ChikPapa Very disappointed :(

Titreenp SERIOUSLY. This is what the crap Hollywood still puts out?

Micitype Pretty Good

Intcatinfo A Masterpiece!

Maddyclassicfilms The Tall Target is directed by Anthony Mann, has a screenplay by George Worthing Yates and Art Cohen. The film stars Dick Powell, Adolphe Menjou, Ruby Dee, Marshall Thompson, Paula Raymond, Leif Erickson and Florence Bates.This film was inspired by a real incident that occurred as Lincoln travelled to his inauguration.Police Detective John Kennedy(Dick Powell)discover a plot to assassinate Abraham Lincoln as he travels to his Presidential inauguration. Kennedy tells a colleague to meet him on a train and when he boards the train he discovers his colleague has been murdered. A thuggish man (Leif Erickson)steals Kennedy's identity papers, seat and train ticket and claims to be him. Luckily for Kennedy his identity can be verified by a man he knows, Colonel Caleb Jeffers(Adolphe Menjou)who is aboard the train travelling with his soldiers on the way to the inauguration. Kennedy and the mysterious stranger get into a fight in which Kennedy is almost killed, the stranger is shot by Colonel Jeffers.As the hours go on Kennedy becomes convinced the would be presidential assassin is aboard the train. His suspicion falls on Southern brother and sister Lance and Ginny Beaufort(Marshall Thompson and Paula Raymond). Ginny's black maid Rachel(Ruby Dee)may be of help to Kennedy. There's also a talkative author (Florence Bates)and a mysterious woman with a private compartment who has asked not to be disturbed.The film also manages to tackle and discuss the issue of slavery in several scenes too.Suspicion falls on pretty much everyone on the train and that's what makes this such a cracking thriller. We like Kennedy don't know which characters to trust. Powell once again proves what a talented dramatic actor he was and is excellent as Kennedy, not willing to stop until he has the culprit caught. Ruby Dee makes quite an impression as the dignified slave maid, who knows many things and who may be of help to Kennedy.This is a suspenseful and exciting thriller.

vincentlynch-moonoi This is a taut little who-will-do-it (as opposed to a who-dun-it). Based on real history, it's a fictionalized account of a plot to assassinate Abraham Lincoln on the way to his first inauguration.Dick Powell plays a New York detective (well, actually a resigned detective) trying to track down a person or persons who are plotting to assassinate Abraham Lincoln on his trip to Washington for his first inauguration. Adolphe Menjou plays a new Colonel in the American Army, who, surprisingly, is part of the plot. Marshall Thompson plays a recent graduate of West Point who is a Southerner at heart, and may be part of the plot, as well. Ruby Dee plays a young slave girl. Leif Erickson is a part of the plot, but is killed early on. Will Geer plays a conductor, and the venerable Florence Bates a gossipy northerner.Much of the photography is at night, but is excellently done. It's a black and white film, but somehow that seems appropriate.Dick Powell's performance here is right on target. Powell made only 3 more films after this, although he didn't die (of cancer) for another decade. This is one of the best performances of his that I have seen.Paula Raymond is quite good as a Southern woman whose husband is involved in the plot. There is also a fine performance by Adolphe Menjou, who on occasion, could be extremely effective. Marshall Thompson is very good here, as well.If there is a complaint here, it's the ending. It seems to happen so quickly! It doesn't seem like you're at the end of the film, but end it does.

telegonus As an admirer of actor Dick Powell, director Anthony Mann and screenwriter George Worthing Yates, I wanted to like this movie more than I did. It's a handsome enough film, fairly well written, about a detective attempting to foil a plot to kill president-elect Abraham Lincoln. Much of the action takes place aboard trains and in railway yards. Powell is fine in the lead. The supporting cast is full of good actors and familiar faces. My problem with the film is that the story is altogether too convoluted in its presentation for the picture to be wholly satisfying.The viewer is kept in the dark much of the time; information is given to us piecemeal. For most of the film's length the viewer is as confused as the lead character. The story would have worked better with a stronger central villain, a greater sense of urgency, more feeling for the time in which the story is set. Instead, it's a sort of murder mystery about a murder that didn't happen. There are suspects, suspicious characters, a conspiracy (the story is based on fact), yet there's no big payoff either in action or suspense.Flawed as it is, The Tall Target is none the less watchable. It's an attractive film, well photographed and designed, featuring some impressive shots of period trains and railroad tracks. Things are tied up neatly at the end; and there's suspense and some surprises along the way. This is certainly not a sloppy film. It gets the job done. I just wish that Mann, Yates and Company had worked out a more satisfactory narrative, created more memorable characters.

edwagreen 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.