To think that President Kennedy was killed just a few years after this came out - was a bit eerie. Goofs Obviously the filmmakers kept the name consistent to provide continuity and to avoid having to repaint the engine and cars after every few shots. And the train can make multiple stops, with something new cropping up each time, opportunities and missed opportunities, which is likewise difficult with airplanes and ships. I thoroughly enjoyed watching the story of the famous journey, that Lincoln made from New York to Washington, for his inauguration. It's a handsome enough film, fairly well written, about a detective attempting to foil a plot to kill president-elect Abraham Lincoln. The Tall Target starring Dick Powell, Ruby Dee, Will Geer, Adolphe Menjou and directed by Anthony Mann was a surprisingly interesting, well directed, suspenseful movie that I just got lucky to see. Disney Is Desperate And Netflix Is Going To Eat Their Lunch -- The Lrm Weekend, 12 September 2016 Reviewed in the United States on September 3, 2016. Definately not Mann's best film noir, but probably his most unusual. The best of the lot is Oliver Stone's JFK, but it is also quite controvertial as Stone takes for granted the conspiracy theory of A.D.A. This is my first submittal to this site. Although the movie was made years before everyone involved in the production, down to and include the caterers, was given some credit, the actual train engineer in this movie was in fact Paul W. "Pat" Durnell. All around this is a delight to watch, especially for those who, like me, are history and old movie buffs. Synopsis. | Everything is tick-tocking back and forth while the train is underway, so there is a sense of constant motion, of imminence in each scene. Anyway, The fact that the Powell character was named John Kennedy just puzzled me to no end. Dick Powell, Paula Raymond, Adolphe Menjou, Marshall Thompson, Ruby Dee. When we learn what is going on we are still in doubt as to the outcome even though most watching will have known Lincoln was not assassinated in 1861 when the film takes place. However, there is one scene taken from the back of the cab, and looking forward, where the back of his head, and especially his easily recognizable ears are clearly visible. As is so often the case he finds himself pursued by both the police and the would-be assassins. This film bombed at the box office, resulting in a loss to MGM of $608,000 ($5.9M in 2017) according to studio records. Alternate Versions (uncredited), New Brunswick Station Master Rachel - Slave Maid Richard Rober. Character actor Will Geer was blacklisted for refusing to testify before the infamous House Un-American Activities Committee soon after this movie was made in 1951. Unable to add item to List. Next day, the husband comes to Dodge to report to Doc that his wife is sick, but Doc finds the woman beaten to … A planned stop in Baltimore was canceled and Lincoln was spirited into Washington in the wee small hours of the morning with no kind of fanfare or publicity, as he put it, 'like a thief in the night'. It's almost perfect. Having collected an off-air recording of this film I now make sure to watch it at least once per year. Born Today Most Popular Celebs … He had planned to cast Lena Horne in the role finally played by Ruby Dee - originally planned as a much larger part. 78 min The movie has that film noir quality we usually see in 1940's detective films. The first director attached to this subject, several years before the film was finally made, was Joseph Losey. Technical Specs, See agents for this cast & crew on IMDbPro, Minister - Passenger in Club Car Paul "Pat" Durnell also drove the train in The Harvey Girls. (uncredited), director of photography (as Paul C. Vogel). Indeed Agatha Christie would have been proud of the construction … "Ninety years ago a lonely traveller boarded the night train from New York to Washington D.C., and when he reached his destination his passage had become a forgotten chapter in the history of the United States. After reading the comment from Mr Mike Furlong of Roy Utah, I feel I must reply. Lincoln is a target and Anthony Mann makes a sharp, gorgeous movie out of it. We don’t share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we don’t sell your information to others. Oscars Best Picture Winners Best Picture Winners Golden Globes Emmys San Diego Comic-Con New York Comic-Con Sundance Film Festival Toronto Int'l Film Festival Awards Central Festival Central All Events. Willard Mims: This story takes place in February, 1861. Well photographed and directed. Though obviously a mid-budget film, the sets and acting were superb for this screenplay. In 1861$100 offered for a one way train ticket from new york to washington dc would be equal to $ 2920.16 in 2019. Powell plays John Kennedy, a detective and admirer of the future President who finds out about an assassination plot and hopes to stop it, although his written report seems to fall on blind eyes. What to Watch Latest Trailers IMDb TV IMDb Originals IMDb Picks IMDb Podcasts. The character actors lend a lot to the story. Former police officer John Kennedy doesn't have a ticket, but he's determined to stay aboard the overnight train rolling from New York to Washington DC. | FAQ Usher: Quotes Oscars Best Picture Winners Best Picture Winners Golden Globes Emmys STARmeter Awards San Diego Comic-Con New York Comic-Con Sundance Film Festival Toronto Int'l Film Festival Awards Central Festival Central All Events. So, the premise of "The Tall Target" is very appropriate---as there was a lot of hatred and hostility towards the man during the war years. Comanche Station (Einer Gibt Nicht Auf). The names of all the stations mentioned in the film on the line as the train travels south out of New York would be familiar to a traveler on the modern Northeast Corridor as they are still used by Amtrak, except for Darby Junction which is a now a station on the Southeast Pennsylvania Transportation Authority's Wilmington/Newark regional rail line. The acting and feel of the movie on a train is quite interesting. Okay this film the Tall Target may not be historically accurate but it is based on a situation that occurred on the Abraham Lincoln Inaugural Train.. The fight scenes though staged and weak were intriguing such as the fight scene under the train. Born Today Most Popular Celebs Most Popular Celebs Celebrity News. Nobody believes the hero. The actor Victor Kilian is listed as the Flyer's engineer (although uncredited in the movie). Mann delivers the perfect companion piece to Reign of Terror. 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. A New York City detective, traveling by train between New York and Baltimore, tries to foil an on-board plot to assassinate President-elect Abraham Lincoln before he reaches Baltimore to give a major pre-Inauguration speech in 1861. An excellent film based on the alleged plot to assassinate Abraham Lincoln on the way, via train, to his inauguration. Edit. In 1861, New York detective John Kennedy (Dick Powell) is convinced there's a plot to assassinate President-elect Abraham Lincoln but no one seems to believe him. | Check out our picks for family friendly movies movies that transcend all ages. In several scenes he is visible but barely recognizable from the front. The director Anthony Mann creates an atmosphere of tension that is present from the start, not overstated to begin with but it grows in steps (both as a social drama and a thriller) as the train gets closer to its destination. The link between this film and tragic deaths beyond Lincoln's assassination is rather shocking. In 1861$100 offered for a one way train ticket from new york to washington dc would be equal to $ 2920.16 in 2019. It was funny that Menjou claimed he shunned firearms because they hurt people, but shot lief Erickson in the dark through the smoke and killed him. Although the movie was made years before everyone involved in the production, down to and include the caterers, was given some credit, the actual train engineer in this movie was in fact Paul W. "Pat" Durnell. In 1861 the train would have traveled on a number of different short line railroads to get from New York to Washington (the Philadelphia & Trenton; the Philadelphia, Wilmington & Baltimore; the Baltimore and Washington, etc. Dick Powell is so good in his action roles- it's hard to believe he started out in musicals! An independent former ranch foreman is kidnapped along with an heiress, who is being held for ransom by trio of ruthless outlaws.