HIGH NOON
US, 2000, 90 minutes, Colour.
Tom Skerritt, Susanna Thompson, Reed Diamond, Maria Conchita Alonzo, Michael Madson, Dennis Weaver.
Directed by Rod Hardy.
High Noon is a telemovie remake of the 1952 classic with Gary Cooper, Grace Kelly, Lloyd Bridges, Katy Jurado and directed by Fred Zinnemann who won an Oscar for his direction, as did Gary Cooper for his performance. The famous song by Dimitri Tiomkin, sung by Frankie Laine, also won an Oscar. One might say that all these ingredients are sadly missing from this remake. It is an act of bravado to remake a classic, especially adapting it for the small television screen. What remains is the basic outline of the plot and the development of the characters according to the talents of the cast. Tom Skerritt, so reliable in many films, gives a persuasive performance as Will Caine. Maria Conchita Alonzo is in the Katy Jurado role and performs well also. Susanna Thompson seems a look-alike to Grace Kelly, if a little older. Dennis Weaver has a guest role and Michael Madsen is, as always, persuasively brutal as the villain.
The film has virtually the same plot, is based on the original screenplay by Carl Foreman, adapted by T.S. Cook, who wrote a number of telemovies. Material from a story called The Tin Star by John Cunningham has also been incorporated.
Basically it is the sheriff, who has done wonders for the town, being abandoned in his hour of need when the criminal he sent to jail has been pardoned and is on the noon train, coming to kill him. The townspeople find every reason possible for not helping, presuming that their sheriff, who's to depart with his bride of the morning, will die. The film plot still works rather well, though in television and telemovie terms it becomes rather more ordinary than the black and white starkness of the original.
1. The popularity of the original High Noon? Its Oscars? Its classic reputation? Its portrait of a sheriff under pressure, not being supported by his townspeople despite his pleas and after all that he had done for them? The importance of his relationship with his wife, her Quaker beliefs in non-violence, her coming back to support him, her shooting the villain? The incorporation of these ingredients into this remake?
2. The quality of the remake: for the television screen, the use of colour, the attractive western town with the mountains in the background, the interiors of the church, the hotel, the offices? The muddy streets? The musical score unobtrusive?
3. The basic plot, the sheriff, facing his enemies at high noon? The law, bravery, self-interest? Love?
4. Will Caine as the sheriff, all that he had achieved? His wedding day? His giving up his star and his gun for the love of Amy? Leaving the town? The news about Frank Miller coming, his decision to turn back, his sense of duty, obligation to the people? His expectation of support and a posse? The altercation with Harve about his promotion, Harve walking out on him? His going to see Helen Ramirez and being prepared to protect her, her decision to leave? Amy coming back from the station, assuming that he had changed his mind and he that she had changed hers? His going to the businessmen in the church, their arguments and turning him down? Going to the mayor and his hiding and sending his wife to the door? The young boy who wanted to help? His being alone? The contrast with the hotel clerk who was looking forward to the showdown and resented the loss of business when Will Caine had cleaned up the town? Caine and his preparations, facing the enemies, his skill in the shootouts, being wounded, giving up because of Amy, taking advantage of her movements, killing Frank Miller? The people coming out, his looking at them, throwing his star and gun in the mud? A man of integrity?
5. Amy, the Quaker background, the memory of the death of her father and brothers? Leaving, at the station, the hotel, the resentment of the clerk, her going to discuss the relationship with Helen Ramirez? Helen rebuking her for leaving her husband? Her fears, going to the train, hearing the shots, returning, taken hostage, her movement and her shooting Frank Miller?
6. Helen Ramirez, businesswoman, relationship with Will Caine, the breaking of it, her relationship with Harve? Memories of Frank Miller? Her skill in business, moving out of town, arranging everything with the businessmen? Her speaking bluntly to Amy? The break with Harve? Going to the station and riding away?
7. Harve, ambitious, young, callow, giving up?
8. The gang, their arrival in the town, nobody able to touch them, going to the bar, the people drinking for Frank Miller? Their turning down any help for Will Caine?
9. The business people and their plans, the armaments, the development of the town? Will Caine going to the church, the minister losing his temper, allowing him to speak? The businessmen asking the pertinent questions, the young volunteers, everybody turning him down? The mayor and his sending his wife to the door, hiding? Her blessing Will Caine? The two old ladies in the church being grateful to Caine for making the town safe?
10. The situation with Caine not being the sheriff, the new one coming in the coming days, his decision to be a man of integrity and help the town? The relevance of this kind of moralising western at the beginning of the 21st century?
