It wasn't a wise thing from Wayne.
A mob would not think like a man. They knew Miller was Kane's problem. If Kane left town, Miller isn't a worry at least until the new Marshall comes. They couldn't fight of Miller in the first place, that's when Kane came in and rescued them.
1) If they had to abandon their things, cause damage to property and risk their lives (leaving their family and peaceful life) there has to be a collective danger to the whole society that's unavoidable. But there wasn't - was there?
2) If you know mob psychology, people forget. Miller didn't, but people did. They got used to living peaceful; to shake them up and act against a criminal risking their lives, there has to be desperation and a huge crisis. But that wasn't there, in their POV at least.
What Wayne is talking about is that act of desperation. The town people weren't that desperate to get rid of Miller. They knew if Kane could leave town things wouldn't turn ugly. So there wouldn't be a collective consensus to actually stand against these thugs immediately.
I think Wayne was jealous many regarded High Noon to be superior to his wooden portrayals in many Westerns, including Rio Bravo, which IMO was a great film in itself but not as inspirational as High Noon (Look at the time it was made).
Actually I kind of liked Wayne until I read this comment. Now I am annoyed he could think this way. I think High Noon is a brilliant film with superior production values, amazing script and incredible performances including Gary Cooper.
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king_cooler
9 years ago
I think Wayne was jealous many regarded High Noon to be superior to his wooden portrayals
No need for him to be because his performances in Red River and The Searchers were better than what Cooper did here.
And despite not winning an Oscar for either his performances in those had critics raving.
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