Tension.

There are a lot of good films, but there aren't many perfect ones. But I just saw one that I would consider flawless: Bad Day at Black Rock. This 1955 film directed by John Sturges is riveting from the opening credits against a train racing across the desert to Andre Previn's poundng score. Everything is excellent, from the spare set of the lazy western town, to the gorgeous cinematography by William C. Mellor, to the pervasive sense of menace as Spencer Tracy tries to unravel the mystery of Black Rock. And what a cast: Tracy, Robert Ryan, Lee Marvin, Anne Francis, Dean Jagger, Walter Brennan, and Ernest Borgnine in his most menacing role since From Here to Eternity. If you haven't seen this film, rent it. Don't watch a version that isn't letterboxed, and don't watch it on commercial tv with 500 commercials. Hate to sound so pretentious, but this film is an essential if you truly love movies.