Just perfect...

Best movie of this year hands down!

It's funny, it's tense, it features two great performances from two actors and the director expertly creates a web of odd tension where you actually don't know what is happening for the majority of the run time.

Like the great film, it's made with a great deal of visible affection both in front of and behind the camera.

This movie is certainly a surprise. The films made by Charles Bronson and his wife, Jill Ireland, usually revolve around a tough-guy personna, played by Bronson. "From Noon Till Three" is a romantic comedy.Bronson plays Graham, a bank robber who is no tough guy. In fact, he is an unlikely romantic. When he meets Amanda (Ireland), sparks fly and they spend three hours together. Circumstances separate them for a year. When he comes back to her, he finds that much has changed.The final act is a big twist that elevates the film above the ordinary. Also elevating is the song that comes to represent their relationship, written by Elmer Bernstein, with lyrics by Alan and Marilyn Bergman. How's that for a pedigree? In fact, the song is quite charming.This film is so far afield of what Bronson usually does it feels like a breath of fresh air. And Ms. Ireland gets to spread her wings as a thespian. She also sings their theme beautifully. It is too bad they didn't produce more films outside the action genre.

Charles Bronson plays Graham Dorsey, one of a quintet of bank robbers. On their way to rob their next bank, his horse breaks its leg, and they stop off at a remote homestead to obtain a horse. Graham ends up staying at the house, and with its owner, Amanda Starbuck (Jill Ireland), while his comrades go on to commit the robbery. Initially very standoffish, Amanda soon warms up to Graham, an interesting character who shows that he can't be taken at face value. He and Amanda end up spending a very romantic three hours together (the "noon till three" of the title).When Graham rides off (ostensibly to save his fellow outlaws from the hangman), and then is later thought to be dead, Amanda fictionalizes their time together with the help of a writer. Since Graham had been embellishing some details, it's all too easy for Amanda and the writer to turn Graham into a hero of legendary proportions. Their story is published in book form and becomes popular all over the world. As a result, when Graham ventures back into the world after doing some time, he can't get anybody to believe that he's who he says he is, because the book made him out to be something that he's not!Scripted by director Frank D. Gilroy from his own novel, this is perhaps the ultimate teaming of real life couple Bronson and Ireland. As can be expected, they work very well together; Bronson has rarely, if ever, been this appealing. The role of Graham is a noted departure from most of the tough guy roles that he played. There are some good players among the supporting cast: Douglas V. Fowley, Stan Haze, Don 'Red' Barry, and Anne Ramsey in a bit, but this is primarily a charming vehicle for Mr. and Mrs. Bronson. It manages to be funny and poignant in equal measure, and is very well made technically, with a fine score by Elmer Bernstein and a touching song (music by Bernstein, lyrics by Alan & Marilyn Bergman) sung by Ireland herself. It also serves to point out the difference that can exist between myth and reality.Some Bronson fans might not care for this sort of material, but others should find it a delight to see him venture outside his comfort zone for a change.Eight out of 10.

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.

I'm not sure I saw all of this movie. Why the "10" rating ? It was pretty and had some good scenes.......I didn't have to really pay attention while I watching it. Laughable....."From Noon till Three" surely was produced through that corporation that ALWAYS starred Bronson and Ireland. A good family-business, huh? Ms. Ireland truly was a beauty and Charles had the bod......(old term for "hunk"). May as well use all your assets......This movie is a real relief of all the gore Bronson usually pitched-around.....super-macho, you know ? There were so many twists in its plot, I guess that's what kept my interest, just to see how they would pan-out.I thought the ending was perfect, so poor ole Charlie wouldn't have to keep getting banged-up everywhere he went. The line "we've been expecting you" from one of the loonies was a gem.......watch it for its pretty silliness......