High Noon 2004, The 1981 science fiction film "Outland", starring Sean Connery as a federal agent on an interplanetary mining outpost, has been compared to "High Noon" due to similarities in themes and plot. The plot for the 1987 high school comedy film Three O'Clock High was loosely based on "High Noon". A teen desperately attempts to avoid a fight with a menacing bully, set to happen at 3 o'clock. "High Noon" is referenced several times on the HBO drama series "The Sopranos". Tony Soprano cites Gary Cooper's character as the archetype of what a man should be, mentally tough and stoic.
High Noon Cooper and Kelly during filming remain unsubstantiated. Kelly biographer Donald Spoto wrote that there was no evidence of a romance, aside from tabloid gossip. Biographer Gina McKinnon speculated that "there might well have been a roll or two in the hay bales", but cited no evidence, other than a remark by Kelly's sister Lizanne that Kelly was "infatuated" with Cooper. Lee Van Cleef made his film debut in "High Noon". Kramer first offered him the Harvey Pell role, after seeing him in a touring production of "Mister Roberts", on the condition that he have his nose surgically altered to appear