MovieChat Forums > High Noon (1952) Discussion > opening scene and other observations

opening scene and other observations

posted 10 years ago by rmcwil-779-362770
4 replies | jump to latest

The opening of this movie where Lee Van Cleef is waiting for the other two henchmen is one of the best openings of any movie ever. What a shame that these guys were not used more, especially Van Cleef.
I thought that the use of real time in this film was a very clever way of building the tension, however, it was a shame that they had to fill the film with drivel whilst Garry Cooper was waiting.
I was also disappointed that the black hat/white hat rule did not apply in this film.

[–] kbarada 10 years ago

I agree. Yep, this is one great opening. Van Cleef sitting on that rock smoking a rolled cig and the way he swaggers with that pair of 6 guns strapped low on his hips just says "yeah, I'm bad to the bone".

The opening played along with Tex Ritter's Ballad of High Noon sets the tone for all that will happen. I especially like the way the three guys are riding to the train station to the beat of High Noon.

Here is a link to the opening. I like to watch it ever so often.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QKLvKZ6nIiA

[–] denham 9 years ago

one of the best openings of any movie ever

Agreed: immediately engaging and ominous, one of the best things in a very good film.

I beseech ye in the bowels of Christ, think that ye may be mistaken.

[–] Starcraft_rules 9 years ago

Surely if you'd never seen Lee Van Cleef in his later movies you wouldn't care that much for the opening.

[–] berichtausinterzone 9 years ago

For people like me who did'nt know ;) :

In United States films of the Western genre between the 1920s and the 1940s, white hats were often worn by heroes and black hats by villains to symbolize the contrast in good versus evil.