Frank Miller's Gunslingers

Partners in Crime
Full Names	Ben Miller, James Pierce and Jack Colby
Alias	No information
Origin	High Noon
Occupations	No information
Powers/Skills	No information
Hobbies	No information
Goals	No information
Crimes	No information
Type of Villains	Murderous Minions

Ben Miller, James Pierce and Jack Colby are the secondary antagonists of the 1952 Western film High Noon. They are Frank Miller's teammates and partners.

Ben was portrayed by the late Sheb Wooley, James was portrayed by the late Robert J. Wilke, and Jack was portrayed by the late Lee Van Cleef, who also played various other western villains such as the anti-heroic Colonel Douglas Mortimer in For a Few Dollars More, or Angel Eyes or "The Bad" in The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly.

History

The gunslinger trio is first seen riding by the town's church, where Sunday morning church bells were pealing as a signal to worship. They are ominously recognized by an old Spanish woman who crosses herself, a fireman, and other townsfolk outside the Ramirez Saloon. Ben rides his horse uncontrollably toward a sign reading "MARSHAL".

The riders pass the Justice of the Peace's window (the town's courtroom), where the societal ritual of marriage is in preparation. Judge Percy Mettrick is holding a wedding for the town's 'ex' marshal, Will Kane and Quaker girl, Amy Fowler. Word spreads quickly about the gang members who are identified by the barber.

The townspeople hear about Frank Miller coming back for revenge on Will and are nervous about his return.

Amy's seen purchasing a ticket for St. Louis at the train station later on, and Ben Miller glances threateningly at her with lusty intentions, she is cautioned to "wait somewheres else like at the hotel, maybe." The trio waits around at the train station until 12 o'clock, when Will was set to arrive. When Frank finally arrives, the gang walk confrontation-ally into town. Ben smashes a store-front window to steal a ladies' bonnet and tie it on his waist - Frank rhetorically asks him if he could wait. Having heard their menacing approach, Kane hides patiently as they pass by and shoots Ben first.

Amy hears the first sounds of gunfire from her train seat, and she rises and rushes toward town as the train pulls away. She also discovers Ben's dead body with his gun resting by his side. Using hit-and-run tactics, Kane retreats to the stable, and from the barn's hayloft kills Colby. Frank Miller sets the stable barn on fire, trying to smoke Kane out. He escapes the barn by riding low on a horse during a stampede, but is shot off the fleeing horse and wounded in the left arm. Weakened and missing an open shot at his pursuers, Kane takes cover in the saddlery. Across the street in the Marshal's office, Amy hears further gunshots.

Pierce and Frank split up in different directions to set up a deadly crossfire - Miller fires from the street while Pierce circles around and fires at Kane from the side of the Marshal's office. In one of the film's most enduring images, Kane peers out from behind broken glass in the window. With two depleted pistols, Pierce is suddenly gunblasted in the back through another broken window by Amy putting an end to the gunslinger trio once and for all.