The Tall Target (1951)

Wonderful Movie

Although it has its amusing moments, in eneral the plot does not convince.

Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

In 1861, New York Police Sergeant John Kennedy (Dick Powell) finds a plan to assassinate President Abraham Lincoln. His chief Superintendent Simon G. Stroud does not believe in his report and Kennedy resigns to hunt the conspirators alone. He informs to Stroud that he had sent his report to the Secretary of War and requests a meeting with Lincoln in Baltimore. He boards the train to Baltimore and does not find his friend Inspector Reilly with his train ticket that was waiting for him, but finds his wallet. Kennedy seeks out Reilly and finds body on a platform; however the corpse falls off the train. When he returns to his seat, there is an impostor posing to be Kennedy but he brings the conductor to the cabin of his acquaintance Colonel Caleb Jeffers that confirms his identity. Kennedy looks for a gun to arrest the impostor but the criminal subdues him with his gun. They leave the train at the next stop but Kennedy fight with the impostor and Colonel Jeffers shoots and kills the man. Kennedy returns to the train and soon he discovers several conspirators in the train. Will he be capable to save Abraham Lincoln?"The Tall Target" is a fictitious story about a claimed conspiracy to assassinate Abraham Lincoln. Fictitious story of celebrities may be attractive to fans but better off the use of fictitious characters. The screenplay is intriguing and is a suspenseful especially when John Kennedy finds the web of conspirators in the train. My vote is five.Title (Brazil): "Conspiração" ("Conspiracy")

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.

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. I thought the black and white film format was very good and pleasing to the eye except in some instances. The fight scenes though staged and weak were intriguing such as the fight scene under the train. 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. i was especially pleased with the acting of Ruby Dee who added a wonderfully well done dignity to the maid slave role, a quiet rebelliousness that I found infatuating. Also Ruby was quite a looker and I see why Ossie Davis fell in love with her. Two fantastic talents. Anyway, The fact that the Powell character was named John Kennedy just puzzled me to no end. Also I missed the last line in the movie which really agonizes me. To Mr. Furlong, you missed the part where Powell tells Menjou that he took the bullet out of the gun earlier. I hope this is not considered a spoiler. Well thats that. Back to sleep now.

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.. It is an excellent movie brilliantly directed by Anthony Mann It is a film that was way ahead of its time.. Dick Powell stars and gives an outstanding performance Differrent than most of his film noir films of that era.. I was watching TCM @1am this morning (insomnia was setting in) when their brilliant host Robert Osborne announced and described this unusual film that most people had never seen or heard of! But he recommended & once again Osborne was correct. Wonderful powerful film made years before Suddenly and a decade or so before The Manchurian Candidate (other films dealing with presidential assassinations)The writers & director took an incident from history and created a fictionalized yet believable and riveting film .Is great definitely worth seeing & seeing a very young Ruby Dee in a small but important role as a loyal but concerned 'slave" also Leif Ericson and Barbara Billingsly (Beavers mom) have minor but important roles..& Adolphe Menjou is outstanding and quite believable a corrupt military official Powell is really good in this film A great surprise Don't Miss, another hidden gem revealed from the TCM film library.Thank you Ted Turner and Robert Osborne