High Noon 1952

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High Noon ★★★★ 1952

Landmark Western about Hadleyville town marshal Will Kane (Cooper) who faces four professional killers alone, after being abandoned to his fate by the gutless townspeople who profess to admire him. Cooper is the ultimate hero figure, his sheer presence overwhelming. Note the continuing use of the ballad written by Dimitri Tiomkin, “Do Not Forsake Me, Oh My Darlin”' (sung by Tex Ritter) to heighten the tension and action. ♫High Noon (Do Not Forsake Me, Oh My Darlin'). 85m/B VHS, DVD . Gary Cooper, Grace Kelly, Lloyd Bridges, Lon Chaney Jr., Thomas Mitchell, Otto Kruger, Katy Jurado, Lee Van Cleef, Harry (Henry) Morgan, Robert J. Wilke, Sheb Wooley; D: Fred Zinne-mann; W: Carl Foreman; C: Floyd Crosby; M: Dimitri Tiomkin. Oscars ‘52: Actor (Cooper), Film Editing, Song (“High Noon (Do Not Forsake Me, Oh My Darlin')”), Orig. Dramatic Score; AFI ‘98: Top 100; Golden Globes ‘53: Actor—Drama (Cooper), Support. Actress (Jurado), Score, Natl. Film Reg. ‘89;; N.Y. Film Critics ‘52: Director (Zinnemann), Film.