‘High Noon’

(Watch on U-Tube)

The 1971 film ‘Mera Gaon Mera Desh’  was then widely considered a Bollywood “dacoit western” that was heavily inspired by the themes of Hollywood westerns, including elements reminiscent of a classic film ‘High Noon’ (1952) starring Gary Cooper. The Hindi film was considered a major precursor to Sholay (1975), featuring a similar plot of one man (Dharmendra) standing alone and defending a village from ruthless attackers.  

So let’s look at the story of that original vintage western “High Noon’ that won several Oscars and is considered one of the finest films ever made. In a small town, it’s Marshall (in charge of maintaining law and order), who’s newly married, is planning to retire and settle down to a quiet, peaceful life of domesticity. However, news spreads that a vicious outlaw whom he had sent to prison, has been released and will arrive by the noon train, to be joined his younger brother and others of his gang.

Marshall being a man with sense of duty and honor feels that he must stay on to protect the town till the new Marshall arrives to take over. But the rest of the town is petrified and scared that their lives are under threat and despite his urging to come to his aid, everyone flees the town including the Judge who sentenced the bandit, and the Marshall is advised to do the same. His wife gives him an ultimatum that she’d leave without him.  Some people feel that there’s no point in engaging in gunfights with armed bandits while many believe that the Marshall’s fight is not the town’s responsibility. Only very few have the courage to side with him but the Marshall doesn’t want to put them in danger.

When the moment comes, tension mounts in the place that looks like ghost town. As the clock ticks toward noon, left all by himself, the Marshall goes into the street alone to face the bandit and his gang who are fast approaching the town. What follows is a thrilling encounter (with the Marshall getting help from some unexpected quarters)  that must be seen for it’s breath-taking ending – the finale to a battle of courage and high morals.

Why revisit a film that’s pure vintage and more than seven decades old ? Possibly many versions of the inspiring story have been made. Yet art only imitates life and sometimes the oldest stories of relentless courage in the face of huge adversity are reminiscent of the real life battles that we see unfolding before us !