From Noon Till Three *** (1976, Charles Bronson, Jill Ireland, Douglas Fowley) – Classic Movie Review 10,405

Writer-director Frank D Gilroy’s 1976 From Noon Till Three stars Charles Bronson, who admirably tries to stretch himself by extending his range in this offbeat adult comedy Western satire that tackles the Western myth by taking as its theme the gap between truth and illusion.

Bronson stars as Graham Dorsey, an outlaw who is thought to have been shot dead. Jill Ireland co-stars as Amanda, a woman who enjoyed the title three-hour romance Dorsey, and who now builds a legend round him in books and songs. When Dorsey (Bronson) comes back from the grave to cash in, nobody, not even the woman, believes him because the story tells that he’s tall and handsome!

The then husband-and-wife star team work admirably hard and successfully to make this unusual, appealing and often very entertaining vehicle work.

If it isn’t a complete success, they and writer-director Frank D Gilroy get full marks for trying. Cinematographer Lucien Ballard, composer Elmer Bernstein, and art director Robert Clatworthy all get full marks too.

Lyricist Alan Bergman and composer Elmer Bernstein play 19th-century song-pluggers! Their song ‘Hello and Goodbye’ was Golden Globe nominated.

Also in the cast are Douglas Fowley, Stan Haze, Damon Douglas, Hector Morales, Anne Ramsey, Bert Williams, Davis Roberts, Betty Cole, William Lanteau, Larry French, Michael LeClair, Sonny Jones, Hoke Howell, Howard Brunner, William Challee, and Don ‘Red’ Barry.

From Noon Till Three is directed by Frank D Gilroy, runs 99 minutes, is made by Frankovich Productions and William Self Productions, is released by United Artists, is written by Frank D Gilroy, based on the novel by Frank D Gilroy, is shot in DeLuxe colour and Panavision by Lucien Ballard, is produced by Mike J Frankovich and William Self, is scored by Elmer Bernstein, and designed by Robert Clatworthy.

© Derek Winnert 2020 Classic Movie Review 10,405

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