THE MAN CALLED NOON (1973)

Frontierado is on Friday August 5th!

In the past Balladeer’s Blog has examined some of the big names among the fictional gunslingers of Spaghetti Westerns. I’ve covered the original Django, Sartana, the Holy Ghost, Dynamite Joe, Harmonica and even Tony Anthony’s character the Stranger. Here is a look at the Italo-Western hero Noon. 

The Man Called Noon (1973)

The Story: Long before Robert Ludlum’s amnesiac secret agent Jason Bourne came this film. Based on a Louis L’Amour story The Man Called Noon featured Richard Crenna as the title character, an amnesiac who has incredible abilities with a gun but no knowledge of his past.

Just like Jason Bourne in the later novel, our hero Rubal Noon must piece together who he really is, why he has access to some large sums of money  and why various dangerous factions want him dead. He also struggles to survive while all this chaos closes in on him. Luckily his instinctive skill at killing keeps him alive, albeit increasingly confused.  

In support Stephen Boyd plays Rimes and is almost James Garneresque as a sly, charming rascal who attaches himself to Crenna’s character on his identity quest. Rimes’ uncertain loyalties make for some very tense moments.  

Farley Granger portrays a corrupt judge who is part of the villainous forces arrayed against Noon, while Rosanna Schiaffino and Euro-Horror starlet Patty Shepard are the female leads, one on the side of the angels, the other part of the cadre that wants our hero dead.   

At its core the story involves multi-layered false identities and the hero’s quest for revenge over the death of his wife and child … just like in Ludlum’s later novel. (Remember, David Webb lost his wife and children to a random strafing, then became Delta and later Bourne) I’m not sayin’, Ludlum fans, I’m just sayin’.    

FOR REAL-LIFE GUNFIGHTERS KLONDIKE KATE, X THE VIGILANTE, DIAMONDFIELD JACK AND SAM SIXKILLER CLICK HERE:  https://glitternight.com/2013/07/29/gunslingers-four-more-neglected-male-and-female-gunfighters/

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