Archetypes in movie history are rooted in western perspectives on life, individuality vs collective identity, even what makes a hero. The hero's journey is a western story convention. It works for western readers because it connects with how Americans have been raised to view life. High Noon is hated by leftists because its hero, Sheriff Will Kane, is rather highly individualistic than collective ( )

A classic. The Wikipedia page - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_Noon - argues this story was seen as an attack on the McCarthy Committee's inquiries into communists in the Hollywood film industry. It was not a conventional horse opera, with a novel presentation of the the Western staple of conflict betwen the lawman and outlaws. Memorable title theme and song. This movie did not compare the communist scare to 17th century witchhunting in Mass. like Arthur Miller's play The Crucible, which came to Broadway a couple years later. ( )

A supposed-to-be-retired marshal gets no help defending a town.

It gets melodramatic at times, but it's always entertaining. The photography is conspicuously artful.

(Aug. 2009) ( )

A classic Western with a love story and a brave hero. Also, a great theme song. Will leave you wishing you had a horse and a gun and a star on your chest. ( )

The film is 27th on the American Film Institute's list of great films and is definitely a favorite. Great cast including Gary Cooper and Grace Kelly in a classic Western about heroism and responsibility. I find it amazing how the story unrolls in real time, and the way the suspense is built toward the climatic gunfight. It's kinda the ur-Western--and the best of its kind. ( )