http://groktheidiom.blogspot.com/2008/06/if-you-dont-know-i-cant-tell-you.html
…But what makes Will Kane representative of America in the world of talkers, shirkers, back stabbers, et al is precisely the fact that he is insecure. He is frightened. He is frustrated by his inability to recruit anyone to help him. He makes mistakes. One of the great sequences in the movie is when Kane walks through the saloon doors and overhears the bartender taking bets on how long he’ll live after Frank Miller gets into town. Kane walks over to the bartender and cold cocks him. At which point the bartender looks at up him from the floor, holding his jaw and says:
“You carry a badge and a gun, Marshall. There ain’t no call for that…”
To which Kane looks at him ruefully, knowing that he has let his anger tarnish him as an upholder of the law and admits:
“You’re right…” and offers the bartender his hand to help him up.
At the climax of the film, there is this magnificent shot of Kane in the middle of the street, looking around, wringing his hands as the noon train’s whistle blows in the distance. The camera cranes upwards from a close up on the frightened Kane to reveal the whole town – totally empty. He is totally alone.
And yet, he must go meet Miller and his gang to defend the town. It is his responsibility. He cannot escape it.
This is America.
And to my friends who don’t understand, mostly Europeans and Iraqis, I find myself resorting to the words of Kane when his wife asks him why he is doing this.
“If you don’t know, I can’t explain it to you.”
