Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		3.5
Audio		3.5
Extras		0.0
Overall		3.0

The Man Called Noon Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf December 29, 2016

It’s never easy to deal with amnesia as a plot device, with many thrillers going the wrong direction when managing the loss of memory. “The Man Called Noon” brings brain trauma to the old west, taking inspiration from a Louis L’Amour novel, which immediately inspires unusual depth of character and a few twists and turns along the way. The 1973 production doesn’t bother reinventing the wheel in terms of screen violence and antagonism, but it captures confusion rather well, embarking on a story where the hero may be a villain, dealing with questions of self while being shot at from all sides.

Richard Crenna stars as Noon, a man recently targeted for assassination in a tiny Iowa town, emerging from the attack without a clue. He’s lost his memory, finding support from outlaw Rimes (Stephen Boyd) and eventually Fan (Rosanna Schiaffino), forming a band of outsiders as a real threat comes calling, mixing up hostilities with secret treasure and persistent questions of identity. “The Man Called Noon” maintains literary pacing, paging through Noon’s awakening as he struggles to piece together his true self, picking up clues along the way as the gang makes their way across the land, eventually uncovering a critical piece of Noon’s life that everyone wants a piece of.

The Man Called Noon Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.78:1 aspect ratio) presentation handles an encouraging amount of detail, bringing out the textures of period costuming and expansive locations, preserving distances. Close-ups retain dramatic urgency and facial particulars. Colors are reasonably secure, keeping greenery and outfits interesting. Skintones remain natural. Delineation threatens to solidify on occasion, giving way to brief blasts of posturization. Source is in decent shape, with mild speckling and scratches. Grain is fine and filmic.

The Man Called Noon Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Largely dealing with dubbing, intelligibility isn't a problem for the 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix, giving performances an inherently artificial boost. Dialogue doesn't veer far from expectation, with violent surges and hushed encounters easy to follow. Damage is periodically encountered, resulting in a few warbled passages, but nothing consistent. Scoring retains position and instrumentation, adding to the listening experience. Atmospherics sustain an outdoorsy feel, and sound effects are sharp and loud.

The Man Called Noon Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

There is no supplementary material on this disc.

The Man Called Noon Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Director Peter Collinson sustains a western mood, though one that's constantly covered in wind and dust. He's also traditional with action, staging shoot-outs and chases that often resemble a theme park stunt show. But this simplicity isn't unappealing, as "The Man Called Noon" maintains mood, helped along by Luis Bacalov's terrific score and secure performances that balance grit and cartoon, giving the picture a wonderfully cinematic stance at times. "The Man Called Noon" teases routine, but it never falls asleep, keeping itself alert with memory problems and continual threats, delivering genre highlights with gusto, especially when focused on a character who doesn't quite understand just how dangerous he is.