A quietly wild return to the CPC Film Series
By Nikolai Hogan
Knightly News CPC Film Series Correspondent
The CPC Film Series returned to the Capital Blue Cross Theatre on May 9.
This term’s event was hosted by Central Penn Associate Professor of Communications and Media Ethicist Michael Lear-Olimpi. It was his second time hosting the series. This time around, the audience was treated to a showing of the classic Western “High Noon.”
“High Noon,” released in 1952, was directed by Fred Zinnemann and stars Gary Cooper and Grace Kelly. The story takes place in real time and follows Marshal Will Kane, who has just married and plans to retire from law enforcement. However, he learns that a vengeful outlaw, Frank Miller, has been released from prison and is arriving on the noon train to kill him.
Despite his efforts to gather support, Kane finds himself abandoned by the townspeople. His deputies, friends and even the town’s leaders all refuse to stand with him, out of fear. As the clock ticks closer to noon, Kane is left to face Miller and his gang alone, highlighting themes of duty, courage and moral integrity.
I think one of the film’s greatest accomplishments, especially for when it was released, is that the movie’s runtime is concurrent with the story. Knowing that when the clock hits a certain time in the film is the real amount of time passed in real life is nothing short of impressive, especially for the time “High Noon” was released.
I also feel the camerawork was incredibly impressive and still followed modern standards to a surprising degree. Some of the pan-out shots as well as dynamic movement shots never broke the immersion of the film’s Wild West setting. Before the screening, I got to sit down with Lear-Olimpi and ask him several questions regarding the film.
Sitting down with the host
Getting to interview Lear-Olimpi was a pleasure. I had previously been on an episode of the Knightly News Podcast discussing the film with him, so I knew some aspects it. Getting to sit down with him and ask him specific questions also gave me a better glimpse of Lear-Olimpi’s opinions on “High Noon” as a film and a work of art.
I began with an obvious question for film-series presenters: “What made you choose ‘High Noon’ for tonight’s screening? Is there a personal or academic reason behind the selection?”
Lear-Olimpi said: “Both. The personal reason is that it’s a film I love. I believe it’s a movie to which the term ‘classic’ truly applies, because it has several unique elements to itself that make it unique. It’s a classic Western with most elements of the genre. What makes it different is that it’s a quieter film and more based on psychology rather than gun-slinging action. It has the vibes of man versus self rather than just black-and-white good versus evil.”
This stood out to me because I don’t watch Westerns much. The most exposure I’ve had to the genre is the Red Dead Redemption video game series, which, in turn, takes much of its inspiration from classic American Westerns like “High Noon.” Indeed, the film has great action moments, but the film’s story and characters take the center stage, and most of the film, while high stakes, is much more about how the characters interact with one another and their backstories.
I asked Lear-Olimpi whether “High Noon” is a good place to start for someone who hasn’t seen a Western. His response was interesting to me.
“That’s difficult, because I think that people who are expecting the stereotypical Western may be lukewarm to its themes,” he said.. “But if you can appreciate the movie for the points it makes and the artistry (you’ll see) it changed Western (film) narrative styles for the big screen to be more about psychology.”
I couldn’t agree more. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time I watched the film, though I wasn’t like that due to tons of fights and action, but rather just to see how certain characters would interact with others and how the town was reacting to the news of the return of convict Frank Miller.
I wanted to expand on the previous question when interviewing Lear-Olimpi, and so I asked if he feels like “High Noon” has maintained relevance in today’s world. The film is over 70 years old, after all, and I feel many people tend to disregard black-and-white films due to the films’ age, regardless of the quality.
Lear-Olimpi explained how he thinks the film holds ironclad relevance, which he said is one of the reasons he chose it. The themes that we see are underpinned by what was happening in the United States at the time “High Noon” was made. A lot of the film’s themes are related to the Great Red Scare of the time, and those elements of real-world politics are noticeable in the film’s themes and messaging. Also, living in a post-World War II world, many audiences wanted to tackle morality and ethical themes in films at the time. The subject matter of “High Noon” and the world oozed the themes that Lear-Olimpi was talking about.
After our lengthy discussion about the film and his opinions on it, I had just one more question for Lear-Olimpi. I asked him what he hoped students would take away from watching classic films like “High Noon.” Because I am a massive cinephile and fan of filmmaking, his response stuck with me in a wonderful way.
“I hope students and the audience in general can take away from this movie a sense of art,” Lear-Olimpi said. “Film is art, not just pure entertainment. It’s not just violence and CGI. There’s art and work involved in this movie, which may turn some people off of it, but if you’re an appreciator of the arts, particularly of film, I hope you can see the artistry of this film. Seeing the work put into the expressions, set design, scripting, acting, camera work (will have an impact), and I hope that people can appreciate there is nothing wrong with black and white cinema. Sometimes you just have to stand up and say or do something.”
The importance of unique films and their preservation
The showing of “High Noon” cemented for me that regardless of a film’s age and history, the art of film should not be preserved only by those who enjoy it, but by those who have yet to see it. It is integral that the next generation views the films that influenced the pop culture of today and modern filmmaking, and it is obvious to me that “High Noon” is one of many films that should be watched by everyone at least once. It was a spectacular thrill ride for someone who seldom watches films from that time and of that genre.
A new film series future
While the CPC Film Series continues to be an anticipated and exciting part of most terms here at the college, this one is particularly bittersweet for me.
It is with a heavy heart that I announce that I am stepping down as the Knightly News CPC Film Series Correspondent due to my graduation at the end of the term. It’s already been nearly three years since I took up the mantle from CPC alumni Dylan Bowman and became the CPC Film Series Correspondent. Since then, I have made incredible memories getting to sit down with the hosts of each respective event and seeing what movies mean to us as people and individuals.
I was even given the incredible opportunity to host my own Film Series movie back in May 2024. Showing “Labyrinth” (1986) and discussing its themes and what the film meant to me on a personal level is one of my fondest memories of attending Central Penn.
Whether its audiences have been spooked by a bloody zombie flick, swept away in a vintage period piece or learned how a tech mogul started one of the biggest companies in the world, the CPC Film Series has and will continue to be a safe space to me to learn about other people’s passion for the art of filmmaking and for me to see many a new film and gather new experience.
I have many fond memories of different CPC Film Series showings, but I believe my favorite one to have been the correspondent for was when Dylan Bowman hosted the series for the second time, showing both of his films “At War with Myself” and “Vintage.” Not only were the flicks wonderful pieces of art, but I loved seeing the work and effort that went into making independent short films. As someone hoping to make his own movies in the future, it was also a great inspiration to me to see someone succeed as much as Dylan had.
I’m beyond honored to have been given this position, and I know that no matter what, the future of the CPC Film Series looks incredibly bright. I can’t wait to return for the next one, not as a correspondent, but as a member of the audience. I’m extremely grateful to have been given this opportunity for nearly the last three years, and I sincerely thank all of you who have been there to host the event and to speak with me, and who made me interested in The Knightly News in the first place. From the very bottom of my heart: thank you.
Hogan is also secretary of The Knightly News Media Club @ Central Penn College.
Editor’s note: We’ll miss Nik’s keen insights into and appreciation of movies during his three-year tenure as The Knightly News CPC Film Series correspondent. His overviews and reviews of the movies shown in the series, and the work he put into interviewing film series presenters, along with his impressive knowledge and understanding of movies, movie-making and Hollywood, benefited everyone who has read or will read his reviews—regardless of whether they saw the movies he wrote or writes about. The Knightly News and the advisers and members of The Knightly News Media Club @ Central Penn College thank you, Nik, and wish you the best in your learning and life quest beyond Central Penn. We know we’ll see you again in the Capital Blue Cross Theatre to enjoy movies with us. And that’s a wrap.
Comment or story idea? Contact [email protected].
Edited by media-club co-adviser and blog editor Professor Michael Lear-Olimpi.
A bonus for our readers
Below are links to some of Hogan’s film articles on The Knightly News blog.
‘The Social Network’ revisited: How the film reflects today’s digital world
