High Noon

High Noon is a 1952 American Western film directed by Fred Zinnemann, produced by Stanley Kramer, and starring Gary Cooper, Grace Kelly, Katy Jurado, Thomas Mitchell, Lloyd Bridges, and Otto Kruger. The screenplay by Carl Foreman is based on John W. Cunningham's short story "The Tin Star", first published in Collier's magazine in 1947. The plot, which occurs in real time, centers on a town marshal whose sense of duty is tested when he must decide to either face a gang of killers alone, or leave town with his new wife. Upon its release, High Noon received mixed reviews, as critics and audiences expecting typical Western action were surprised by the film's focus on moral and emotional conflict. Despite this, it was a commercial success. Though mired in controversy at the time of its release due to its political themes, the film was nominated for seven Academy Awards and won four, including Best Actor for Cooper, as well as four Golden Globe Awards. Over time, High Noon has come to be regarded as one of the greatest films ever made. In 1989, the film was selected by the Library of Congress as one of the first 25 films for preservation in the United States National Film Registry for being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant". Its story and ending have inspired numerous later films, including many westerns.