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IMDbPro

Bad Day at Black Rock

  • 1955
  • Passed
  • 1h 21m
IMDb RATING
7.7/10
23K
YOUR RATING
Spencer Tracy, Anne Francis, and Robert Ryan in Bad Day at Black Rock (1955)
Trailer for this mystery
Play trailer2:02
1 Video
47 Photos
CrimeDramaMystery

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.

  • Director
    • John Sturges
  • Writers
    • Millard Kaufman
    • Don McGuire
    • Howard Breslin
  • Stars
    • Spencer Tracy
    • Robert Ryan
    • Anne Francis
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    7.7/10
    23K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • John Sturges
    • Writers
      • Millard Kaufman
      • Don McGuire
      • Howard Breslin
    • Stars
      • Spencer Tracy
      • Robert Ryan
      • Anne Francis
    • 192User reviews
    • 79Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 3 Oscars
      • 4 wins & 8 nominations total

    Videos1

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

    Photos47

    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
    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)
    Bad Day at Black Rock (1955)
    "Bad Day at Black Rock" (Lobby Card) Spencer Tracy 1955 MGM

    Top cast

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

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    Storyline

    Edit

    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 reviews192

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    Tense moral fable
    For the first time in 4 years the train stops at the small desert town of Black Rock. An one armed war veteran gets off looking for a man whose name causes hostility among the residents of the town, led by Reno Smith. Macreedy digs deeper to find a town hiding a shameful secret that they were too apathetic to deal with. But will they stand up now?

    Most people will tell you this film is famous because it was one of the first times an American film acknowledged that, after Pearl Harbour, oriental Americans were abused and treated badly. However to me this film is a damnation to those who stand back and refuse to take a stand against wrong doing. The whole plot is hinged on whether or not people ill stand up and do the right thing with Macreedy. The film plays well as a moral fable but also as a tense thriller and both are enjoyable.

    The film is quite short, but builds well from hostile locals to eventual violence and confrontation in the desert. The moral of taking a stand is weaved into it well without taking away from the main drama and tension. It isn't perfect as it is a bit simplified but in the desert heat of the small town the tension is really well recreated.

    The cast is surprisingly deep in hindsight. Tracy is manners himself as the man who gets more irate by the apathy around him as he gets to uncover more and more of the town. Ryan is cool but a little too inhuman for my tastes. Jagger and Brennan are suitably trapped in their performances and represent those happy to watch bad things happen if they get a quiet life. In retrospect Borgnine and Marvin add star power and do well with what could have been just thug/heavy roles.

    Overall this film worked for me on several levels. The heat of the desert adds to the tension in the actual drama story itself. However it also works as a moral fable with a very clear message – stand up for what is right or watch what you believe slip away at an alarming rate.
    helpful•67
    24
    • bob the moo
    • Nov 9, 2002

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    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

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

    Technical specs

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

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    Spencer Tracy, Anne Francis, and Robert Ryan in Bad Day at Black Rock (1955)
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