The Tall Target

1951 "You'll never see the target till the very end!"
7.2| 1h18m| NR| en| More Info
Released: 17 August 1951 Released
Producted By: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
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Budget: 0
Revenue: 0
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Synopsis

A detective tries to prevent the assassination of President-elect Abraham Lincoln during a train ride headed for Washington in 1861.

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Reviews

Stevecorp Don't listen to the negative reviews
ThedevilChoose When a movie has you begging for it to end not even half way through it's pure crap. We've all seen this movie and this characters millions of times, nothing new in it. Don't waste your time.
Salubfoto It's an amazing and heartbreaking story.
Haven Kaycee It is encouraging that the film ends so strongly.Otherwise, it wouldn't have been a particularly memorable film
twhitaker54 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.
Boba_Fett1138 Movies mostly set in trains often work out extremely well. It's an enclosed and restrained environment, that creates a feeling of claustrophobia and tension but also with a lot of pace, since the train is always on the move. Just think about other movie examples set- or partly set on trains such as "North by Northwest", "Murder on the Orient Express", "Shanghai Express" and "From Russia with Love". This is a movie that deserves a spot on this list as well.This is a rather intriguing and original movie concerning plots to assassinate Abraham Lincoln before or during his inauguration as the president. It's based on true fact. There really were several plots being brewed to assassinate Lincoln because of his outspoken opinion against slavery and because he mostly was seen as a friend of the north, among various other reasons. But of course the movie takes lots of liberties with the story, also because nobody really knows what happened really. The story focuses on a New York police man who suspects that there is plot to kill Lincoln. Only problem for him is his superiors don't believe him and won't take him serious, which is reason for him to take matters into his own hands. Aboard the train to Baltimore, where Lincoln would pass through on his way to Washngton D.C. to be inaugurated, there is a lot of political talk aboard between Lincoln 'fans' and 'haters' and other various characters that act very suspicious. It makes this a good and interesting movie on several levels. It gives a good view into the time and minds of American people who lived in the 1860's and at the same time also gives the movie a tense mysterious/thriller story.In 1951, action-movies were still non-existent so to speak but this movie at times show some early premises of the genre. It's mostly notable in its pace and toward the ending of the movie.Interesting detail is that the main character in this movie is named John Kennedy. There always have been a surprising lot of similarities between Abraham Lincoln and the other assassinated US president John F. Kennedy, so the fact that the main character is named John Kennedy in a movie about Abraham Lincoln, 10 years before Kennedy became president is an odd coincidence to say the least. Also one of the plots, as described in this movie, to kill Lincoln in this movie show a surprising amount of similarities to how John F. Kennedy many years later got assassinated.One of those movies that really deserves to be known better and needs to be seen be more.8/10http://bobafett1138.blogspot.com/
donwc1996 I was totally blown away by this film. Dick Powell played a detective by the name of John Kennedy--who tries to stop a plot to assinate President Lincoln. This film was released in 1951--several years before John Kennedy took office. Also, in the film,there is a scene where one of the conspirators is describing to head honcho, Aldolph Menjou, just where the assassin will be ( in a hotel window ) from where he will shoot President Lincoln with a high powered rifle. This sure hearkens back to all the conspiracy vrs. lone gunman theories that surrounded President Kennedy's assassination. I wonder if Lee Harvey Oswald had seen this film!
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.