| “ | You'll never hang me. I'll come back! I'll kill you, Will Kane! I swear it, I'll kill you! | „ |
| ~ Judge Percy Mettrick recalls Frank Miller's promise to murder Will Kane. |
Frank Miller is the main antagonist of the 1952 Western film High Noon and its 2000 television remake of the same name.
In the 1952 film, he was portrayed by Ian MacDonald. In the 2000 film, he was portrayed by iconic character actor Michael Madsen.
Biography[]
Years ago, Frank was captured by the marshal Will Kane for murder and sentenced to hang. However, sometime Kane and his lover Amy Fowler wed, Frank is released. His judge as well as his former girlfriend, Helen Ramirez prepare to flee before Frank meets up with his gang, led by his brother Ben Miller, and two others: James Pierce and Jack Colby.
Sometime later in the film, Frank arrives in Hadleyville with the town almost completely deserted. Helen turns away from her former lover as Frank prepares for his hunt. While Kane manages to kill Ben, as well as Jack. Frank and Jim Pierce injure the marshal, cornering him in a small store.
When Pierce is shot dead by Amy who had made it back to town at the last-minute, Frank takes her hostage and calls out to his old nemesis or he would execute Amy. Kane walks out to his old enemy and lowers his weapon. Seeing her husband defenseless, Amy claws at Frank and forces him to throw her down, but Marshal Kane guns him down with the distraction.
Personality[]
| “ | Have you forgotten what he is? Have you forgotten what he's done to people? Have you forgotten that he's crazy? | „ |
| ~ Judge Percy Mettrick about Frank Miller |
Miller was a murderous and vengeful psychopath who was known for numerous other crimes. He was so dangerous virtually the entire town was convinced Miller would kill Kane almost immediately after returning to Hadleyville. Deputy Pell seemed to imply that Miller had mutilated people before, as he told Mrs. Ramirez that she "might not be so pretty when he gets through with you".
Despite being a criminal, Frank was well-liked by most of the town, as the businesses were much busier when Hadleyville was Frank's town. Despite this, the town was much more dangerous as it was a safe haven for Frank's many criminal friends. When Will Kane became the town marshal, he arrested Frank and cleaned up the town. Many of the town's businesses were bitter towards Kane because their businesses suffered, but the town families were grateful to Kane for making it safe for women children. However, none were willing to stand up against Frank.
Trivia[]
- In the 1952 film, Miller is a mysterious character, as he does not appear until the last few minutes and little is known about him. In the 2000 remake, however, he gets more development and screen time.