Suddenly (1954)

Good movie but grossly overrated

It's fun, it's light, [but] it has a hard time when its tries to get heavy.

Let me be very fair here, this is not the best movie in my opinion. But, this movie is fun, it has purpose and is very enjoyable to watch.

This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.

Sinatra may not have tried to pull this film after the JFK assasination, but when you see him with a scoped rifle aiming from an elevated position, the similarities had to haunt him. Having lived through this event, it gave me chills.

The first thing you'll notice about this film is the first 10 minutes or so where the boy wants a cap gun and his mother does not want him to have one because his father was killed by gunfire in the military. She wants to basically keep the kid in a bubble or well protected from such things. Her boyfriend, the town sheriff, tells her that "guns aren't good or bad it's the people that use them". Well, the theme of guns will continue throughout the film and plays in important role in movie - and not just the assassination attempt on the president in the film.The movie does have some very intense moments and Frank Sinatra delivers a lot of those moments in his role as the villain John Baron. A very good role for Sinatra - and the rest of the cast was good too.A very good thriller if you like these type of films - worth watching.8.5/10

This movie is just like a stage play. Most of it is contained within one room, and most of the entertainment and excitement comes from the dialogue and the situations. While dated in many ways, the writing is the best part of the movie, followed closely by a great performance from Frank Sinatra.Most of the characters in this movie are pretty one dimensional. The exception is Sinatra's character, who is gradually explored as the story progresses. Learning who he is, and what motivates him, is what makes this story interesting (combined with the fact that the story counts down to a specific moment).The "dated" part I mentioned earlier is regards to views on what is considered heroic, and perhaps the view people have on weapons. That said, some of the "dated" parts are interesting due to what happened historically after this movie was released (but hopefully not due to it).

In a town called Suddenly--which might pass for any small Midwestern town--little of note happens. But the normally quiet Mayberry gets more than its share of action and attention on this Saturday.The President of the U.S. is scheduled to arrive via train, so the Secret Service get there first to reconnoiter the train station and the properties that overlook it.It would be a shame to reveal too many details, but some locals get involved in a suspenseful showdown that might easily serve as the basis for a Hitchcock film.I would not call this film noir, but it is filmed in B&W. It is a psychological drama which delves into post-war issues.Frank Sinatra turns in a rare performance as the villain and he's rather good at it. Nancy Gates plays a widow who inadvertently enters the cross-hairs of the villain's plan. She delivers a strong performance as a mother whose primary motivation for living is the protection of her young son.Various political messages can be read into the plot. No matter which subtext one advocates, this is a story about courage. Maternal courage. Patriotic courage. And the behaviors that are often mistaken for being courageous.