EDWARD DMYTRYK

Bil’s rating (out of 5):  BBBB

USA, 1954.  Twentieth Century Fox.  Story by Philip Yordan, Screenplay by Richard Murphy.  Cinematography by Joseph MacDonald.  Produced by Sol C. Siegel.  Music by Leigh Harline.  Production Design by Maurice Ransford, Lyle R. Wheeler.  Costume Design by Travilla.  Film Editing by Dorothy Spencer.  

Excellent western by Edward Dmytryk and featuring a terrific performance by Spencer Tracy as a cattle baron who raids a copper smelter that is polluting his water and harming his livestock. His son (Robert Wagner) takes credit for the crime and goes to jail in place of his father, while Tracy’s other sons bicker amongst themselves.

Tracy falls gravely ill and Wagner seeks vengeance when he is released from prison, while Katy Jurado (giving a terrific performance) as Tracy’s wife stands by and tries to prevent bloodshed. Jurado was the first Mexican actress to receive an Academy Award nomination in this film (the second wasn’t until Salma Hayek for Frida in 2002), which features wonderful photography and an intelligent and thought-provoking story.

Academy Award:  Best Motion Picture Story
Nomination: Best Supporting Actress (Katy Jurado)

Golden Globe Award:  Best Film Promoting International Understanding