MovieChat Forums > High Noon (1952) Discussion > Comparison

Comparison

posted 12 years ago by lwi101
2 replies | jump to latest

A town is threatened by a psychotic killer. A law enforcement official believes the killer must be stopped. The official community is cowardly and does not want to confront the danger directly, the mayor, the judicial system all tell the hero to back off and remain on the side lines. The hero is unwilling to do that and defies authority. The hero has an older partner who is infirm and unable to help, and a younger partner who is too inexperienced to be of real help. The hero must face the psychotic alone. The hero must do some morally questionable things, but in the end there is a show down, the psychotic killer is defeated, but instead of victorious joy, the hero feels disgusted with himself and society. As a symbol of that disgust, he removes his badge and throws it away.

So is that the 'left wing" classic High Noon or the "right wing" classic "Dirty Harry"? How important is Point of view anyway?

In the final show down Cain is running and hiding and ultimately relies on a woman to save him by shooting his opponent in the back, which is certainly not he classic western code of honor. Callahan engages in torture among other things. In both movies time is important to the plot.
I think it is an interesting comparison.

[–] Tresix 12 years ago

I like both movies a lot. Now, as to Kane "running and hiding", would you actually expect him to walk down the street and confront four men trying to kill him head on? That would have been virtual suicide. Also, would you expect a new bride to just run out on her husband? Also, take into consideration, she's a Quaker. Taking up a gun to defend her husband was a tremendous violation of her religion. I don't think Callahan or Kane felt any disgust towards themselves. But both men are certainly justified in tossing their badges. Dirty Harry was the only film of that series that I liked. It had the only villain that was worthy of a cop like Harry.

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

[–] lwi101 11 years ago

That's for the reply.
I'm not suggesting Kane did anything wrong in running and hiding, just that it was not the "Code of the West" as portrayed in most westerns especially in the 30's, 40's and early 50's. Kane was an "unconventional" as Harry, given the time frames. I agree DH was the best of the series.