Overview:
High Noon is a 1952 film that takes place in close to real time, in a single place, on a single day. IMDb’s logline (n.d.) says: “
In the chapter reading, Director Fred Zinneman talks about his wanting High Noon to have a newsreel/documentary look. To do this they chose to use the elements of flat lighting (sometimes referred to as “general illumination”), a higher-grain film stock, and to not filter the sky; although they kept the camera work unchanged.
A town marshal, despite the disagreements of
his newlywed bride and the townspeople around him, must face a gang of deadly killers
alone at high noon when the gang leader, an outlaw he sent up years ago, arrives on
the noon train.” Basically, one man standing up, alone, for what he believes in.
Instructions:
Watch the film High Noon, and examine the American Newsreel on Australia 1950 and
The Flying Padre documentaries in the Readings and Resources. Then answer the
following:
If you were directing
, and still had the visual goal Zinneman did, how
could you employ shot choices, lenses, camera angles, and camera
movement/stillness to achieve it?
Other than the light, what elements of the cinematography of American Newsreel
on Australia 1950 and The Flying Padre could you employ to give
even more Documentary look?
What did Zinneman do/use in his film that you would not? Explain.
What are your thoughts on thematic connection between the film and world in
which it was made? How would your choice of “look” feed into that?
1. High Noon
2.
3. 4.
Requirements:
High Noon an
Read the assignment instructions and rubric carefully before beginning.
Use full sentences and appropriate academic language in all work.
Use APA citation format and include a reference/work cited page when
necessary.
Post your work into the Film Lab by creating a new thread.
Provide a peer response to at least one of your classmates.
