This classic Western trope of the gun duel in the streets is given a special twist in High Noon as we watch Cooper’s heroic character wrestle with his own cowardice and fear in the wake of the complete abandonment by people whom he’s considered friends and loved ones. This sort of flawed hero was new to the genre at the time and it’s what gives “High Noon” its sense of rawness and reality. This is a morality tale that explores the dark heart of human nature to the fullest. And it’s also one of the most suspenseful films in all of cinema not to mention one of the greatest Westerns.
Watch the original trailer.
The Searchers (1956) is John Wayne’s finest hour on film. Wayne himself was known to favor this role as the civil war veteran Ethan Edwards as his best work. The Searchers represents another milestone in the Western genre’s evolution from simple campfire tales of good guys and bad guys to more realistic, complex and mature stories of the Old West. Ethan Edwards visits his brother’s ranch in Texas after the war with intentions of settling down, but an attack by Comanche Indians destroys these plans and propels Ethan and his nephew, Martin on a years-long search for Ethan’s kidnapped niece, Debbie. Along the journey Martin witnesses his uncle Ethan’s burning hatred for not just the Comanche who kidnapped Debbie but for all native tribes. Ethan’s hatred becomes increasingly all-consuming, obliterating any feelings of family or love or humanity. The nuanced performance by Wayne and his projection of menace brings great tension throughout the film and helps to create a dramatic ending, unlike any other Western film. The Searchers stands out ahead of its time for its exploration of racism, violence and true life on the frontier. It is one of director John Ford’s masterpieces, John Wayne’s finest work, and the best Western film of all time in my opinion.
Watch the original trailer.
Watch the original trailer (with lyrics that Bernstein definitely did not write).
Hang ‘Em High (1968) is the Western that cemented Clint Eastwood’s legacy as one of the greatest Western actors of all time, second only to John Wayne, “The Duke” himself. Up until Hang ‘Em High, Eastwood had starred in a series of “Spaghetti Westerns” that introduced a grittier, darker and more violent Western film to the genre. Eastwood’s portrayal in them as “The Man With No Name” became a nearly instant Western icon with his cruel squint, cigar clenched in his square jaw, and serape coated with trail dust draped over his shoulders. He was the mono-syllabic, quick drawing anti-hero who changed the direction of the Western genre forever.
As with most every Western film, Hang ‘Em High, is a morality tale. In this story, Eastwood portrays former lawman, Jed Cooper, who is mistakenly lynched as a cattle rustler and murderer. He survives, returns to his former job as a Marshall and proceeds to hunt down each of the men in the lynching party. Hang ‘Em High, like many of Eastwood’s Westerns, presents no real satisfying answers and completely blurs the lines between good and evil. This is a hallmark of the modern Western film that still stands today.
The Essential Information
April 3 High Noon
April 10 The Searchers
April 17 The Magnificent Seven
April 24 Hang ‘Em High
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Tom Hoover
Guest Blogger, Film Fanatic, and
Executive and Residential Innovation Chef at Hope College