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Not a western, this 1955 movie does take place in a small town in the post WW2 Southwest. It starts out strong when a passenger train appears to be headed straight toward us on the screen. Its destination is Black Rock, a town where nothing ever happens, but this time something did. This is a story of racial profiling before this country even knew what racial profiling was all about--not of Arabs nor Mexicans. Stay tuned. Descending on the stool placed by the porter on the concrete next to the train, John Macready (Spencer Tracy) makes a bold entrance. He is not welcome, however. Denied a room at the hotel, denied a cab, he is seen as a suspicious stranger by the townspeople: Sheriff Tim Horn (Dean Jagger), Reno Smith (Robert Ryan), Hector David (Lee Marvin), Liz Wirth (Anne Francis), Pete Wirth (John Ericsson), and Coley Trimble (Ernest Borgnine). And when Macready announces that he wants to see Mr. Komoto in Adobe Flats, Macready's life is jeopardized. This movie tells its story in only 81 minutes. After the 1970s, it would have been only a TV movie. But it poses 3 questions: (1) Why is the mysterious stranger in town? (2) Why are the townspeople acting like this? and (3) What happened to Mr. Komoto? This movie was nominated for 3 Academy Awards: Best Actor (Spencer Tracy), Best Director (John Sturges), and Best Screenplay. It won none. However, Spencer Tracy won Best Actor at the Cannes Film Festival. Ironically, Ernest Borgnine, in this movie as a bad guy, won the Best Actor Oscar for "Marty," where he is a nice guy. At the end of the movie, the passenger train arrives again. The puzzled conductor announces that this is the first time that the train has stopped at Black Rock. And John Macready replies, "No, it is the second."Read full review
This is film noir at its best even tho' it is incolour!! Everyone who is in make a specracular ensemble cast... Particulaly Spencer Tracy and Ernest Borgnine,!!! Nw I inow there are those out there whom would say therwise but this is also A Message film and the musical score is truly magicient....
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: New
What can you say? Classic, Classic Film!!!! With an exceptional cast, the story still plays as good as it did the first time I saw it as a youngster. Spencer Tracy is cool and calm in an ever intensifying situation. His confident mannerism is actually what helps to undo the villains in this plot. If you've never seen it, it has a great element of drama that will hold your attention. For the movie buff, it's just enjoyable classic cinema. They just don't make like this anymore.
Just an old favorite movie that used to come on television infrequently. I bought it on VHS many years ago and it finally deteriorated with use and time. I decided to find it on DVD. That won't wear out, right? So now I have a DVD of Bad Day at Black Rock. Is there a Blu-Ray available? Might have to upgrade again!! For now this DVD works awesome!
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
"Bad Day At Black Rock" is a flawless excellent movie. I first saw it when I was 10 and it has become one of my favorite movies of all time!
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
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