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Bad Day at Black Rock

  • 19551955
  • PassedPassed
  • 1h 21m
IMDb RATING
7.7/10
22K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Spencer Tracy, Anne Francis, and Robert Ryan in Bad Day at Black Rock (1955)
Trailer for this mystery
Play trailer2:02
1 Video
43 Photos
  • Crime
  • Drama
  • Mystery

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

IMDb RATING
7.7/10
22K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • John Sturges
  • Writers
    • Millard Kaufman(screen play)
    • Don McGuire(adaptation)
    • Howard Breslin(based on a story by)
  • Stars
    • Spencer Tracy
    • Robert Ryan
    • Anne Francis
Top credits
  • Director
    • John Sturges
  • Writers
    • Millard Kaufman(screen play)
    • Don McGuire(adaptation)
    • Howard Breslin(based on a story by)
  • Stars
    • Spencer Tracy
    • Robert Ryan
    • Anne Francis
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 182User reviews
    • 73Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 3 Oscars
      • 4 wins & 8 nominations total

    Videos1

    Bad Day At Black Rock
    Trailer 2:02
    Bad Day At Black Rock

    Photos43

    Spencer Tracy and John Ericson in Bad Day at Black Rock (1955)
    Spencer Tracy, Walter Brennan, Lee Marvin, Russell Collins, Dean Jagger, Robert Ryan, and Walter Sande in Bad Day at Black Rock (1955)
    Spencer Tracy, Walter Brennan, and John Ericson in Bad Day at Black Rock (1955)
    Spencer Tracy, Anne Francis, and Robert Ryan in Bad Day at Black Rock (1955)
    Ernest Borgnine, Walter Brennan, Robert Ryan, and Walter Sande in Bad Day at Black Rock (1955)
    "Bad Day at Black Rock" Spencer Tracy, Lee Marvin, Ernest Borgnine 1955 MGM
    "Bad Day at Black Rock" Ernest Borgnine, Lee Marvin 1955 MGM
    "Bad Day at Black Rock" Spencer Tracy, Ernest Borgnine 1955 MGM
    "Bad Day at Black Rock" Ernest Borgnine 1955 MGM
    "Bad Day at Black Rock" Ernest Borgnine 1955 MGM
    Spencer Tracy, Ernest Borgnine, Lee Marvin, and Robert Ryan in Bad Day at Black Rock (1955)
    Spencer Tracy, Anne Francis, and Robert Ryan in Bad Day at Black Rock (1955)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Spencer Tracy
    Spencer Tracy
    • John J. Macreedyas John J. Macreedy
    Robert Ryan
    Robert Ryan
    • Reno Smithas Reno Smith
    Anne Francis
    Anne Francis
    • Liz Wirthas Liz Wirth
    Dean Jagger
    Dean Jagger
    • Tim Hornas Tim Horn
    Walter Brennan
    Walter Brennan
    • Doc Velieas Doc Velie
    John Ericson
    John Ericson
    • Pete Wirthas Pete Wirth
    Ernest Borgnine
    Ernest Borgnine
    • Coley Trimbleas Coley Trimble
    Lee Marvin
    Lee Marvin
    • Hector Davidas Hector David
    Russell Collins
    Russell Collins
    • Mr. Hastingsas Mr. Hastings
    Walter Sande
    Walter Sande
    • Samas Sam
    Walter Beaver
    • Cafe Loungeras Cafe Lounger
    • (unconfirmed)
    Billy Dix
    • Cafe Loungeras Cafe Lounger
    • (unconfirmed)
    Mickey Little
    • Cafe Loungeras Cafe Lounger
    • (unconfirmed)
    K.L. Smith
    K.L. Smith
    • Cafe Loungeras Cafe Lounger
    • (unconfirmed)
    Robert Griffin
    Robert Griffin
    • Second Train Conductoras Second Train Conductor
    • (uncredited)
    Harry Harvey
    Harry Harvey
    • First Train Conductoras First Train Conductor
    • (uncredited)
    Bobby Johnson
    • One of Two Portersas One of Two Porters
    • (uncredited)
    Francis McDonald
    Francis McDonald
    • Tall - White-haired Cafe Loungeras Tall - White-haired Cafe Lounger
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • John Sturges
    • Writers
      • Millard Kaufman(screen play)
      • Don McGuire(adaptation)
      • Howard Breslin(based on a story by)
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    From the time John J. Macreedy steps off the train in Black Rock, he feels a chill from the local residents. The town is only a speck on the map, and few strangers ever come to the place. Macreedy himself is tight-lipped about the purpose of his trip and he finds that the hotel refuses him a room, the local garage refuses to rent him a car, and the sheriff is a useless drunkard. It's apparent that the locals have something to hide, but when he finally tells them that he is there to speak to a Japanese-American farmer named Kamoko, he touches a nerve so sensitive that he will spend the next 24 hours fighting for his life. —garykmcd
    • japanese american
    • year 1945
    • post world war two
    • stranger
    • hotel
    • 90 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Taglines
      • Suddenly you realize murder is at your elbow! - and there's no way out!
    • Genres
      • Crime
      • Drama
      • Mystery
      • Thriller
      • Western
    • Certificate
      • Passed
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      John Sturges had already moved on to his next film, The Scarlet Coat (1955), so Herman Hoffman took charge of filming the opening. The plan was to shoot the train hurtling toward the audience, almost like a 3-D movie, but it would have been deadly to attempt a helicopter maneuver into the path of a speeding locomotive. Stunt flier Paul Mantz offered the perfect solution: have the train running backwards, fly the copter over the retreating engine, then project the footage in reverse. "It's a helluva shot," Sturges later said, "but I didn't make it."
    • Goofs
      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

      Coley Trimble: You're a yellow-bellied Jap lover! Am I right or wrong?

      John J. Macreedy: You're not only wrong. You're wrong at the top of your voice.

      Coley Trimble: [gets ready to scrap] You don't like my voice?

    • Alternate versions
      To receive an 'A' (PG) certificate in 1955 the UK cinema version was subject to heavy BBFC cuts. These included Macreedy striking Hector with the brass fire hose nozzle and the climactic shots of Reno on fire. Later TV showings and video releases were fully uncut.
    • Connections
      Featured in The Spencer Tracy Legacy: A Tribute by Katharine Hepburn (1986)

    User reviews182

    Review
    Top review
    A bad day, a superb film
    John Sturges directed this quintessentially tight-constructed masterpiece. This is how it was done in the good old days: nothing falls by the wayside. Tight, clear characterizations, with minimalist dialog, costume, manner, and facial expression all reflecting the inner lives of people in their self-constructed hell. Check out how Hector (Lee Marvin) uses the word "boy" to suggest racial overtones well in advance of the slowly-revealed background plot; how Macreedy (Spencer Tracy) in his dark suit and no-nonsense manner contrasts with everyone else's casual dress and edginess, perfectly reflecting his role as avenging angel; how Coley (Ernest Borgnine), trying to run Macreedy off the road, resembles (probably unintentionally) Joe McCarthy, especially as caricatured by Walt Kelly; and of course how the arch-villain, Reno Smith (Robert Ryan), suggests limitless power with his inimitable smirk and almost languid movements: he controls the town without actually doing anything overt--until Macreedy forces his hand. Nicely turned performances by other major players, too: Dean Jagger (the drunkard Sheriff Tim), Anne Frances (nervous Liz), and Walter Brennan (loquacious, self-justifying Doc). The suggestion that one man can--literally single-handedly--make a moral difference is inspiring (and how that one hand utterly confounds Coley is a nifty, low-key precursor of Bruce Lee-inspired acrobatics). This is a keeper.
    helpful•144
    27
    • pj-103
    • May 15, 2004

    FAQ3

    • If Mcreedy is one armed, how can he manage a perfecly knotted tie?
    • Was the small town of Black Rock built for the movie or was it already in place?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • February 13, 1955 (Canada)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Bad Day at Hondo
    • Filming locations
      • Alabama Hills, Lone Pine, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $1,271,000 (estimated)
    • Gross worldwide
      • $10,813
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 21 minutes
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.55 : 1

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