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By
NICK ZEGARAC
Fred Zinneman's "High Noon" is perhaps the most serious, multi-layered, adult western ever made. It is a movie void of the startling beauty and magnificence of the old west; a stark and intense melodrama about confronting one's own fear with the reassertion of humility and morality in the form of law and order. The film stars Gary Cooper as Marshall Will Kane. On the day of his wedding to Quaker, Amy Fowler (Grace Kelly), Will learns that the three desperadoes he sentenced to prison have been released and are returning to his town, not only to reclaim their territory but to assassinate him. The town denizens, well intentioned but scared stiff, urge Will to forsake his duties and save himself. But Will's old flame and resident madam, Helen Ramirez (Katy Jurado) knows that the strength of Will's conviction and sense of honor preclude him from retreating from the impending doom. The result is a showdown as epic and startling as anything ever seen -- told from such a subdued and sublimely critical vantage that it's really no wonder why "High Noon" has become such an enduring classic.
The previously released print from Artisan was in better shape than the reissued collector's edition. This -- for lack of a better explanation, is a curiosity. The real problem with the reissue is in its digital anomalies. Edge enhancement, pixelization, shimmering of fine details and aliasing are glaringly obvious and distracting on the reissue, while only a minor distraction on the earlier DVD. The gray scale on both is very nicely balanced with solid blacks, good contrast levels and a considerable lack of film grain. Fine details are nicely realized. The audio has been re-channeled to faux stereo but betrays its mono origins.
There's a comprehensive documentary on the making of the film included on both DVD versions. The collector's edition also includes an audio commentary and some junket material.
Because the print quality of the film on the collector's edition is so flawed, I recommend that customers seek out the original DVD instead. It is still readily available. What you lack in extras you more than make up for in image quality. |
