MovieChat Forums > Rio Bravo (1959) Discussion > The Antithesis' of High Noon

The Antithesis' of High Noon

posted 13 years ago by peacedovey2003
54 replies | jump to latest

John Wayne hated High Noon and did this movie in response TO High Noon. High Noon really bothered him because it was like the marshall was running around, like a chicken with it's head cut off, trying to find people to help him with the bad guys. John Wayne felt that the marshall should be working to solve the problem without pulling everyone else in to the mix. I love this movie and bought a VHS tape years ago for my oldest son (he loves this movie as well).
A few years ago I was in a Safeway and my younger son happened to see the DVD for $10 with a set of pictures from the movie set so I purchased it. It was a good buy. I am a big fan of good westerns and this is one of the best. I own 'The Sons of Katie Elder', which is another good western.
If you haven't seen this movie, you should. It is an excellent western with solid performances by John Wayne, Dean Martin, Walter Brennan, Ricky Nelson, Angie Dickenson, and Claude Akins (always a convincing villian).

[–] tperkin52 8 years ago

Its not quite what I heard peace. High Noon was a western parallel to the McCarthy hearings, Cooper wanted to make this movie as a political statement of disapproval. I didn't realize this until I read it someplace. In High Noon The marshal was the victim, the outlaws represented McCarthy and his bunch and the town folks represented the impartial American citizenry. Being hard right politically Wayne resented this movie and made Rio Bravo as a way to counter with the sheriff representing McCarthy and his goons defending the law, townsfolk the victims and outlaw and friends the commies. All in all I liked both movies (without the politics) but High Noon was considerably better than Rio Bravo. I do consider Gary Cooper to be a superior actor than John Wayne

[–] johnmiller (3889) 5 years ago

Wayne was endlessly trying to prove how "tough" he was, and going after "High Noon," which is the "Citizen Kane" of Westerns, was typical.

Especially considering that Wayne didn't go into the military in WWII, even though there was nothing to stop him, is the norm for anyone who thinks of themselves as "tough" like Wayne did.