"Bad Day at Black Rock"...what a film!

[Beemerguy53]

Somehow or other, all these years, I've missed watching Bad Day at Black Rock...until last Saturday night, when TCM aired it. The cast looked terrific -- Spencer Tracy, Walter Brennan, Robert Ryan, Dean Jagger, Ernest Borgnine, and Lee Marvin -- and I figured I'd start watching it and see if it could keep my attention.

Within the first couple of minutes, this movie had me hooked...and when it ended, it occured to me that it's one of the best movies I've ever seen. It's a drama, a mystery, a modern Western, a film noir, a crime story, and a thriller, all rolled up into one. The acting, by the entire cast, is just superb. (Tracy was nominated for an Academy Award.)

After some searching, I found a trailer I could post that wouldn't give away the plot, just in case there are others here who haven't seen Bad Day at Black Rock...

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qKO7D7lHxhY[/ame]

 

[Rustyt1953]

Great ensemble. I'll bet I've seen that movie at least a couple of dozen times.

 

[Beemerguy53]

Great ensemble. I'll bet I've seen that movie at least a couple of dozen times.

I was so impressed I bought a Blu-Ray of it, and watched it again last night with one of my sons. He's always skeptical when his dad talks about how good some old movie he's never heard of is, but he too was hooked from the first minutes...

 

[raljr1]

Watched it a month or so ago...great movie.

 

[Old 44 Guy]

First time I saw it was in 1956 at a movie house. Great film with many great actors that should have won an Oscar. Now on reruns and gets great revues. Too Bad.

 

[boykinlp]

Great movie, I watched it a couple of years ago on a whim. I thoroughly enjoyed it. You are right, that trailer doesn't give anything away!
Larry

 

[rockquarry]

That class of actors doesn't exist these days, nor are there directors like John Sturges, easily the best action film director ever. Excellent movie, but probably not the best effort of any of the actors or the director.

 

[Onomea]

Hey, thanks for the tip! I've heard of the movie, but have never watched it. Liked the preview!

Gonna watch it!

 

[Truckman]

Great movie!...I need to order the DVD for that one......Ben

 

[Mark 40]

Truly great film, look fwd to watching again.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

The movie title evolved into a saying. "Bad day at black rock". I have herad it spoken when someone had a BAD day.

Loved it when Spencer whipped Ernest.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

The movie title evolved into a saying. "Bad day at black rock". I have heard it spoken when someone had a BAD day.

Loved it when Spencer whipped Ernest.

 

[16thVACav]

Thanks for the tip - I'm downloading the movie for later viewing.

 

[Chuck24]

Some very interesting trivia about making the movie on IMDB

 

[88IROC]

Now go find and watch "Judgement at Nuremberg". Another one of Tracy's finest and also with Burt Lancaster, Maximillian Schell, Richard Widmark, Judy Garland, Montgomery Clift, Marlene Dietrich, Werner Klemperer and the-guy-who-played SS Major Hochstetter in Hogan's Heroes. Oh, and, pre-Star...Trek...William...Shatner.

 

[Rustyt1953]

Now go find and watch "Judgement at Nuremberg". Another one of Tracy's finest and also with Burt Lancaster, Maximillian Schell, Richard Widmark, Judy Garland, Montgomery Clift, Marlene Dietrich, Werner Klemperer and the-guy-who-played SS Major Hochstetter in Hogan's Heroes. Oh, and, pre-Star...Trek...William...Shatner.

Epic piece of work. I have a copy of it and occasionally, on nights when Ruthie is working late and the boys are sleeping over at their cousins' house I will grab a few beverages and savor every frame.

It was also on shouldazagged's top ten list.

 

[Beemerguy53]

Now go find and watch "Judgement at Nuremberg". Another one of Tracy's finest and also with Burt Lancaster, Maximillian Schell, Richard Widmark, Judy Garland, Montgomery Clift, Marlene Dietrich, Werner Klemperer and the-guy-who-played SS Major Hochstetter in Hogan's Heroes. Oh, and, pre-Star...Trek...William...Shatner.

It's one of my favorite films...truly one of the finest and noblest movies Hollywood has ever produced. I had the DVD (and a VHS copy before that) and have seen it more times than I can remember over the years.

This was the first time the American public en masse had been exposed to the videos taken when the concentration camps were liberated, and it was, to say the least, shocking for a lot of folks. The performances in this movie by the various cast members are just superb, especially Judy Garland and Montgomery Clift. And Spencer Tracy's summation of the verdict, in the closing minutes of the film, is unforgettable.

(As an aside, in 2015 I was able to visit the actual courtroom where the trials took place. The Palace of Justice in Nuremberg is still a courts building, and the courtroom is in regular use. The orientation of the seats has been changed, but there is an exhibit there with extensive information on the trials. Photos below...)

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N3BwK51YFgQ[/ame]

 

[Rustyt1953]

My dad was part of the Army of Occupation. He always had a hard time watching Judgement at Nuremberg but he would encourage me and my brother to watch and learn.

Later he was a candy bomber for the duration of the BAL.

He took most of his experiences to the grave.

 

[Ugly Hombre]

Man I miss old style American films! good thing is they are like a cheap time machine- for the price of a DVD, you can go back to the old America.

Will order BDABR soon- thanks!

 

[Onomea]

Hey, thanks for the tip! I've heard of the movie, but have never watched it. Liked the preview!

Gonna watch it!

Excellent movie.