At the age of 80, Oscar-winning screenwriter Eric Roth is embarking on a bold new frontier: the stage. The veteran scribe behind cinematic giants like Forrest Gump and Killers of the Flower Moon is making his theatrical debut with a fresh adaptation of the revered 1952 western High Noon, set for its world premiere in London.
From Hollywood to the West End
Speaking from his Los Angeles home, Roth, who turned 80 last year, cheerfully accepts the label of "the old new kid on the block." His debut play was born from a simple observation: non-musical westerns are a rarity in theatre. "I thought, 'What better vehicle than this parable?'" he explains. The project attracted director Thea Sharrock, after initial involvement from Ivo van Hove.
The film, starring Gary Cooper as Marshal Will Kane desperately seeking help before a noon showdown with a vengeful outlaw, is considered a masterpiece. Roth calls it "the pinnacle of what a western could be," making the adaptation a significant challenge. He reveals that many actors were wary of filling Cooper's iconic boots, but Billy Crudup stepped up to the role, offering a portrayal Roth describes as "a little more human." Denise Gough plays his pacifist Quaker wife.
A Timeless Parable for Modern Times
Roth is keen to highlight the enduring relevance of High Noon, originally an allegory for the McCarthy-era witch-hunts. "It's about cowardice and courage," he states. "There's a lot of cowardice in America right now... Incipient racism is being fostered by the actions of our leaders. High Noon applies to that but also to other eras."
The stage version retains the film's famous real-time structure, building tension towards the fateful noon deadline. However, Roth has navigated the distinct demands of theatre, learning that subtle cinematic details don't translate to the balcony. A key new element is the inclusion of several anachronistic songs by Bruce Springsteen, which Roth believes creates an "interesting combination."
A Career of Chocolate Box Variety
The play marks a new peak in a mountainous career. Roth won his Oscar for adapting Forrest Gump in 1995 and has earned multiple nominations for films including The Insider, Munich, Benjamin Button, and Dune. He often prefers adapting flawed source material, calling the Gump novel "farcical," but acknowledges High Noon as a glorious exception.
His collaborative history reads like a Hollywood who's who. He describes working with Martin Scorsese on Killers of the Flower Moon as a dream, noting the director's boundless creative freedom. He contrasts this with the perfectionism of David Fincher and the driven intensity of Michael Mann, with whom he is working on Heat 2.
Not all collaborations were smooth. He was famously fired by Robert Redford from The Horse Whisperer after living with the star to work on the script, and recalls the disappointment of Kevin Costner's heavily altered version of his script for The Postman, which infamously won Razzie awards.
Despite the occasional bruising experience, Roth's passion for writing is undimmed. "I love to put one word in front of the other," he says. "See if I can get the right one." This new theatrical chapter has reinvigorated him. "It's made me feel 22 again," he beams, appreciating the collaborative respect of the theatre world compared to the often dismissive film industry.
High Noon runs at the Harold Pinter Theatre in London until 6 March.
