From: Erin N. (enoonan@kent.edu)
Date: Mon Feb 17 2003 - 17:07:33 GMT
>===== Original Message From moq_discuss@moq.org =====
>Dear Erin,
>
>No, I didn't see 'High Noon'. What's its message?
>
>With friendly greetings,
>
>Wim
>
Oh it just popped into mind when Sam gave a situation of forced-choice of
saving someboyd and using violence. This Quaker woman is in a position
forced to choose between violence and saving her husband.
I'm don't really like westerns but this was actually a good movie.
It's starts off with their wedding and their plans to leave town when the
new sheriff arrives the next day:
His new bride has firm, pacifist Quaker convictions that deplore violence, and
he will be putting away his marshal's star in his last act in office - he
removes his badge, a popular Western icon, and pins it on his gun holster,
amidst applause.
while this is happening they get word that somebody the sheriff had put in
jail is out coming to get revenge:
They are planning to reunite with their pardoned leader, Ben's brother Frank,
arriving at noon on the mid-day train, to seek revenge on the town's marshal.
[They metaphorically represent the destructive forces of the 'four horsemen of
the apocalypse.']
Quaker wife wants to leave town, sheriff doesn't want to run..
there is a lot of struggling with this:
Kane: Look Amy, this is my town. I've got friends here. I'll swear in a bunch
of special deputies and with a posse behind me, maybe there won't even be any
trouble.
Amy: You know there'll be trouble.
Kane: Then, it's better to have it here. I'm sorry, honey, I know how you feel
about it.
Amy: Do you?
Kane: Of course I do. I know it's against your religion and all. Sure I know
how you feel.
Amy: But you're doing it just the same. Oh Will, we were married just a few
minutes ago. We've got our whole lives ahead of us. Doesn't that mean anything
to you?
Kane: You know I've only got an hour and I've got lots to do. Stay at the
hotel until it's over.
Amy: No, I won't be here when it's over. You're asking me to wait an hour to
find out if I'm going to be a wife or a widow. I say it's too long to wait. I
won't do it...I mean it. If you won't go with me now, I'll be on that train
when it leaves here.
Kane: (resolutely) I've got to stay.
no one is willing to help the sheriff and his wife waiting for the train
to leave hears shots and ends up helping him:
Kane's wife is the only one to risk her life, putting aside her pacifist
beliefs to kill one of the gunslingers in order to protect her husband and
save his life.
There is no time for triumphant celebration - there's is a hollow victory.
Kane helps Amy board their packed buggy, brought to them by the faithful
teenage boy. Then, he disdainfully looks around, reaches for his 'tin' badge,
takes it off, contemptuously drops it into the dusty street, and turns to
leave.
http://www.filmsite.org/high.html
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