#howard breslin

[gregorygalloway]

Bad Day at Black Rock was released on 7 January 1955.

Based on Howard Breslin's 1947 short story, "Bad Day at Honda," Millard Kaufman and Don McGuire wrote the screenplay, and John Sturges directed.

Spencer Tracy was 54 years old at the time of the shooting (much older than the protagonist of the short story, and too old to plausibly be a WWII vet) and tried to back out of the picture, but remained only after producer Dore Schary assured Tracy that he would be sued for breaking his contract. Tracy was nominated for his 5th Academy Award for his performance.

Bad Day at Black Rock was nominated for Best Picture, as well as Best Adapted Screenplay.

[theoscarsproject]

Bad Day at Black Rock (1955). A one-handed stranger comes to a tiny town possessing a terrible past they want to keep secret, by violent means if necessary.

This is a fun and unusual take on the western, inventively told, with a taut plot and some genuinely great characters. Spencer Tracy is typically good in the role, even if his lack of a hand feels, a, a little irrelevant, and b, hilariously done as he’s obviously just balled his hand up in his sleeve. Still, it’s a good thriller, and one worth the watch. 7.5/10.