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Old 18th April 2021, 09:57 PM
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Bad Day at Black Rock (1955)

When is a western not a western? The answer is when it's John Sturges' Bad Day at Black Rock. A film that although set in a small dirt water desert town straight out of 1879 brings elements of film noir to proceedings.

Starring Spencer Tracy as a WWII veteran searching for a man named Komoko. Just the man's name brings out the worst in the town's residents including Robert Ryan, Walter Brennan, Ernest Borgnine and Lee Marvin who all appear to have a secret to hide and will use intimidation and violence to protect it.

Although not an action packed affair the superbly devised script allows suspense to build from the off as Ryan and co goad Tracy into action so they can kill him claiming self defence to the paid off sheriff (Dean Jagger). There's a delightfully tense atmosphere throughout which culminates in a terrifically cool sequence in a bar as Borgnine picks a fight with Tracy under the watchful gaze of Ryan.

So for anyone looking for a classic film noir playing out under a baking desert sun then Bad Day at Black Rock is the movie for you.

Watched via the HMV Premium Collection Blu-ray.
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