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Bad Day at Black Rock (1955)

In 1945 a train pulls into Black Rock, hardly even a whistlestop, and lets
Macreedy off. He wants to give a local Japanese farmer his son's war medal,
but the townsfolk will have nothing to do with him.Summary written by Ed
Stephan {stephan@cc.wwu.edu}John J. Macreedy doesn't know it, but when
he steps off the train at the jerkwater town of Black Rock, he will soon find
himself the object of fear, hatred, and even a murder plot! The altruistic Macreedy
came to Black Rock to hand over a posthumous military award to a local man
whose son had died gallantly in the Second World War. What Macreedy couldn't
know when he stepped off of that train was that the town had a shameful secret,
one that must be kept at all costs.

Directed by John Sturges

Writing credits: Howard Breslin, Don McGuire, Millard Kaufman

Cast:

Spencer Tracy ....  John J. Macreedy
Robert Ryan ....  Reno Smith
Anne Francis ....  Liz Wirth
Dean Jagger ....  Sheriff Tim Horn
Walter Brennan ....  Doc T.R. Velie Jr.
John Ericson ....  Pete
Wirth Ernest Borgnine ....  Coley Trimble
Lee Marvin ....  Hector David
Russell Collins ....  Mr. Hastings, Telegrapher
Walter Sande ....  Sam, Cafe Proprietor
Harry Harvey ....  First Train
Francis McDonald ....  Cafe Patron

Produced by Herman Hoffman ....  associate producer
Dore Schary ....  producer
Original Music by André Previn
Cinematography by William C. Mellor
Film Editing by Newell P. Kimlin
Art Direction by Malcolm Brown, Cedric Gibbons
Set Decoration by Fred M. MacLean
Edwin B. Willis      Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Joel Freeman ....  assistant director
Sound Department Wesley C. Miller ....  recording supervisor
Stunts Danny Sands ....  stunts
Other crew: Alvord Eiseman ....  color consultant   

Runtime: 81 min
Country: USA
Language: English
Color: Color (Eastmancolor)
Sound Mix: 4-Track Stereo / Mono (Western Electric Sound System)
Certification: Australia:PG / Finland:K-12 / Norway:16 /
USA:Approved (PCA #17154)
Trivia: Average Shot Length (ASL) = 10 seconds

Goofs: Plot holes: When Macreedy tries to escape town with Liz, he doesn't have
his suitcase.

Quotes: Reno Smith: I believe a man is as big as what he's seeking. I believe you're
a big man, Mr. Macreedy.
John J. Macreedy: Flattery will get you nowhere.
Reno Smith: Why would a man like you be looking for a lousy Jap farmer?
John J. Macreedy: Ohhh, dadgum, maybe I'm not so big.
Reno Smith: Oh yes you are. I believe a man is as big as what'll make him mad.
Nobody around here seems big enough to get you mad. John J. Macreedy: What makes you mad, Mr. Smith?
Reno Smith: Me? Nothing, nothing...
John J. Macreedy: Ah, you're a pretty big man yourself, then. Yet the... the
Japanese make you mad, don't they?
Reno Smith: Well, that's different.

Awards: Nominated for 3 Oscars. Another 1 win & 5 nominations

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