The Tin Star

by John M. Cunningham

"The Tin Star" is a short story, which appeared in Colliers Magazine in 1947, and was adapted into the film "High Noon" in 1952, which starred Gary Cooper alongside Grace Kelly.

Genres: Westerns, Fiction, Short Stories, Media Tie In

32 pages, ebook

First published December 6, 1947

Reviews

[Ian · Rating 4 out of 5]

As you may have seen from the blurb, The Tin Star is a 1947 magazine story that would doubtless be completely forgotten now were it not for the fact it was the inspiration for the classic 1953 movie High Noon. The original story is acknowledged in the opening credits to the movie version, to the accompaniment of Dimitri Tiomkin’s famous theme song. Seeing the reference always left me mildly curious about the original work.

The film adaptation is quite different from this story. There’s no female presence here and the lawman, called Doane rather than Kane, is a sheriff rather than a marshal. He is aging, as he was in the film, but in this story he’s a widower suffering from arthritis in his hands. Another significant difference is that the sheriff is backed up by a young deputy, although another deputy resigns rather than face the gun battle.

What the film does take from the story is the general scenario of a returning killer and his gang seeking revenge on the sheriff. To an extent the story and film also share the idea of the lawmen risking their lives for people who don’t deserve it, although I would say the story promotes the nobility of those willing to take on that role. That gives it a somewhat different slant from the film.

I enjoyed reading The Tin Star. The story is sufficiently different from the film to leave the reader wondering how it will turn out. Also I’ve finally quenched my curiosity!

[Murray · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another essential western published in 1947 which became the basis for the classic film High Noon. That movie starred Grace Kelly as the pacifist Quaker and Gary Cooper as the man who planned to marry her, lay down his badge and retire - until desperadoes arrive on the noon train bent on vengeance.

A good vintage read and utterly unlike a McMurtry or McCarthy western. Closer to Louis L’Amour or Zane Grey.

[Jim Reddy · Rating 4 out of 5]

An aging sheriff refuses to flee when a man he sent to prison is released and heads back to town for revenge. I liked the story, characters, and the writing. An excellent western short story which was adapted into the 1952 film High Noon.

I decided to read this story after watching the film, which I really enjoyed. Although the basics are the same, much of the story is different from the film. It was interesting to compare the two.

[Al Lock · Rating 4 out of 5]

Why do men risk their lives to protect others who won't protect themselves. Why are some of us sheepdogs, willing to face the wolves and others are sheep. There are no answers here, but the questions are loud and clear - and for some, the answers are obvious.

[Vince Snow]

Read this short story after watching High Noon last night. The movie was much better than the story, the movie adding in a lot of minor details that really enriched it. Many quotes were repeated in the movie, but the characters who said them were different which fascinating. Why stay and face your doom? What responsibility does a person have? These are the questions the story and the movie ask and seek to answer.

[Ceci · Rating 2 out of 5]

Had to read it for my Literature & Cinema class and it did not say much to me...
I hope it does once we get to analyze it.

[Carla · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5*

[Mark Steven · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story is the source material for the movie High Noon. It's a better movie than a story, but it's still worth reading

[Lennart_rohrjunge · Rating 3 out of 5]

watch high noon!

[Gary_cooper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story !!! Great Will !!!