Tribute to a Bad Man (1956)

53% of users liked it
(215 ratings)

The catch-all title Tribute to a Bad Man had been floating around MGM for years (at one point, it was the working title for The Bad and the Beautiful) before it was finally affixed to this big-budget western. Originally intended as a vehicle for Spencer Tracy, the film was recast with James Cagney… More The catch-all title Tribute to a Bad Man had been floating around MGM for years (at one point, it was the working title for The Bad and the Beautiful) before it was finally affixed to this big-budget western. Originally intended as a vehicle for Spencer Tracy, the film was recast with James Cagney when Tracy walked out of his MGM contract. Cagney stars as no-nonsense land baron Jeremy Rodock, who plays by his own rules, his own sense of justice and his own code of honor. Young cowhand Steve Miller (Don Dubbins) learns the hard way what it means to incur Rodock's wrath when he falls in love with Jocasta Constantine (Irene Papas), whom Rodock considers his own personal property. Through the example of the even-tempered Miller, however, Rodock rediscovers his own essential humanity. The film's "money scene" takes place when Rodock punishes a group of scraggly horse thieves by forcing them to march barefoot through the sagebrush. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 39 min.
Directed By: Robert Wise
Written By: Michael Blankfort
Genres: Western, Classics

In Theaters: Apr 1, 1956 Wide
On DVD: May 18, 1994

Critic Reviews

Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
Earns its kudos by showing the rough-and-tumble everyday working life of the cowboy.

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Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

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Featured Audience Ratings

jay n

Cagney elevates this western as a hard driving ranch master who metes out prarie justice. Papas is strong as the love interest of two men but Dubbins is a non-entity as the second lead and hurts the film.

Cast

            James Cagney as Jeremy Rodock

            Don Dubbins as Steve Miller

            Stephen McNally as McNulty

            Irene Papas as Jocasta Constantine

            Vic Morrow as Lars Peterson

            James Griffith as Barjak

            Lee Van Cleef as Fat Jones

            Onslow Stevens as Hearn

            James Bell as L.A. Peterson

            Jeanette Nolan as Mrs. L.A. Peterson

            Chubby Johnson as Baldy

            Royal Dano as Abe

            Peter Chong as Cooky

            Billy Dix as Cowboy

            Roy Engel as Second buyer

            John Halloran as Cowboy

            J. Anthony Hughes as First buyer

            Tom London as Cowboy

            James McCallion as Shorty

            Dennis Moore as Cowboy

            Bud Osborne as Cowboy

            Carl Pitti as Tom

            Buddy Roosevelt as Cowboy

            Clint Sharp as Red

            Charles Anthony Hughes as First Buyer
See full cast