Review of Bad Day at Black Rock (1955) by Jay N — 21 Jan 2008

This movie was ahead of it's time and really dosen't recieve enough credit from movie critics in general. A definite high example of a new shift that was taking place in Hollywood in the fifties.Movies that confronted more directly social and moral.

Issues.

Wonderful cast of top notch players headed up by America's answer to Olivier, Spencer Tracy!

One armed stranger comes to town and just by virtue of his presents unerves the entire little town. Everyone is forced into revealing their own complicity in a past evil event.

Can't say enough about Tracy's quiet, non-confrontational hero. Plays it with such class! As with any great Hollywood hero he can go up against any bad guy with one arm tied behind his back.

Cinemasope colour and picture is lush beautiful to the eye.

This is a very high quality social psychological thriller and I highly recommend it to anyone who hasn't seen it because its message and story still holds up quite well.I really think it's not stretching things to say this belongs in a top hundred flicks of all time and definitely the most overlooked and underestimated films!