MovieChat Forums > High Noon (1952) Discussion > Unrealistic...

Unrealistic...

posted 12 years ago by capo_bastone1
6 replies | jump to latest

Now before all the die hard fans go crazy, let me just say that this movie was one of my favs as a kid, it will always be a classic. However, the portrayel of the townsfolk as too scared to pick up a gun and back their Marshal was unrealistic. Western towns were founded by pretty tough people as a rule, men who had fought in the civil war, families that had traveled hundreds of miles to homestead fighting Indians, sickness and wild animals. These were people who weren't afraid To use guns to defend themselves and protect their own. I give you two famous examples, Northfield Minnesota, and Coffeeville Kansas. In 1876, the citizens of Northfield shot the James & Younger gang to dollrags during an attempted bank robbery. And at Coffeeville, average citizens assisted law enforcement In bringing down the Daltons in a hail of gunfire. Certainly nothing like the wimps in high noon..

[–] Tresix 12 years ago

This is also a complete work of fiction. However, I think civilization may have made the people of Hadleyville a little complacent and left the gunslinging to those in law enforcement by that point in time.

"I'm in such bad shape, I'm wearing prescription underwear." Phyllis Diller 1917-2012

[–] strntz 12 years ago

Wasn't there another dynamic going on there? I seem to recall that several of the town folk didn't like Kane for some reason (felt he had a comeuppance due) despite the fact that he cleaned up the town. It's been a while since I've seen this film, but I do believe there was more than a little explanation as to why the men didn't help will.

Just once, I'd like someone to call me sir without adding 'you're making a scene' ~H Simpson

[–] Tresix 12 years ago

That's right, strntz. The hotel clerk explains to Amy that when Miller was running things, a lot of businesses were making a lot of money. More than likely the saloons and hotels, and most of that was probably under-the-table income.

"I'm in such bad shape, I'm wearing prescription underwear." Phyllis Diller 1917-2012

[–] movies789 11 years ago

One scenario that didn't wash for me was the church scene. When Kane first asked for help, at least 3 or 4 men and one woman leapt to their feet in angry, vocal support for him. Then, after just a couple of negative remarks from others, those same fiery supporters slunk back in their pews in cowardly resignation. In reality, those same loyal supporters would have marched out of church to back up Kane in the coming fight. The sudden, inexplicable change of heart, from courage to cowardice, was too incongruous.

[–] Alphonse_van_Worden 10 years ago

This is completely irrelevant. We can't apply criteria of realism to western movies because they're never about life as it really was back then in the 19th century in the US. If we do they'll all go down the drain. They're about the making of legends and entertainment and they may be more or less credible. You're probably right. Faced with the threat of four criminals most small towns would most likely have benn up in arms against them but it's still irrelevant just as it is irrelevant that the scary indian in the beginning of the searchers is no indian at all but German.

[–] jmsocool 10 years ago

I just watched the film the other night, and there was some dialogue about some businesses were thinking about opening factories and stores in the town, and gunfights would tarnish the town's reputation, and the businesses might invest elsewhere. Basically, telling Kane to get out of town, the bad guys won't cause any trouble, everybody's happy. My argument is that if Kane leaves, the bad guys reform alliances with locals who like them (there was a scene with Ben Miller in the saloon, and a number of people seemed glad to see him), and the town starts embracing drinking, gambling, and prostitution, before the new marshall even steps off the train. Is that the environment that would attract businesses?

And it's only four bad guys. Enough townspeople initially expressed interest in helping Kane. It seems to me, he could have deputized them, handed each of them a rifle, then marched down to the train station. The 3 bad guys see 7-8 armed men coming, they're not going to start shooting. The train arrives, the marshall tells Frank Miller to stay on the train, and encourages the other bad guys to get on the train as well. The bad guys wouldn't want to risk one of the new deputies getting an itchy trigger finger, so they would go.

Not a dramatic finale, but a more realistic one, in my opinion.

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