Bad Day at Black Rock
1955 · Movie · NR · 81 min · ★ 7.3 · 92% critics
A one-armed war veteran arrives in the isolated desert town of Black Rock after stepping off a train. As he asks questions, the community’s hostility, secrecy, and a history of wrongdoing start to surface—turning his visit into a tense mystery tied to a murder.
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Details
- Years
- 1955
- Release date
- 1955-01-13
- Language
- English
- Rated
- NR
- Runtime
- 81 min
- Critic score
- 92/100
- TMDB rating
- 7.3/10 (419 votes)
About
You’ll likely enjoy Bad Day at Black Rock if you like suspenseful small-town mysteries with a strong social edge and persistent tension, like In the Heat of the Night or 3:10 to Yuma; Not for you if you prefer upbeat, straightforward Westerns.
Pros: tense mystery; standout lead; memorable town vibe | Cons: sparse female role; some dislike villains; pacing can drag
Themes
- film noir
- murder
- racism
- desert
- based on short story
- post world war ii
- southwestern u.s.
- one armed man
- japanese american
- 1940s
Awards & recognition
- National Board of Review: Top Ten Films
- Academy Award — Best Actor · 1956 · nominated
- Academy Award — Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay · 1956 · nominated
- Academy Award — Best Director · 1956 · nominated
Cast & crew
Spencer Tracy
as John J. Macreedy
Robert Ryan
as Reno Smith
Walter Brennan
as Doc T.R. Velie Jr.
Lee Marvin
as Hector David
Dean Jagger
as Tim Horn
Anne Francis
as Liz Wirth
John Ericson
as Pete Wirth
Ernest Borgnine
as Coley Trimble
Russell Collins
as Mr. Hastings
Walter Sande
as Sam
Directed by John Sturges