Bad Day at Black Rock

Director John Sturges received his one and only Oscar nomination as Best Director for his tour-de-force modern-day western masterpiece of suspense and tension, "Bad Day at Black Rock." The superb cast boasts the incomparable Spencer Tracy along with Robert Ryan, Walter Brennan, Ernst Borgnine, John Ericson, Lee Marvin,Dean Jagger, and Anne Francis. The theme of xenophobia dominates this brisk, straight-forward 81-minute, widescreen thriller that qualifies as a hybrid of the social problem picture, the western, the martial arts actioneer, and the war movie. Tracy also received an Oscar nomination as the one-armed hero who finds himself caught between a rock and a hard place in Black Rock. Like the traditional western hero, the Tracy protagonist has no idea what he is facing until it is too late to scram. The introductory credit sequence of "Bad Day at Black Rock" occurs over several dynamic aerial long shots of a train racing through the arid desolation of a southwestern desert. These aerial shots and composer Andre Previn's bombastic music convey the momentous urgency of the train. Sturges told me in an interview that the aerial footage was filmed backwards with a helicopter in front of the train before it ascended. In other words, Sturges reversed the film so we find ourselves plunging out of the heavens toward a train below and suddenly confront it. Basically, "Bad Day at Black Rock" opens with this attention-getting device. Moreover, these vivid images visually establish the isolation of Black Rock and concretely provide us a feeling for the setting.As the train conductor alights with John J. Macreedy (Spencer Tracy), he observes that Black Rock's inhabitants have a "woebegone and faraway" look. The importance of the isolation is dramatized again later when Macreedy tries to summon help from beyond Black Rock. Our crippled protagonist finds himself cut off from the rest of civilization by the desert, and he cannot use a telephone or telegraph to contact the authorities because the villains control both. Consequently, Macreedy must battle the villains on their own turf as well as on their own terms without hope of outside support. Macreedy is one of those vulnerable Sturges heroes who is up to his neck in trouble from the outset.As he gets off the train, Macreedy informs the conductor he plans to spend 24 hours in Black Rock. "That could be a life time," the conductor shrugs. Neither Macreedy nor we can appreciate the conductor's ominous words. Mr. Hastings (Russell Collins), the telegraph operator, cannot believe his eyes. The Streamliner has never once stopped in Black Rock, and he assures Macreedy that somebody must have made a mistake. Macreedy's arrival in Black Rock arouses the suspicions of everybody, particularly local hunter Reno Smith. Downstairs in the hotel where Macreedy has registered, the citizens speculate about him. Sam, the café owner, comments, "He walks light for a big man." Sturges and Kaufmann introduce several details about Macreedy's character to explain and to foreshadow many of his actions when he later fights the villains. This use of incidental characterization throughout the film doesn't impede the flow of the action. Sam asks Doc Velie (Walter Brennan), the local mortician who doubles as a veterinarian, what he thinks about Macreedy.As Doc observes, Macreedy is "no salesman unless he's peddling dynamite." When Sam suggests Macreedy may be a policeman, Doc is frankly incredulous. "You ever see a cop with a stiff arm?" Nothing may be wrong with his arm, Sam argues, perhaps he is just holding onto something tight in his pocket. Now, Doc responds with sarcasm, "Like what? A pistol? A stick of TNT to blow up the whole mangy town?" Meanwhile, Hector slips up into Macreedy's room and waits for him. The two duel with words as Hector tries to prod Macreedy. Macreedy descends after his encounter with Hector and informs Pete (John Ericson) that he will remain in his new room for 24-hours. Macreedy searches for the local sheriff, Tim (Dean Jagger), but Tim refuses to give him the directions for Adobe Flats.One of Sturges' favorite scenes is the impromptu meeting Reno Smith holds outside at the railroad crossing with his conspirators. "I know those maimed guys," he refers to Macreedy. "Their minds get twisted. They put on hair shirts and act like martyrs. All of them are do-gooders, freaks, and trouble-makers." The conspirators' episode is interesting not only for the dialogue but also for the way that Sturges and lensers William C. Mellor have staged the scene outside.Against Reno Smith's advice, Liz Worth (Ann Francis) rents Macreedy an Army jeep to visit Adobe Flats. Macreedy finds wildflowers growing, but on the way back he runs into ornery Colely who tries to drive Macreedy off the road. Once he gets back into town, Macreedy explains to Reno that he lost the use of his arm in Italy during World War II and that he has come to Black Rock to see Komoko, a Japanese farmer.Smith fears Macreedy now, even more so when a telegram to L.A. provides no details about him. Macreedy feels distinctively isolated and in fear for his life. He sends a telegram to the State Police, but of course Hastings never sends it.Although he had sided with Reno and company, Pete changes his mind and arranges for Macreedy to get out of town. Liz wheels up in the jeep and Macreedy jumps in, little suspecting the surprise in store for him. The hero in "Bad Day at Black Rock" is outnumbered and his survival depends entirely on his ability to improvise as he does in the finale when he concocts a Molotov cocktail out of whiskey bottle and the jeep."Black Day at Black Rock" is a great movie with taut tension and terrific performances.

Spencer Tracy never made a bad film! This movie is haunting and scary and sad. Set in the dryist, lonelyist, and most un- inhabitable part of the desert, WWII in the 1950s. Placed there Except for rednecks! Inside of the only building left; dirty and dusty and without human warmth, even given the 10 humans who reside; it seems their only choice . The Once-a-week train arrives and departs from Hell, the WW2 Jeep in between provides transportation. Communication is sparse and important amongst folks gathered in that Brown ugly room. Stacy's character is commissioned if only to this God forsaken place to deliver a medal of honor to a Japanese American hero. One man buried under a hump of sand not so long ago, in this one place, alone. No one gave a damn. The quiet debate between those folks gathered at the lonely clanky tables even without whiskey, never fine-tunes eloquence or conversation to make right the mission of Spencer. His humanity, and intelligence is, achieved by this man with no gun, one arm and true grit. I get this movie!

"Bad Day at Black Rock" is an interesting movie. It's short -- only 81 minutes, I think. It was shot in CinemaScope. It's part modern-day western with a film noir feel to it. The cast is remarkable. Ernest Borgnine and Lee Marvin as the thugs. Robert Ryan as the bad guy. Dean Jagger and Walter Brennan are two accomplished supporting actors. Spencer Tracy as the stranger in town. There are Academy Awards winners and Oscar-nominated actors all over this movie. (In fact, Borgnine beat Tracy for the Best Actor Award that year). My only problem with the film: Spencer Tracy seems too old for the role. This is supposed to have happened right after World War II and Tracy -- with white hair -- was recently discharged from the military. In addition, I have read, he wanted to play the part as a wounded man who does not have the use of one arm. So here's Spencer, white hair, one arm, pounding on two angry young studs. Tracy is a GREAT actor, but maybe not the best choice for this role. That said, it's an entertaining movie, well directed by John Struges and beautifully filmed.

I heard about this movie while watching a show about Spencer Tracey where they interviewed people who had worked with him. Robert Ryan was one of the people interviewed. He told the story about how Tracey stole a scene from him in Bad Day at Black Rock and nothing he tried could get the scene back on his character. All Tracey did was sit there and stare at the ground and he stole the scene. At that point I decided I had to find this movie because Robert Ryan was no slouch as an actor. And luckily for me, this movie was playing on cable. Lucky me! I watched it and was hooked. You can see how frustrated Ryan was getting and it just added to the whole scene.. This is how movies used to be made -- with talent, well-written scripts, and skillful camera work. For a few years I had no problem finding it at least once a year on cable. Then nada. Thankfully, I found a copy at Amazon so I can watch it at least once a year. It is an excellent movie.

Warner Archive released this 1954 drama directed by John Sturges starring Spencer Tracy as a one-armed man and WWII veteran who arrives in a small, remote town by train looking for a Japanese man and instead finds a simmering mystery involving a group of tough locals (played by Robert Ryan, Ernest Borgnine and Lee Marvin) and murder....An HD upgrade from the 2005 DVD, porting over those extras, though nothing new was added. Good film shot in widescreen cinemascope, though it does ramble on a bit despite its 81 minutes length. Fine cast and stark desert locations makes a difference.

Good story with excellent acting but hard to believe that a situation like this could exist.Town was way too small for the diversity of characters.

Should have looked at the information on the cover BEFORE taking it off. Can't now return it. Needed the subtitles in English for my hard of hearing partner. Doh!

tremendous classic movie with pin sharp blu ray transfer, the blu ray quality is better than audiences experienced the movie in the cinema back in the day, recommended.

This film has not been available on DVD for many years so it was great to be able to see it again. Spencer Tracy is marvellous as the enigmatic hero. Thoroughly enjoyed it.

This is a timeless drama served with the ethos of a classic western. Totally undateable by genre or technology. It could just as easily be about to be made next year. Perennial values restated with regard to the 'good' or virtue, regardless of personal cost.An outstanding film fully deserving of five stars.

One of the best movies ever made Spencer Tracy at his best. Co stars Robert Ryan. Walter Brennan, lee Marvin Earnest Borgnine and more great story touching many areas. In my opinion one of the Ten best movies ever