Bad Day at Black Rock (1955)

Director:

John Sturges

Writers:

Howard Breslin (story)
Don McGuire (adaptation)
(more)

Release Date:

7 January 1955 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Thriller | Western

Tagline:

Suddenly you realize murder is at your elbow! - and there's no way out!

Plot:

A one handed stranger comes to a tiny town possessing a terrible past they want to keep secret, by violent means if necessary.

Plot Keywords:

Silence Conspiracy | Provocation | Color In Title | Beautiful Woman | Stranger

Awards:

Nominated for 3 Oscars. Another 1 win & 5 nominations

Cast

Spencer Tracy	...	John J. Macreedy
Robert Ryan	...	Reno Smith
Anne Francis	...	Liz Wirth
Dean Jagger	...	Sheriff Tim Horn
Walter Brennan	...	Doc T.R. Velie Jr.
John Ericson	...	Pete Wirth
Ernest Borgnine	...	Coley Trimble
Lee Marvin	...	Hector David
Russell Collins	...	Mr. Hastings, Telegrapher
Walter Sande	...	Sam, Cafe Proprietor
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Walter Beaver	...	Franklin Krool (uncredited)
Billy Dix	...	Ron Bentham (uncredited)
Robert Griffin	...	Second Train Conductor (uncredited)
Harry Harvey	...	First Train Conductor (uncredited)
Bobby Johnson	...	Porter (uncredited)
Mickey Little	...	T.J. (uncredited)
Francis McDonald	...	Walt Murty Cafe Patron (uncredited)
K.L. Smith	...	Sterling Lenard (uncredited)

Directed by
John Sturges

Writing credits
Howard Breslin		(story "Bad Day at Hondo")
Don McGuire		(adaptation)
Millard Kaufman		(writer)

Produced by
Herman Hoffman	....	associate producer
Dore Schary	....	producer

Original Music by
André Previn

Cinematography by
William C. Mellor

Film Editing by
Newell P. Kimlin

Art Direction by
Malcolm Brown
Cedric Gibbons

Set Decoration by
Fred M. MacLean		(as Fred MacLean)
Edwin B. Willis

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Joel Freeman	....	assistant director

Sound Department
Wesley C. Miller	....	recording supervisor

Stunts
Danny Sands	....	stunts (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Alvord Eiseman	....	color consultant

Production Companies

• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Distributors

• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1955) (USA) (theatrical)
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1955) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1955) (France) (theatrical)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1964) (USA) (TV) (first airing)
• Warner Home Video (2005) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2006) (Germany) (DVD)
• Living Colour Entertainment (2008) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Criterion Collection, The (USA) (laserdisc)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (199?) (USA) (VHS) (pan/scan)

Other Companies

• Turner Entertainment  package design

Also Known As:

Bad Day at Hondo (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

81 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.55 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (35 mm optical prints) (Western Electric Sound System) | 4-Track Stereo (35 mm magnetic prints)

Certification:

West Germany:12 (f) | Australia:PG | Finland:K-12 | Norway:16 | USA:Approved (PCA #17154)

Filming Locations:

Alabama Hills, Lone Pine, California, USA

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Trivia:

In the original short story, MacReedy brandishes a Beretta and brags of his prowess with it, but in the movie, he uses judo - an idea meant to suggest that MacReedy is Japanese-American.

Goofs:

Miscellaneous: As the train approaches the town, the horn blows twice, which is the signal for starting up. The mandatory signal for a grade crossing (long, long, short, long) is never blown, although one clearly exists. When the train departs, the conductor makes a confused hand signal to the engineer resembling the horizontal motion that means "stop" rather than the vertical motion that means "go". The engineer never responds with the "long, long" starting signal.

Quotes:

Reno Smith: I believe a man is as big as what he's seeking. I believe you're a big man, Mr. Macreedy.
John J. Macreedy: Flattery will get you nowhere.
Reno Smith: Why would a man like you be looking for a lousy Jap farmer?
John J. Macreedy: Ohhh, dadgum, maybe I'm not so big.
Reno Smith: Oh yes you are. I believe a man is as big as what'll make him mad. Nobody around here seems big enough to get you mad.
John J. Macreedy: What makes you mad, Mr. Smith?
Reno Smith: Me? Nothing, nothing...
John J. Macreedy: Ah, you're a pretty big man yourself, then. Yet the... the Japanese make you mad, don't they?
Reno Smith: Well, that's different.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Crack II, El (1983)

A Classic

A film of rare economy, elegance and stillness. Pretentious as it may sound, there's a perfect balance of tension and space about this film. Not a word or scene or character is wasted or unnecessary.

The other reviewers here give a plot outline and performance details. Tracy dominates the picture, his black and white appearance setting out the clarity of his moral position. The other main presence in this classic picture is the silence. Sturges SHOWS us silence, and what denial can do to a community.

I'd just like to make a recommendation to those who think that great cinema need sound and action - watch Bad Day at Black Rock, and sink yourself into its opening emptiness and cut-to-the-bone story.

9/10