Revenge, Honour and Betrayal in High Noon

Wilshire's article looks at the three important themes, exploring the wider contexts of the American domestic (McCarthy witch hunts) and foreign policies (the Korean War) of the early 1950s. Wilshire looks at the innovative aspects of High Noon, shifting away from the old mythology often associated with westerns up to that time, and toward a more realistic depiction of the old west. He discusses the film's emphasis on the psychological nature of the characters, and its innovative and courageous portrayal of fear, self-interest and apathy of the townsfolk.