Marshall Will Kane (Gary Cooper) is about to relinquish the job and settle down with his newly married wife Amy (Grace Kelly). But things are going to change when a once convicted local criminal Frank Miller (Ian Mcdonald) is now free and wants Will Kane dead for putting him away. The way that Will got Miller convicted was by forming a posse and making honorary deputies, from local townsmen. When Will goes to do it again, they are a little more hesitant to the idea and are now against Will, or flat out hiding from him. Will is alone in a town where no one wants to fight, and Amy doesn’t want him to fight because she just married him. Will has got to do something before noon when Miller comes to take Will’s life… DRAW!
This Academy Award winning film is truly one of the most quintessential westerns and classic films since it gives you a great story about how a man who is respected by the entire town is now left on his own to fight a man who wants him dead and his posse. How perfect can this film be of a superb drama that will tug the heart strings and make you feel for a man just looking for help. Everyone has had one of those situations come up once in your life before. I am sure you felt alone, scared, and that you aren’t sure what you will do, much like Kane. Once the time comes for you to do something about it, you just have to stand up and face it, because you can’t run forever. Gary Cooper truly gives a great performance as the Marshall who isn’t sure what he should do, run (you won’t be branded a coward because you have not let the job go) or fight and lose your life, and make your new wife a widow. Coop also one his second academy award for best actor in 1952.The people who play the townspeople do such a good job to give emotion to them as conflicted as Will is, but they end up choosing the solution of looking out for their family and themselves. Even though they are friends, their family is more important and Grace Kelly gives a truly heavy hearted performance of a concerned wife who is just concerned for her husband and that you don’t have to be Marshall and let’s just leave. As well as how she also wants to learn why this fight is going to go down, and why he just doesn’t leave. Fred Zimmerman, the director of this film does an outstanding job with the way the film is shot and how far shots are used. To show how lonely the town is, as well as the extreme close ups on Gary Cooper, to show the fear in his eyes, and also the concern. The score that is in this film truly gives the film another level and more depth and how powerful the lyrics in the song are. The Song also became a Pop hit, and to give one interesting fact the director Zinnermann, and the producer of the film were almost killed, while filming the oncoming train scene, and the camera that got run over saved their lives. As well as they still got the shot, I recommend you watch the film, and listen to the score as well. Overall I give this film an 8.5, I give the films directing 9.5 gold bars, acting 8.5 silver bars, and lastly the music a solid 9. I will see you the next time you want to come back to the movies.