John Waynes political response to another movie

What Hawks disliked about High Noon was the idea of the sheriff not being able to find anyone to help him. Hawks was of the opinion that cooperation and standing together is all that made life in the old west possible. I find High Noon to be exceptionally well-made; but it's implausible that a sheriff--especially a well-liked man such as Cooper is supposed to be--wouldn't find even one person willing to stand with him.

I agree with you about Rio Bravo being a much more engaging film. I've watched it numerous times.


"The value of an idea has nothing to do with the honesty of the man expressing it."--Oscar Wilde

Those who are of a conservative tendency are less likely to "spit on" the politics of those with whom they disagree, than are the know-it-all lefties who look down on them. Sure, it's a generalization, but many threads like this one testify that it is true.

Either way, both High Noon and Rio Bravo are crackerjack productions. Politics stops when it comes to appreciating fine movies and actors.

Heck, in Tombstone (famous example), when Marshall Fred White was killed by accidental discharge of "Curly" Bill Brocius firearm, Wyatt Earp had to take Brocius to Tucson to keep him from getting lynched by the townsfolk.

I agree with the Captain, I've read quite a few "Old West" histories, and High Noon is pretty unrealistic. SOMEONE would have come to his aid, and that is IF some marauding band of outlaws even existed that would have tried to take over a town.



Conquer your fear, and I promise you, you will conquer death.

by Captain_Augustus_McCrae;

"If you can cite an example of four outlaws who succeeded in terrorizing a Western town I welcome your input. Please share with us. "The point that Wayne and Hawks were trying to make" did prove to be accurate, as even a casual glance at the historical record will show."

Since when are old Hollywood Westerns historical documentaries?
In "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance" 3 outlaws routinely terrorize a Western town.
And Jimmy Stewart's character, the town lawyer Stoddard, is told to leave before the outlaws arrive.
Stoddard stays and faced Valance alone who was using him for target practice.
Wayne's character, who helped out in the shadows, was only there because of Hallie.

So, the lack of realism in these stories wasn't really Wayne's complaint. He was involved in lots of unrealistic films.
What bothered Wayne the most about "Hight Noon" was that it made the towns people look bad.
And that was the focus of "High Noon" which makes it more of a modern Western.
In Eastwood's Westerns often the story is about the corruption of the towns people.
"High Plains Drifter" is a good example and Wayne hated these kinds of stories and said so to Eastwood's face (who later laughed about it).

Another compalint by Wayne was that women don't shoot guns (as in "High Noon").
And that is baffling since more than Annie Oakley shot a gun in self defense in the old West.
(Didn't women routinely carry derringers? I'm sure women actually used them.)
I think that again Wayne's comlaint with "High Noon" and Eastwood's Westerns is that those movies showed the flaws with the towns people.

BB ;-)

it is just in my opinion - imo - 🌈

Wow, I hadn't ever read that before.

I like most of Ford's films, but it sounds like I wouldn't have really cared much for working with him.

Conquer your fear, and I promise you, you will conquer death.