Bad Day at Black Rock

1955, Movie, 1h 21min

Ace genre craftsman John Sturges directs Spencer Tracy and Robert Ryan in this taut western noir. Tracy is the one-armed war veteran John J. Macreedy, who arrives in the remote desert outpost of Black Rock in search of a Japanese American man. As the mysterious Macreedy’s presence in the town stirs up hostility and suspicion among the locals, he becomes increasingly convinced that they may be covering up a dark secret. The striking CinemaScope compositions, expertly handled action (witness Tracy’s karate technique), and impassioned antiracist message come together in one of the finest and most morally courageous thrillers of the 1950s.

Country: United States

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IMDb rating

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7.7

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8.0

Reviews

Critic Kim Newman

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In terms of taut drama. 'Black Rock' writes the book.

Read full review at Empire

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In the thriller "Bad Day at Black Rock," Spencer Tracy plays John MacReedy, a one-armed veteran who visits the isolated town of Black Rock to find the father of a Japanese-American soldier who saved his life during World War II. The townspeople are hostile towards MacReedy, and he soon discovers that they are hiding a dark secret related to the murder of a Japanese-American farmer. Despite threats and intimidation, MacReedy remains determined to uncover the truth and seek justice. The movie explores themes of racism, xenophobia, and the consequences of keeping secrets. With a star-studded cast, including Robert Ryan and Ernest Borgnine, "Bad Day at Black Rock" is a suspenseful and thought-provoking classic.

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What movies are similar to Bad Day at Black Rock? Toggle content

Some movies that have similar genres and were produced around the same time as Bad Day at Black Rock include In a Lonely Place, Suddenly, Last Summer, The House on Telegraph Hill, Mr. Arkadin, Passport to Treason, The Late Edwina Black.