Moviecut—The Tall Target

source: The Tall Target

The Tall Target

I enjoyed this film a great deal, and what a strange coincidence that the policeman investigating a plot to kill Lincoln is named John Kennedy. Well photographed and directed. Definately not Mann's best film noir, but probably his most unusual. Exciting and recommended.

Above average thriller about an assassination plot on President-elect Lincoln in 1861. By the end of the film, you will ask where the good guys 4 years later when they were again needed? Dick Powell plays agent John Kennedy who uncovers the plot. The problem is that it's a hard sell to his fellow agents. Adolph Menjou plays a lieutenant who is up to no good but it's hard to finger him in the plot. One really good thing about this film is that after a while, you can't distinguish the good guys from the bad ones. Marshall Thompson plays a southerner and his slave is a very young Ruby Dee. Miss Dee displays lots of guts and emotion here. The usually reliable Florence Bates is up to par as an abolitionist rider on the train as well. Interesting but predictable since we all know our history.

This is my first submittal to this site. As someone who enjoys old movies, being 54 I have seen thousands in my lifetime, I was delighted to see this film for the first time this morning, in Switzerland of all places. The talented actors with their dramatic portrayal of a true story makes this my favorite Abraham Lincoln assassination plot movie. Though obviously a mid-budget film, the sets and acting were superb for this screenplay. Dick Powell (as John Kennedy), Adolphe Menjou, Will Geer, a young Ruby Dee, Paula Raymond and Marshall Thompson were cast well in their respective roles. It was refreshing to see a movie released in 1951 dealing with the subject of slavery and freedom with the fine black actress, Ruby Dee, being given such a prominent role in the film. All around this is a delight to watch, especially for those who, like me, are history and old movie buffs. The film does need some restoration work but I would change little else in this fine film.

Superbly directed and photographed, and very well acted by Dick Powell, Will Geer, and Adolph Menjou, this movie ranks as one of director Anthony Mann's best achievements. Not one of his trademark noirs, it still has the characteristic tense look and feel, while staking out its own claim to originality, capturing the mood of the country as it is about to explode into a bloodbath. Set on the eve of the Civil War, a New York police detective (Dick Powell) boards a southbound train in New York to foil a conspiracy to assassinate President elect Lincoln. The train setting provides an apt stage in which the passions of the day are played out, with Unionists and Secessionists armed to the teeth. Factually, the details are probably off, but the mood of the time seems to be fairly accurately portrayed.

Dick Powell is excellent as John Kennedy, a policeman who stumbles onto a plot to assassinate Abraham Lincoln en route to his inauguration. The history is not as muddled as others seem to indicate. 1. Lincoln did travel by train to his inauguration. 2. There were at least two confirmed plots by people who wished to have him assassinated. 3. Abraham Lincoln did have an aide throughout his administrations who was an ex-police officer named John Kennedy (Dick Powell's character in the film). That is truth enough for backdrop to this impressive thriller. Ruby Dee is very impressive as a slave traveling on the train, and Marshal Thompson is quite good as a Southerner. Adolphe Menjou is terrific as the main bad guy, and Powell gives an earnest portrayal in the lead. Anthony Mann directs the action very suspensefully, and the movie builds to its climax in interesting fashion. Finally, the last line is a classic. I've seen this movie 4 times and would gladly watch it again.