Review of Bad Day at Black Rock (1955) by Andy A — 26 Aug 2009

I'd never heard of this until it was recommended to me. It's an engaging if not small-scale drama with a plot that would seem more at home with the Civil Rights era South than a town in middle-of-nowhere, AZ.

Sturges paints a quaint but hostile portrait of small townsfolk pitted against a lone outsider, played by the determined (not to mention tough-as-nails) Spencer Tracey. It's not entirely without its predictable moments but for the most part the western setting and the surprisingly star-studded cast work to create a good sense of isolation and mystique.

The one or two minor twists on audience expectations also put some nice icing on the cake, making this subtle ride an enjoyable, if not short-lived, experience (wasn't expectin those karate chops!).