by Glenn Frankel
Book Release on February 21st: “HIGH NOON – The Hollywood Blacklist and the Making of an American Classic
It’s one of the most revered movies of Hollywood’s golden age. Starring screen legend Gary Cooper and Grace Kelly in her first significant movie role, High Noon achieved instant box-office and critical success. But what is often overlooked is that High Noon was made during the height of the Hollywood blacklist, a time of political inquisition and personal betrayal. In the middle of the film shoot, screenwriter Carl Foreman was called to testify about his former membership in the Communist Party, facing the painful dilemma of whether to name names or sacrifice his brilliant career. As he pondered what to do, Foreman turned his screenplay into a parable about fear, repression and the cost of courage.