BBBBB

(out of 5)

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When army veteran Spencer Tracy gets off the train in dusty Black Rock, a town in the middle of nowhere, he starts asking around about a Japanese resident of the town. The man in question is an old friend of his, someone he fought with in battle and now would like to give a war medal to that was never collected when presented to him. From the moment Tracy starts asking questions, the townspeople react with fear and refuse to talk to him, prompting him to wonder just what has happened to the fellow in question. This intelligent, deeply affecting examination of American racism is both a brilliant film on an intellectual level and a very exciting drama with crackling suspense and brilliant acting. Tracy is at his best, and the supporting cast couldn’t be better.

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USA, 1955

Directed by John Sturges

Screenplay by Millard Kaufman, adaptation by Don McGuire, based on a story by Howard Breslin

Cinematography by William C. Mellor

Produced by Dore Schary

Music by Andre Previn

Production Design by Malcolm Brown, Cedric Gibbons

Film Editing by Newell P. Kimlin

Film Festivals:  Cannes 1955

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Cast Tags:  Anne Francis, Dean Jagger, Ernest Borgnine, John Ericson, Lee Marvin, Robert Ryan, Russell Collins, Spencer Tracy, Walter Brennan, Walter Sande

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Academy Award Nominations
Best Actor (Spencer Tracy as “John J. Macreedy”)
Best Directing (John Sturges)
Best Writing (Screenplay) (Millard Kaufman)

National Board Of Review Award
Top Ten Films

Cannes Film Festival Award
Best Actor (Spencer Tracy) (tie)

Writers Guild Award Nomination
Best Written American Drama

Directors Guild Award Nomination
Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures (John Sturges)

British Academy Award Nominations
Best Film From Any Source
UN Award

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