Review: High Noon: The Hollywood Blacklist and the Making of an American Classic by Glenn Frankel

Good films are a product of their time. And sometimes understanding not only what went into making a film but also the time in which it was made can lead to a deeper and richer viewing. That’s the case with one of the greatest films ever committed to celluloid as examined by Glenn Frankel in his latest book High Noon: The Hollywood Blacklist and the Making of an American Classic.

Frankel brings together many of the threads that led to the making of the film — from the events leading up to the infamous Blacklist and naming names to the casting decisions for the film. Walking away from the book, you’ll marvel at how many times things could have gone wrong for one of the iconic films of American cinema, but how they all lined up to produce a film that is as taut, entertaining and fascinating today as it was upon its initial release.

Picking up this book will give you a new respect for High Noon and also leave you wanting to view the film again with the new insights gained from Frankel’s thorough account about the making of this celebrated classic.

The story of Will Kaine, a man deserted by his supposed friends in his hour of need, becomes even more gripping knowing what the screenwriter and many of those behind the scenes were putting on the line to make this movie.

Frankel moves easily back and forth between giving us the micro and macro view of events unfolding to create this classic Western. If you’re a fan of cinema, this is an absolute must read. Think of it as a printed version of the best DVD extra features you’ve ever seen.

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