amy--the two women in Will's life, the stark and simple but highly effective cinematography, and the uniqueness of the film as an allegory for Hollywood blacklisting in the McCarthy era. The new marshall doesn't arrive until tomorrow, so round up a posse and give us a listen!