Watch High Tide at Noon

High Tide at Noon is a gripping, dramatic film from 1957 that tells the story of a woman named Joanna Dane, played by Betta St. John. Joanna is an artist from London who travels to a remote island off the coast of Scotland to visit her sister Valerie (played by Jill Clifford), who is living there with her husband, a fisherman named Rob MacKay (played by William Sylvester).

At first, Joanna is fascinated by the rugged and beautiful landscape of the island and by the simple way of life that her sister and brother-in-law seem to enjoy. She also starts to develop feelings for Rob, who is handsome and kind, and it becomes clear that they are attracted to each other.

However, Joanna soon learns that the islanders are in conflict with a wealthy businessman named James Kennedy (played by Michael Craig), who wants to build a large fish cannery on the island. The canning operation would bring many new jobs to the island, but the fishermen fear that it would also destroy the delicate ecosystem and put their traditional ways of life at risk.

Joanna finds herself caught in the middle of this conflict, torn between her feelings for Rob and her growing sense of solidarity with the local people. She starts to investigate the situation more deeply and soon discovers that there is much more at stake than just the future of the island's fishing industry.

As tensions mount and the conflict between the islanders and Kennedy heats up, Joanna must make difficult choices about where her loyalties lie and what kind of future she wants to help create for the people she has come to care about.

The film is beautifully shot and features stunning location photography that captures the rugged beauty of the island's landscape. The performances are also strong, with Betta St. John giving a nuanced and deeply moving portrayal of a woman torn between love and duty, and William Sylvester bringing a quiet strength and vulnerability to his role as the conflicted fisherman.

Michael Craig is also excellent as the slick and ambitious businessman, imbuing his character with a sense of desperation and urgency that makes him both sympathetic and dangerous.

Overall, High Tide at Noon is a powerful and deeply affecting film that explores themes of love, loyalty, and the struggle to find one's place in the world. It is a testament to the resilience and strength of ordinary people who are willing to fight for what is right, even in the face of overwhelming odds.