This is a Western (because it has horses), starring Gary Cooper and Grace Kelly. A young Lloyd Bridges also appears as a town deputy. It was directed by Fred Zinnemann, who is probably more famous for later works like From Here to Eternity and A Man for All Seasons. It has a theme song:
Gary Cooper is a lawman in a small town in the New Mexico territory, and his plan is to marry Grace Kelly, a Quaker, and move away to live a quiet life. They're scheduled to leave on the noon train. However, BAD NEWS: some outlaws that Cooper put away have been released and are coming to get their revenge. The townsfolk are split on their feelings toward Cooper, as said bad guys were previously good for the economy. Thus, the moral conundrum of the story, which advances in near real-time. Who is with Gary Cooper? Who will stand up with him and fight the bad guys?
This is a fine Western with emblematic performances by Cooper and Kelly. Cooper's character is truly a folk-hero type of dude, although he is a little too pristine and preachy for my likes. (Compare: Shane, who is almost an anti-hero, and much more interesting that way). It is sad to think that Cooper would only be around for about another 8 years before his death.
The Best Picture winner in 1952 was The Greatest Show on Earth, and all indications are that it's one of the weaker winners, but we will see.
High Noon gets a 7.1.
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