
The documentary INSIDE HIGH NOON, narrated by Matthew Rhys. explores both the landmark 1952 film High Noon starring Gary Cooper and the gripping story behind its troubled production. Written/directed by John Mulholland, Edited/Produced by Richard Zampella, Executive Produced by Shannon Mulholland & Craig Gilbert
New York airing on April 22nd, 2023 at 8:00PM ET on WNET Channel 13
INSIDE HIGH NOON goes behind the scenes when it was ultimately released, High Noon was seen by some as an attack on the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) — the US government’s investigation into subversive activities by citizens who were accused of having fascist or communist ties. At least half-a-dozen people involved in the production were blacklisted; among them, screenwriter Carl Foreman and cinematographer Floyd Crosby. Gary Cooper put his career on the line for Foreman during and after production, hailing him as “The finest kind of American.” INSIDE HIGH NOON delves into that history and explores the film itself: why it has aroused controversy among critics, how its treatment of women and masculinity was ahead of its time, and why High Noon has come to be seen as a masterpiece of American cinema.
“High Noon was an independent, low budget, black and white movie that became engulfed in the blacklist,” Mulholland says about what interested him in making the documentary. “I found it fascinating that this conservative movie star Gary Cooper publicly stood up for the blacklisted screenwriter Carl Foreman. He refused to cave to John Wayne and the other anti-Communists.”
The film also touches on the parallels between High Noon and modern American politics. “I find that America has a civic complacency going on,” writer-director Mulholland says. “Democracy is so fragile. It’s merely words on paper unless people stand up to defend it. To me, so many Republicans in the House and Senate are like the citizens of Hadleyville. They are looking the other way, backing away, refusing to acknowledge the dangers of the moment.”
Narrated by award-winning actor Matthew Rhys (The Americans), the documentary weaves together clips from High Noon and analysis and commentary from Tim Zinneman (son of director Fred Zinneman), Jonathan Foreman (son of screenwriter Carl Foreman), Crown Prince Albert of Monaco (Grace Kelly’s son), Maria Cooper (Gary Cooper’s daughter), President Bill Clinton, and many film critics and historians.

