RELEASED IN 1955 and directed by John Sturges, "Bad Day at Black Rock" is a crime drama/mystery/western taking place in 1945 about a one-armed old man (Spencer Tracy) who travels to a remote desert town to see a man named Komoko, but is antagonized by the citizenry to the point of fearing for his life. Why are they so paranoid? What are they hiding?This is an all-star movie (also featuring Robert Ryan, Lee Marvin, Ernest Borgnine, Dean Jagger, Walter Brennan, etc.) with a big reputation. It's a slow-build crime drama interspersed with occasional thrills. But it's burdened by an unbelievable protagonist: Tracy was 54 during filming and easily looked 10-12 years older. Are we to buy the idea that he just got back from Italy fighting in WWII? Is it credible that he could so easily take down a burly antagonist with a few karate chops and judo? The stunning Anne Francis appears in a minor female role.THE FILM RUNS 81 minutes and was shot at Alabama Hill, Jamestown, Lone Pine & Culver City (studio), California; plus the Mojave Desert, Arizona. WRITERS: Millard Kaufman & Don McGuire wrote the script based on Howard Breslin's short story.GRADE: C+/B- (5.5/10)

I really can't believe it took me until 2016 to see Bad Day at Black Rock. Starring Spencer Tracy and Ernest Borgnine, two favorites, and directed by the notable John Sturges, Bad Day at Black Rock seems like a film that would have been on my cinematic radar much sooner than now. Nevertheless, I am thrilled to have finally seen Bad Day at Black Rock. The 1955 film explores a town that attempts to keep itself closed off from the world hiding a secret, and just the lengths those that live there will go when a stranger comes to town with motives they cannot discern. Themes of secrecy and isolation are heavily considered in a truly powerful way all throughout Bad Day at Black Rock.John J. Macreedy (Spencer Tracy) comes barreling into the town of Black Rock via train and is instantly warned about the tone of the town by the engineer who can't get back on the train out of there fast enough. Black Rock is the kind of town you wouldn't;t know existed unless you were looking for it, leaving the residents left to wonder, why is John Macreedy looking for it. Arriving only with a briefcase in tow, he is initially denied a hotel room, recommendation for a garage, and any pleasantries typically offered to a visitor. He thinks he might have found solace in the local sheriff until Macreedy finds out he is a drunk. At first, Macreedy is tight-lipped about the reason for his arrival, but when he does offer that he is looking for a Japanese-American farmer named Kamoko, the residents are more steadfast than ever to get rid of him. The mystery of who John Macreedy is becomes just as engaging as the mystery the residents of Black Rock are trying to hide.Excuse me while I climb onto my soapbox and sing Spencer Tracy's praises. I was surprised to read several negative audience reviews about Spencer Tracy's portrayal. Many felt as though Tracy was too old for the part, a claim which I find unfounded. People of all ages were fighting in wars in the 1950's, so Tracy's age presents no problem at all. We think of military personnel as younger on the whole, but the military is filled with people of all ages and that was no different 60 years ago. Also, I'm not sure anyone could have portrayed the cool exterior, yet understated certainty that Tracy embodied with ease. Also, kudos to a film released in 1955 for confronting post-war anti-Japanese racism, a brave decision creating a meaningful impact both in the time it was released and today. Bad Day at Black Rock was a perfect thriller keeping one engaged from the first scene to the last, and I'm completely baffled as to why this isn't one of the great most well-known classics.

This film is more than just an excellent cast. It is well directed by John Sturges and has just the right amount of tension. The viewer can not be really sure when it takes place as the film is set in a modern west. The jeep might be newer than the car, and the gasoline pump, but there is no sense getting picky here, it is a tight story.A one armed WW 2 vet arrives in a small town looking for the father of a US Vet from the Italy campaign who died in the service after receiving a silver star. He wants to give the metal to his father because the man gave his life to save him. A twist here is the US soldier was Japanese and so is his dad. When Spencer Tracy is the one armed man and he is hated in the town from the moment he arrives asking for the Japanese-American father. The longer he is there, the more a conspiracy to kill him forms. Lee Marvin plays one of the bad guys. Walter Brennan plays a Doctor/ Funeral Director. Robert Ryan is the guy who is very concerned that the stranger in town is going to expose the murder of the Japanese father he committed. This is a very good one, I enjoyed it.

American film 'Bad Day at Black Rock' begins with an express train running through Mojave desert in California.It makes an unscheduled stop at a small town which has not seen any train stop there for the last four years.This brief yet interesting description is enough to guarantee ample thrills to viewers.However,director John Sturges and his leading man Spencer Tracy contribute a lot to ensure that their film also discusses some issues of supreme importance especially the hypocrisy of small town people who would do anything to let some secrets remain buried in the ground.This is plenty of action in the film with imaginative use of hands and mouths.Apart from some good performances by Lee Marvin and Ernest Borgnine, it is actor Spencer Tracy who completely dominates the film.It is said that a leading man doesn't lose cool easily.However, no hero would keep quiet when unjustly provoked.It is precisely for this reason that he emerges as a true hero despite having a severe physical handicap.