From Noon Till Three (1976)

Good story, Not enough for a whole film

Awesome Movie

Am i the only one who thinks........Average?

Funny, strange, confrontational and subversive, this is one of the most interesting experiences you'll have at the cinema this year.

Growing up and hitting the movie theaters on my own in the seventies I grew up a fan of the then hot star Charles Bronson. DEATH WISH came out just about the time I was able to start driving on my own and with that film he began a string of hit movies that as a teen we all had to see. Bronson made a habit of starring his wife Jill Ireland in his films once he achieved enough clout, an excellent actress who did make a living on her own. But it was nice to see them on the screen together. Perhaps their best film together is the little known or seen FROM NOON TILL THREE.Bronson stars as Graham Dorsey, part of an outlaw group intending to rob the local bank. With their horses tiring out, they stop at a remote house on the prairie owned by a widow named Amanda (Jill Ireland). There are only enough horses for part of the gang so Dorsey, uneasy at best about the planned robbery, volunteers to stay behind and keep an eye on Amanda with the gang returning once the job has been pulled off.Over the next three hours Dorsey and Amanda get to know each other. Dorsey tries to be a gentleman but her attempts at escape leave him no choice but to find a way to make her stay. As they become acquainted Amanda falls for the charm that Dorsey displays and they end up in bed together. It's a case of love at first sight but eventually part of the gang returns. It seems the robbery went bad and most were killed. Now they head out, leaving Amanda behind.In an attempt to disguise himself Dorsey poses as someone else. Unfortunately that man is wanted for fraud and he is taken off to jail. The man he switched identities with is killed and thus Amanda fears that Dorsey, the man she fell in love with, is now deceased.What happens next is a comedy of errors. Amanda takes her romance to heart and pens a first-hand account of the events that took place. Embellishing is not the word for it as her tale turns from potential kidnapping to a romantic tryst with a notorious outlaw. The book is a major success and spawns both a play and a hit song about the events, "From Noon Till Three".The movie gets funnier still when Dorsey is finally released from prison, when he tries to return to Amanda and…well watch it to see what happens. The movie offers some truly hilarious moments and shows the Bronson had a knack for comedy that not many would have suspected. Ireland is tremendous in the role of Amanda.True fans of Bronson will not want to miss this movie. It is by far one of his best in my book. Not only will you get to see how good of an actor he was you'll have a lot of fun with this one as well. As with all Twilight Time releases this is limited in number so if you see it, order it today!

I'm always up for something that little bit different but I wasn't prepared for this. I must have sat mouth agape as my eyes glazed over as it dawned upon me this was not exactly to my taste. If you like Jill Ireland and are keen to see Bronson as a romantic lothario, this could be for you but I just found it so unbelievable that it could ever have got made.I note, however, that this has a considerable following, so for some this whimsical tale of inherent silliness is most appealing and I worry for them. I'm fairly certain that anyone used to checking out my own peculiar taste in films will find this the most amazing waste of time.

I like Charles Bronson, always have always will, so some could say I am biased. So be it. Of course watching Death wish and all the sequels at one go, one sleepless night almost killed the liking, but not entirely. I knew nothing about this movie made on my birth year, except that it came highly recommended. I certainly had no clue what to expect and so what came to me took me by complete surprise. We all know Charles Bronson the actor and the character of the roles he plays. The unsmiling, wooden expression, the complete lack of humour and so on, so half an hour into the movie when he's ripping Amanda's dress off I was pinching myself in disbelief. I was also furious with my friend for recommending this to me. A Charles Bronson playing an ex confederate gentleman soldier, not doffing his hat to a lady, forcing himself on an unwilling woman, this was definitely not the Bronson we knew. No siree that ain't the Bronson I know and I was also willing at that moment to say, "I rode with George Dorsey myself and he is nothing like you". By then the Jack Daniels had dulled my otherwise perspicacious nature and I was swept away with the currents of the song about impossible love. The second time around when I watched the movie I was ready for it. It had me in splits most of the time, with Bronson pretty much hamming away the parts where he deceives the starchy widow. This role does explore depths to his acting character making me wish we had seen Bronson in more different roles than the ones he has always played. I don't know whether it was because I knew they were a real life pair, but their 3 hour romance was totally believable and very much up there with the classic love stories. I doubt if Hemingway could replicate two people falling in love so tempestuously as George and Amanda did in those three hours. Many lines in the lovely waltz can be closely identified with by anyone who has experienced that one heady feeling of being in love, albeit for a day or two. A love that remained unexplored or unfulfilled. This is the first time I saw Jill Ireland in a role and made me think that if this was how she looked and acted, why the deuce haven't we seen them together more often or even just her? What a loss!On the flop side though there is too little attention to detail. Bronson playing a destitute ex-confederate soldier has no southern accent. Sam and Edna, presumably the freed slaves too, have nothing remotely close to an accent.One wonders why Bronson waited until so long to experiment with roles and once he did, why he didn't do this more often. For story line, character building, some pretty good acting and lovely music, I give this 8 out of ten.

This is my favorite Charles Bronson and Jill Ireland movie. Great writing, directing, photography, and film editing. The casting was perfect. Douglas V Fowley was perfect as the bank robber gang leader. The way Jill is seduced and falls in love with Bronson is fantastic. But alas their love was not destined to last. This is Jill's best and Bronson showed his versatility in a different kind of role. I had hoped that when Bronson returned to her from prison, their love would have reignited and they would have lived happily ever after. But life is not like that. At least they had those beautiful hours From noon till three. I know you will enjoy this movie. I could see it over and over.