Tribute to a Bad Man 1956

imdb-logo 6.7 / 10

Tribute to a Bad Man

Jeremy Rodock is a tough horse rancher who strings up rustlers soon as look at them. Fresh out of Pennsylvania, Steve Miller finds it hard to get used to Rodock's ways, although he takes an immediate shine to his Greek girl Jocasta.

Jeremy Rodock is a tough horse rancher who strings up rustlers soon as look at them. Fresh out of Pennsylvania, Steve Miller finds it hard to get used to Rodock's ways, although he takes an immediate shine to his Greek girl Jocasta.

Videos & Photos

All 1 Videos & 7 Photos

... Jeremy Rodack

... Steve Miller

... Jocasta Constantine

... Lars Peterson

User reviews

See All 1 Reviews

23 Jun 2021 by John Chard

Jeremy Rodock’s Valley. Tribute to a Bad Man is directed by Robert Wise and adapted to screenplay by Michael Blankfort from the short story Hanging’s for the Lucky written by Jack Schaefer. A CinemaScope/Eastman Color production, it stars James Cagney, Don Dubbins, Stephen McNally and Irene Papas. Music is by Miklós Rózsa and cinematography by Robert Surtees. Jeremy Rodock (Cagney) is a no nonsense rancher whose ruthless hold on his considerable spread of land includes hanging rustlers without trial or sentence. When young Steve Millar (Dubbins) helps Rodock in a time of need, he is offered work on the ranch. But when his Greek mistress Jocasta Constantine (Papas) attracts interest from Steve and wrangler McNulty (McNally), it forces Rodock into even darker shades of his character. Following on from the wonderful Run for Cover the previous year, Cagney returned to the Western arena for the last time for Tribute to a Bad Man, and what a fitting picture on which to leave the West. The film encountered problems in early production when Spencer Tracy had a sulk and walked off of the picture. So in came Cagney. Steve Millar was being played by Robert Francis, but the actor was tragically killed in a plane crash, so in stepped Dubbins. Wise’s film is essentially a coming of age frontier Western, though it concerns two male characters coming of age at different places in their life. Millar is the young pup who has come West to seek employment and meaning in his life, Rodock is hard-bitten, grizzled and can’t see further than his own pig-headed beliefs. Rodock will either have to change his ways, wake up and smell the coffee, or risk losing everything. Will Rodock come through? Can an old dog be taught new psychological tricks? When he once again deals out his own brand of justice he has surely gone too far this time? It also opens up an old rivalry wound that will ultimately define all involved. What is in store for Millar? Once his eyes have been opened and he sees that cowboy life can actually be harsh, as can his young emotions. Then there is the beautiful Jocasta, a woman ashamed of her past life back in Cheyenne, forever grateful to Rodock for taking her away from that life. The age difference between the two is considerable, but their relationship is based on trust, loyalty and realism. That is until the equilibrium is upset… Technically it’s a sumptuous production, where even if the thematics of the story doesn’t sound like your thing, it’s a film worth spending time with just to see Surtees’ Scope photography and hear Rózsa’s score. The former brings the striking Colorado Rockies to life with some breath taking distinction, while the latter provides music that positively swells then swirls around the magnificent back drop. With Cagney on mesmerising form, Papas and Dubbins not letting their inexperience affect the picture (Cagney took both under his wing), and Wise stringing it together as a knowing character based tapestry, it rounds out as a darn great and beautiful Oater. 8/10

Producers:

Sam Zimbalist

Genres:

Western

Release Date:

Mar 30, 1956 (United States)

Run Time:

1hr 35`

MMPA Rating:

NR

Original Language:

English

Production Countries:

United States

Status:

Released

Related Movies To

Tribute to a Bad Man

Write Review

Found 1 reviews in total

23 Jun 2021 by John Chard

Jeremy Rodock’s Valley. Tribute to a Bad Man is directed by Robert Wise and adapted to screenplay by Michael Blankfort from the short story Hanging’s for the Lucky written by Jack Schaefer. A CinemaScope/Eastman Color production, it stars James Cagney, Don Dubbins, Stephen McNally and Irene Papas. Music is by Miklós Rózsa and cinematography by Robert Surtees. Jeremy Rodock (Cagney) is a no nonsense rancher whose ruthless hold on his considerable spread of land includes hanging rustlers without trial or sentence. When young Steve Millar (Dubbins) helps Rodock in a time of need, he is offered work on the ranch. But when his Greek mistress Jocasta Constantine (Papas) attracts interest from Steve and wrangler McNulty (McNally), it forces Rodock into even darker shades of his character. Following on from the wonderful Run for Cover the previous year, Cagney returned to the Western arena for the last time for Tribute to a Bad Man, and what a fitting picture on which to leave the West. The film encountered problems in early production when Spencer Tracy had a sulk and walked off of the picture. So in came Cagney. Steve Millar was being played by Robert Francis, but the actor was tragically killed in a plane crash, so in stepped Dubbins. Wise’s film is essentially a coming of age frontier Western, though it concerns two male characters coming of age at different places in their life. Millar is the young pup who has come West to seek employment and meaning in his life, Rodock is hard-bitten, grizzled and can’t see further than his own pig-headed beliefs. Rodock will either have to change his ways, wake up and smell the coffee, or risk losing everything. Will Rodock come through? Can an old dog be taught new psychological tricks? When he once again deals out his own brand of justice he has surely gone too far this time? It also opens up an old rivalry wound that will ultimately define all involved. What is in store for Millar? Once his eyes have been opened and he sees that cowboy life can actually be harsh, as can his young emotions. Then there is the beautiful Jocasta, a woman ashamed of her past life back in Cheyenne, forever grateful to Rodock for taking her away from that life. The age difference between the two is considerable, but their relationship is based on trust, loyalty and realism. That is until the equilibrium is upset… Technically it’s a sumptuous production, where even if the thematics of the story doesn’t sound like your thing, it’s a film worth spending time with just to see Surtees’ Scope photography and hear Rózsa’s score. The former brings the striking Colorado Rockies to life with some breath taking distinction, while the latter provides music that positively swells then swirls around the magnificent back drop. With Cagney on mesmerising form, Papas and Dubbins not letting their inexperience affect the picture (Cagney took both under his wing), and Wise stringing it together as a knowing character based tapestry, it rounds out as a darn great and beautiful Oater. 8/10

Cast & Crew of

Tribute to a Bad Man

Directors & Credit Writers

... Assistant Director

... Director

Cast

... Jeremy Rodack

... Steve Miller

... Jocasta Constantine

... Lars Peterson

... L.A. Peterson

... Mrs. L.A. Peterson

... Fat Jones

... Cooky

Produced By

... Producer

Videos & Photos of

Tribute to a Bad Man

Videos ( 1)

Photos ( 7 )

Related Movies To

Tribute to a Bad Man

Found 12 Movies in total

poster-Redeeming Love
Redeeming Love (2022)

6.7 /10

A retelling of the biblical book of Hosea set against the backdrop of the California Gold Rush of 1850.

Run Time: 2hr 14` . MMPA: PG-13 . Release: 21 Jan 2022

Director: D. J. Caruso

Producer: Cindy Bond , Roma Downey , Francine Rivers

Stars: Abigail Cowen , Tom Lewis , Eric Dane , Famke Janssen , Logan Marshall-Green , Nina Dobrev

poster-Rango
Rango (2011)

7.2 /10

When Rango, a lost family pet, accidentally winds up in the gritty, gun-slinging town of Dirt, the less-than-courageous lizard suddenly finds he stands out. Welcomed as the last hope the town has been waiting for, new Sheriff Rango is forced to play his new role to the hilt.

Run Time: 1hr 52` . MMPA: PG . Release: 02 Mar 2011

Director: Matt Neapolitan , Lam Nguyen , Adam Schnitzer

Producer: Tim Headington , Devin Toft , Ben Rosenblatt

Stars: Johnny Depp , Isla Fisher , Ned Beatty , Bill Nighy , Abigail Breslin , Alfred Molina

poster-Dead for a Dollar
Dead for a Dollar (2022)

5.4 /10

In 1897, veteran bounty hunter Max Borlund is deep into Mexico where he encounters professional gambler and outlaw Joe Cribbens — a sworn enemy he sent to prison years before. Max is on a mission to find and return Rachel Kidd, the wife of a wealthy businessman, who as the story is told to Max, has been abducted by Buffalo Soldier Elijah Jones. Max is ultimately faced with a showdown to save honor.

Run Time: 1hr 46` . MMPA: R . Release: 30 Sep 2022

Director: Carly James , Scott Corban Sikma , Walter Hill

Producer: Neil Dunn , Susie Go , Francesca Aiassa

Stars: Christoph Waltz , Willem Dafoe , Rachel Brosnahan , Hamish Linklater , Benjamin Bratt , Guy Burnet

poster-Tombstone
Tombstone (1993)

7.8 /10

Legendary marshal Wyatt Earp, now a weary gunfighter, joins his brothers Morgan and Virgil to pursue their collective fortune in the thriving mining town of Tombstone. But Earp is forced to don a badge again and get help from his notorious pal Doc Holliday when a gang of renegade brigands and rustlers begins terrorizing the town.

Run Time: 2hr 10` . MMPA: R . Release: 25 Dec 1993

Director: Vincent J. McEveety , Matthew Feitshans , Mary Wright

Producer: Patt McCurdy , Lauren Ross , James Jacks

Stars: Kurt Russell , Val Kilmer , Sam Elliott , Bill Paxton , Powers Boothe , Michael Biehn

poster-The Hateful Eight
The Hateful Eight (2015)

7.8 /10

Bounty hunters seek shelter from a raging blizzard and get caught up in a plot of betrayal and deception.

Run Time: 3hr 8` . MMPA: R . Release: 25 Dec 2015

Director: Melinda Johnson , William Paul Clark , Quentin Tarantino

Producer: Shannon McIntosh , Stacey Sher , Harvey Weinstein

Stars: Samuel L. Jackson , Kurt Russell , Jennifer Jason Leigh , Walton Goggins , Demián Bichir , Tim Roth

poster-Hostiles
Hostiles (2017)

7.2 /10

A legendary Native American-hating Army captain nearing retirement in 1892 is given one last assignment: to escort a Cheyenne chief and his family through dangerous territory back to his Montana reservation.

Run Time: 2hr 14` . MMPA: R . Release: 22 Dec 2017

Director: Michele Ziegler , Scott Peterson , Scott Cooper

Producer: John Lesher , Donald Stewart , David Manzanares

Stars: Christian Bale , Rosamund Pike , Wes Studi , Jesse Plemons , Adam Beach , Rory Cochrane

poster-The Five
The Five (2023)

7.4 /10

A scorned woman enlists the help of five strangers to execute a bank robbery. Tensions rise as the men anxiously await her arrival with the money, leaving the crew to wonder if they have been betrayed.

Run Time: 1hr 15` . MMPA: NR . Release: 07 Jan 2023

Director: Travis Mills

Producer: Joe Narode , Travis Mills , John Marrs

Stars: John Marrs , Todd South , Tom Dragt , Michael P. Walker , Cat Roberts , Paul Bloom

poster-Dances with Wolves
Dances with Wolves (1990)

8 /10

Wounded Civil War soldier John Dunbar tries to commit suicide—and becomes a hero instead. As a reward, he's assigned to his dream post, a remote junction on the Western frontier, and soon makes unlikely friends with the local Sioux tribe.

Run Time: 3hr 1` . MMPA: PG-13 . Release: 30 Mar 1990

Director: Angela Robinson , Philip C. Pfeiffer , Stephen P. Dunn

Producer: Tim Wilson , Ka-Mook Nichols , Rene Haynes

Stars: Kevin Costner , Mary McDonnell , Graham Greene , Rodney A. Grant , Floyd 'Red Crow' Westerman , Tantoo Cardinal

poster-The Magnificent Seven
The Magnificent Seven (2016)

6.9 /10

Looking to mine for gold, greedy industrialist Bartholomew Bogue seizes control of the Old West town of Rose Creek. With their lives in jeopardy, Emma Cullen and other desperate residents turn to bounty hunter Sam Chisolm for help. Chisolm recruits an eclectic group of gunslingers to take on Bogue and his ruthless henchmen. With a deadly showdown on the horizon, the seven mercenaries soon find themselves fighting for more than just money once the bullets start to fly.

Run Time: 2hr 12` . MMPA: PG-13 . Release: 14 Sep 2016

Director: Lisa McNeil , Dawn Gilliam , Jeffrey J. Dashnaw

Producer: Jo Edna Boldin , Lindsay Graham Ahanonu , Roger Birnbaum

Stars: Denzel Washington , Chris Pratt , Ethan Hawke , Vincent D'Onofrio , Lee Byung-hun , Manuel Garcia-Rulfo

poster-The Thicket
The Thicket (2024)

0 /10

An innocent young man, Jack, goes on an epic quest to rescue his sister Lula after she has been kidnapped by the violent killer Cut Throat Bill and her gang. To save her, Jack enlists the help of a crafty bounty hunter named Reginald Jones, a grave-digging alcoholic son of an ex-slave, and a street-smart prostitute. The gang tracks Cut Throat Bill into the deadly no-man’s land known as The Big Thicket — a place where blood and chaos reign.

Run Time: 1hr 48` . MMPA: R . Release: 05 Sep 2024

Director: Casey Chipera , Elliott Lester , Phil Chipera

Producer: Phil Chipera , John Kerr , Caddy Vanasirikul

Stars: Peter Dinklage , Juliette Lewis , Esme Creed-Miles , Levon Thurman-Hawke , Leslie Grace , Gbenga Akinnagbe

poster-Murder at Yellowstone City
Murder at Yellowstone City (2022)

5.3 /10

A former slave who arrives in Yellowstone City, Montana, a desolate former boomtown now on the decline, looking for a place to call home. On that same day, a local prospector discovers gold - and is murdered.

Run Time: 2hr 6` . MMPA: . Release: 24 Jun 2022

Director: Richard Gray

Producer: Lisa Wolofsky , Alexis d'Amecourt , Scottie Thompson

Stars: Gabriel Byrne , Thomas Jane , Isaiah Mustafa , Anna Camp , Nat Wolff , Richard Dreyfuss

poster-A Million Ways to Die in the West
A Million Ways to Die in the West (2014)

6.1 /10

As a cowardly farmer begins to fall for the mysterious new woman in town, he must put his new-found courage to the test when her husband, a notorious gun-slinger, announces his arrival.

Run Time: 1hr 56` . MMPA: R . Release: 22 May 2014

Director: Seth MacFarlane

Producer: Kiran Bhakta Joshi , Alec Sulkin , Seth MacFarlane

Stars: Seth MacFarlane , Charlize Theron , Liam Neeson , Amanda Seyfried , Neil Patrick Harris , Giovanni Ribisi