Black Noon

Weird Western Tale with Roy Thinnes, Ray Milland and Yvette Mimieux

In 1871, a young couple traveling West get lost in the wastelands (Thinnes and Lynn Loring), but are fortunately helped by the kind citizens of a remote town of settlers from New England. The man happens to be a pastor and the hamlet coincidentally just lost their Reverend. The patriarch wants them to stay (Milland) while his mute daughter seems interested in the minister (Mimieux). This can’t end well.

“Black Noon” (1971) is a made-for-TV Western that’s eccentric enough to make it worth checking out for those interested. You’ll suspect an occultic element from the opening scene, but the less you know the better; all is revealed at the end, which is genuinely creative. The movie makes you care about the two protagonists, which is good, but… well, you’ll see. Let’s just say it obviously influenced a popular 1973 British flick, but maybe it was just inspired by the same 1967 novel as that other movie.

Thinnes’ character gives a surprisingly good sermon revolving around the Sermon on the Mount, such as Matthew 5:11. Clearly, the scriptwriter knew the Scriptures because there are other quality biblical quotes, such as from Isaiah and the Song of Songs.

Thinnes and Loring were husband & wife for a few years at the time of shooting, but their marriage would only last until 1984.

It’s short ‘n’ sweet at 1 hour, 14 minutes, and was shot in the desert area of the high country north of Los Angeles.

GRADE: B