Ìý The dark and tense "High Noon" is perfect ammunition to prove that some westerns can stand among the greatest films ever made. Essentially more of a drama than a traditional western, this film is high on atmosphere that's particularly effective on DVD.
The print could do with a little attention but the picture transfer to disc is fine. The 2.0 sound mix fixes firmly in the centre speaker and is clear and strong.
Included on the disc is a 24-minute documentary hosted by American film critic Leonard Maltin. The presentation is slightly cheesy, but it turns out to be an interesting effort. There's interview footage with director Fred Zinnemann and actor Lloyd Bridges. Their opinion, as shared by many others, is that Gary Cooper was a remarkable performer. While he never seemed to be acting on set, he had magnetic qualities once he was on screen.
Other extra features on the DVD include the trailer and a photo and poster gallery. More would definitely have been nice but this is a film not to be missed and a DVD well worth owning.
Chapters: 18
Ratio: 1.33:1
Sound: Dolby Digital 5.1
Extra Features: Scene selection, trailer, documentary, photo and poster galleries, production notes, subtitles.
