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Bad Day at Black Rock (7-Jan-1955)
Director: John Sturges Writers: Millard Kaufman; Don McGuire From short story: Bad Day at Hondo by Howard Breslin Music by: André Previn Producer: Dore Schary Keywords: Western, WWII John J. MacReedy arrives in the small town of Black Rock to present a posthumously-awarded medal to the Japanese-American father of a G.I. who was killed in action in the Italian campaign. He discovers a town run by corrupt officials harboring a dark secret. Tight western thriller which expertly unfolds. Nominated for Best Actor, Best Director, and Best Screenplay Oscars. Watch in widescreen version only.
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| Name | Occupation | Birth | Death | Known for |
|---|
| Ernest Borgnine |
Actor |
24-Jan-1917 |
8-Jul-2012 |
Marty |
| Walter Brennan |
Actor |
25-Jul-1894 |
21-Sep-1974 |
Three Oscars for Best Supporting Actor |
| John Ericson |
Actor |
23-Sep-1926 |
|
The Return of Jack Slade |
| Anne Francis |
Actor |
16-Sep-1930 |
2-Jan-2011 |
Forbidden Planet |
| Dean Jagger |
Actor |
7-Nov-1903 |
5-Feb-1991 |
Twelve O'Clock High |
| Lee Marvin |
Actor |
19-Feb-1924 |
29-Aug-1987 |
The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance |
| Robert Ryan |
Actor |
11-Nov-1909 |
11-Jul-1973 |
Billy Budd |
| Walter Sande |
Actor |
9-Jul-1906 |
22-Feb-1972 |
Character actor |
| Spencer Tracy |
Actor |
5-Apr-1900 |
10-Jun-1967 |
Two consecutive Best Actor Oscars |
CAST REVIEWS Review by anonymous (posted on 16-Apr-2006) One morning in 1945, for the
first time since before the war, the Southern Pacific train stops at
the southwestern desert town of Black Rock. A one-armed man named John
J. MacReedy (played by Spencer Tracy) steps off the train. This event
will have dramatic effects on the lives of everyone in the town. Those
events make up the plot of a great movie that is part mystery and part
western. If you can imagine a cross between High Noon (1952), and
Crossfire (1947) you might be picturing this movie. Bad Day at Black
Rock (1955) is an exciting film with an excellent cast whose
performances create tension, conflict, romance and mystery that all
contribute to the action of a film that effectively portrays the
contrast between real courage and the posturing of bullies. It is also
a powerful examination of the racism and crass self interest that all
too often has masqueraded behind the name of "Americanism." MacReedys
presence in Black Rock inspires uneasiness in the few residents of the
town's tumbled down buildings and surrounding desert ranches. That
unease turns to obvious fear when he asks about Komoko, a Japanese
rancher who had vanished without a trace soon after the war started. It
is clear that everyone in the town shares a terrible secret about
Komoko's disappearance. Everyone is afraid to tell MacReedy anything
because they have been terrorized into silence by rancher Reno Smith
(played by Robert Ryan in one of his best portrayals of a neurotic
character) and his two henchmen (superbly portrayed by Ernest Borgnine
and Lee Marvin). Even the local lawman (Dean Jagger in a fine
performance) is terrified of Smithand his men. Smith likens MacReedy to
a disease carrier, "Since he's arrived this town's had a fever, an
infection and it's spreading." But the towns elderly doctor (played by
Walter Brennan) disagrees, suggesting that, "Maybe this fellah
MacReedy's got the prescription" that the sick town of Black Rock
needs. Tracy plays MacReedy with such gentleness, politeness, and even
timidity that it is initially surprising that the imposing Smith should
so obviously fear MacReedy and should refer to him as a "big" man.
Smith says, "I believe a man is as big as what makes him mad. Nobody
around here seems big enough to make you mad." That Ryan is right about
the mild-mannered stranger is made clear in one of the films most
emotionally satisfying scenes, where Ernest Borgnine tries to bully
MacReedy only to be karate-chopped into submission. From that point on
we know that MacReedy is at least a match for the forces arrayed
against him. The plot moves forward to an exciting conclusion.
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