Plot: What’s it about?
Will Kane (Tom Skerritt) is a lawman in a lawless realm, but he has promised to hang up his badge, once and for all. You see, he has just been married to the beautiful Amy (Susanna Thompson) and of course, he tells her he will retire his badge and settle down, to start a new life within a much more peaceful situation. But his plans are put on hold just before the two leave town, as someone from Kane’s past is about to return. It seems that a ruthless killer that Kane locked up has managed to regain freedom and now, he is on his way back to Kane’s town. He is supposed to arrive on the noon train and if word holds true, he is looking for lethal revenge and will stop at nothing to attain that payback. Kane tries to get his friends and townspeople to stand by his side, but not even his former deputy Harvey (Reed Diamond) will lend his hand in this one. If he is to face this bitter murderer, Kane will have to do so alone and if need be, that is just what he plans to do.
I was unsure about this remake of High Noon, but in the end, it proved to be pretty good and while it can’t compete with the original, it stands up well enough. This is not an exact remake either, as the shots are reworked and some modern touches have been added, which keeps it fresh and not just rehashed. The main concern for me with these cable movies is often the production values, but High Noon has no problems in that respect. The costumes look terrific, location work is great, and the equipment used yields excellent audio & video returns, these guys knew how to spend their budget, that’s for sure. The direction is also quite good, as is the cinematography and although the cast lacks major stars, the performances come through in the end. Tom Skerritt takes the lead and has such workers as Susanna Thompson, Reed Diamond, Michael Madsen, and Maria Conchita Alonso on deck to support his role, which they do without much trouble. I know some of you will be skeptical just like I was, but do yourself a favor and check out this updated edition High Noon, but in addition, make sure you check out the original, if you haven’t before.
In the lead here is Tom Skerritt, who isn’t often in this position, but he seems to handle the task without serious problems. I’ve never been a real of his work, but I’ve seen some good performances from Skerritt, so I was confident he could make this one work also, which he does. I suppose a higher profile performer might have drawn more viewers, but I think Skerritt is more than up to the task as an actor, as he never falters much within the character. I do think he is better suited to smaller, supporting level roles, but in this case, he was able to deliver the goods. You can also see Skerritt in such films as Texas Rangers, Smoke Signals, Steel Magnolias, Top Gun, The Devil’s Rain, and Up In Smoke. The cast also includes Susanna Thompson (Random Hearts, Little Giants), Randy Birch (Shanghai Noon, The Claim), Michael Madsen (Donnie Brasco, Species), Reed Diamond (Assassins, Tv’s Homicide), and Maria Conchita Alonso (The Running Man, Chain of Command).
Video: How does it look?
High Noon is presented in a 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer. I am very pleased with this treatment, as the image looks excellent much better than you’d expect from a made for television feature. The film’s brownish color scheme is well presented and the brighter hues surface when needed, while flesh tones seem natural throughout. Just as solid is the contrast, which supplies rich black shades and no visible detail loss, impressive work. I also saw no compression errors or serious print flaws, this is a superb visual presentation indeed.
Audio: How does it sound?
The included Dolby Digital 5.1 track is a good one, but for the most part, it offers little over a 2.0 surround option. The gun battles have the most kick and even then not as much as I’d like, although the music is presented in the surrounds, quite immersive to be sure. But while the sound effects seem grounded, the dialogue is clean and rich, with no volume issues in the least to report. It might not be a demonstration level option, but I think it all sounds good enough, which is what counts. This disc also includes a 2.0 surround option, Spanish dubbed track, and subtitles in Spanish & English, should you need any of those options.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This disc also houses a nice selection of extras, including an audio commentary session with producer David A. Rosemont and director of photography Robert McLachlan. I was pleased to hear how candid the two were, as they discuss the limits of the production and their thoughts on made for television movies, very interesting indeed. This is one of the more revealing and insightful commentary sessions I’ve heard of late, if only all commentary tracks were this open and informative. This disc also includes three brief behind the scenes featurettes, some interviews with the cast & director, a selection of still photos, two television spots, and the film’s promotional trailer.
