— Ch. 1 · Screenplay Origins And Disputed Credit —
High Noon.
~5 min read · Ch. 1 of 7
Carl Foreman wrote a four-page plot outline that became the foundation for High Noon. This outline closely mirrored The Tin Star, a 1947 short story by John W. Cunningham about an aging sheriff facing a dangerous murderer. Foreman purchased the film rights to Cunningham's work and developed it into the screenplay. A 2002 documentary titled Darkness at High Noon: The Carl Foreman Documents revealed that Foreman felt his role was unfairly downplayed over the years in favor of producer Stanley Kramer. Foreman told critic Bosley Crowther in a lengthy 1952 letter that he had written the initial concept before anyone else involved with the production. Director Richard Fleischer later claimed he helped develop the story over eight weeks while driving to and from the set of The Clay Pigeon in 1949. His RKO contract prevented him from directing High Noon himself. Some critics describe the film as a straight remake of the 1929 version of The Virginian, which also starred Gary Cooper. Chapter XXXV of Owen Wister's novel The Virginian contains a similar incident where Trampas challenges The Virginian despite having a new bride waiting.
Blacklist Controversy And Casting Choices
In 1951, screenwriter Carl Foreman appeared before the House Un-American Activities Committee during its investigation of Communist influence in Hollywood. He had once been a member of the Communist Party but refused to name names or identify fellow members. The committee labeled him an uncooperative witness, making him vulnerable to blacklisting by movie studios. Production partner Stanley Kramer demanded immediate dissolution of their partnership after Foreman's refusal became public. Foreman sold his share of the project to Kramer and moved to Britain before the film released. He knew he would not find further work in the United States due to pressure from Columbia Pictures president Harry Cohn and Los Angeles Times gossip columnist Hedda Hopper. John Wayne was originally offered the lead role but refused because he believed the story was an allegory against blacklisting. Wayne later told an interviewer that he never regretted helping run Foreman out of the country. Gary Cooper accepted the part despite being Wayne's longtime friend who shared conservative political views. Cooper had been a friendly witness before HUAC but did not implicate anyone as a suspected Communist. Gregory Peck declined the role because it felt too similar to his performance in The Gunfighter the year before. Marlon Brando, Montgomery Clift, and Charlton Heston also turned down the Will Kane character.