[mamelukesabre]

Well, if you don't know about the hidden symbolism, it's a pretty good movie.

I can think of one reason why john wayne would have hated it. The whole town was on the side of the bad guys. No one was on the good guys side eccept the town drunk and the immigrant lady of unsavory reputation.

[the_Watchman]

I remember liking High Noon as a kid. I think they hid the liberal symbolism pretty deeply because they still felt pressure from Washington.

[Countyline]

High Noon --

"I can think of one reason why john wayne would have hated it. The whole town was on the side of the bad guys. No one was on the good guys side eccept the town drunk and the immigrant lady of unsavory reputation."

Interesting. I didn't see the whole town being for the bad guys. It's the old fear factor ... some were willing to face them as long as they thought there were many others standing with them. Deserted immediately when they found there were no volunteers; and they began to consider what they had to lose. Cowards. Lack of courage ... which was being for the bad guys by default.

Pacifists ...pacifism may be why John Wayne hated the film. "In The Sons of Katy Elder", John demonstrated ... how to "do it".

It is a bit of a reach to say it was about communists in hollywood, isn't it?