Daniel Day-Lewis Hates Westerns but This 94%-Rated Classic Won Him Over: "Means a Lot to Me"

Daniel Day-Lewis is widely considered the greatest living actor and perhaps the greatest in cinema history. His legendary approach to roles is immersive, but this obsession has a downside – Day-Lewis selects projects with surgical precision.

Throughout his career, he has steered clear of entire genres, including fantasy, animation, and pure comedy. He has also avoided Westerns, unless you count There Will Be Blood, with its Western aesthetic.

Daniel Day-Lewis Has Nothing but Praise for Fred Zinnemann's 'High Noon'

Now, the actor has made a confession that sheds light on his tastes. It turns out he's not just indifferent to the genre – he dislikes it.

In an interview, Day-Lewis openly admitted:

“I do not like John Wayne. I find it hard to watch him. I just never took to him, and I don't like Jimmy Stewart as a cowboy. I love him, but just not as a cowboy”.

However, there is an exception to this rule:

“I don't particularly like westerns as a genre, but I do love certain westerns. High Noon means a lot to me. I love the purity and the honesty. I love Gary Cooper in that film, the idea of the last man standing.”

What Is 'High Noon' About?

Sheriff Will Kane has just married the beautiful Quaker woman, Amy, and is ready to leave Hadleyville for good to start a peaceful life on a ranch.

But on the day of their departure, they receive some news: Frank Miller, a brutal killer whom Kane had sent to prison, was due to arrive by train at noon. Miller has sworn revenge, and his brother and two thugs are waiting at the station.

Kane tries to assemble a team, but the townspeople he has faithfully served for years cowardly refuse to help. Even his own wife, whose faith forbids violence, begs him to leave. Kane is left alone. The clock ticks inexorably toward noon.

'High Noon' Is a True Classic and a Unique Western Set In Real Time

Unlike epic Westerns, which stretch time and space, Fred Zinnemann's High Noon is constrained by a rigid chronological framework. The movie lasts exactly as long as the wait, from the arrival of the news about the express train until noon itself.

The clock in the frame is not just an interior detail, but a full-fledged participant in the plot – it counts down the minutes until death, and viewers experience the tension alongside the main character.

High Noon is about a man who could have left but stayed, not because he wanted to die a hero but because he could not do otherwise. Gary Cooper won an Oscar for his role, and the film itself remains a benchmark for the genre.

What Did Critics & Viewers Think of 'High Noon'?

• High Noon has 94% from critics and 89% from viewers on Rotten Tomatoes.

• On IMDb, the movie has a score of 7.9/10.

• On Letterboxd, High Noon scored 4.0/5.0.

Where to Watch 'High Noon'?

High Noon is available to buy or rent on Amazon Prime Video.