Thanks for the great post, and thanks for the comments. Perhaps strangely, you all seem right. That might be a tribute to the artistic level of “High Noon”: It’s true on several levels, in several ways.
I, however, have always been left a little cold, relatively speaking, by it; because of the cartoonish nature of the plot. No normal people, of course, would play things out like this, on Miller’s gang’s part, on the town’s part, or Coop’s.
However, other aspects of the movie allow it to ride through and above the deficiencies of the cardboard units peopling the drama.
By contrast, “The Big Country,” is, I think, the best Western ever. The plot holds together. Peck’s acting is incredibly powerful yet subtle; no actor ever represented the tall, silent Western hero better. Why did he never get a chance to do a proper version of “The Virginian?” He inhabits that part.
Burl Ives’ performance is a legend. Heston played his part really well.
And lest we forget to notice: can you even buhlEEEEEVE! how high-minded, how honorable, the main characters are? (As someone mentioned about Katie Jurado’s loving deference and honor in leaving town and her man, her head held high, in “High Noon,” which otherwise doesn’t match “The Big Country,” well, big country.
