Tall Target, The (Blu-ray Review)
- Review Date: Jan 20, 2025
- Format: Blu-ray Disc
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Director
Anthony MannRelease Date(s)
1951 (December 17, 2024)Studio(s)
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (Warner Archive Collection)- Film/Program Grade: A
- Video Grade: A
- Audio Grade: A
- Extras Grade: B-
Review
Film noir had its heyday from the mid 40s to the mid 50s. Films of this genre were usually contemporary stories in urban settings, with major scenes taking place at night. Occasionally, elements of noir made their way into other genres, as in the historical drama, The Tall Target.
Set in 1861 just prior to the inauguration of President-elect Abraham Lincoln, The Tall Target stars Dick Powell (Johnny O’Clock) as John Kennedy, a New York police sergeant who learns of a plot to assassinate the abolitionist future President on a train headed for Washington, D.C. Kennedy writes to the War Department, outlining the plot, and reports it to the superintendent of the New York City Police Department, only to be discredited. Determined to foil the plot, Kennedy turns in his badge and gun and boards the train anyway. Now Kennedy is the target of a hired killer.
Strong opinions prevail on the eve of civil war. Some passengers on the train praise the abolitionist future President, others revile him as the cause of irreparable damage to the country. Among the passengers are Northern militia officer Col. Caleb Jeffers (Adolphe Menjou, The Hucksters), Confederate officer Lance Beaufort (Marshall Thompson, To Hell and Back), his sister Ginny (Paula Raymond, The Beast From 20,000 Fathoms), their slave Rachel (Ruby Dee, A Raisin in the Sun), Boston abolitionist/novelist Charlotte Alsop (Florence Bates, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty), and a threatening stranger (Leif Erickson, Invaders From Mars).
As in an Agatha Christie story, suspicion falls on various characters and the moving train creates a sense of claustrophobia. Places to hide are few, and Kennedy is essentially on his own to evade discovery, unravel the plot, and expose the potential assassin. A cat-and-mouse game ensues through the narrow corridors and tight staterooms of the train as Kennedy fights a battle against the clock. The assassination attempt will take place in Baltimore, where Lincoln is scheduled to make a brief speech from the train.
Dick Powell does a good job as Kennedy, conveying intelligence, urgency, and wariness as he tries to protect the President-elect and himself. Because of the large cast of characters, he’s more part of an ensemble than leading man, though the story unfolds through Kennedy’s eyes. Powell was once the “juvenile” tenor heartthrob in musicals of the 30s but changed his screen image to play hardboiled detectives and straight dramatic roles in such films as Murder, My Sweet and The Bad and the Beautiful. Not too long after appearing in The Tall Target, Powell would turn to television as both actor and producer.
Adopt Menjou steals his scenes with his mannerisms and self-assured attitude as Col. Jeffers, a by-the-book type not averse to a glass of whiskey from time to time to make the long train ride more pleasant. His behavior suggests a man who’s capable of dealing with dire situations. He’s calm but eager to assist Kennedy. He offers advice but doesn’t overwhelm Kennedy with it. Delivering his dialogue with confidence and authority, Menjou adds color and a bit of lightness to the film.
Will Geer (In Cold Blood), as the train conductor, has a fairly big role for a minor character. He’s seen checking tickets, arguing with the engineer, answering passengers’ questions, and gladly taking a shot of whiskey when offered. Geer makes a routine part memorable. Character actress Florence Bates plays the abolitionist novelist Mrs. Alsop, a talkative, opinionated, strong woman unafraid to speak her mind on any topic. Absentminded and overly judgmental, she, too, contributes some lighter moments. Marshall Thompson is the proud Southern gentleman who’s a prime suspect as the assassin. His distaste for Kennedy is largely unspoken but nonetheless apparent. Look for Barbara Billingsley (June Cleaver of Leave It to Beaver), who has a few lines as a mother aboard the train with her obstreperous young son.
Based on a true story by George Worthing Yates and Geoffrey Homes, The Tall Target benefits from strong direction by Anthony Mann, an excellent ensemble cast, and a taut screenplay. With its brisk pace, the film builds suspense as the train gets closer and closer to the suspected assassination point. The dialogue is economical, with director Mann relying as often as possible on visuals to move the story forward. There are many exterior shots of the train, mostly at night, that both add visual variety and create a sense of foreboding. The period touches, such as the vintage locomotive, old military uniforms, and women’s attire add atmosphere.
Essentially a period mystery with a history-based plot, The Tall Target is fascinating primarily because the story isn’t well known. The script does a good job of building a sense of urgency as it focuses on a diverse collection of passengers and underscores the passionate political differences roiling our nation at this critical time.
The Tall Target was shot by director of photography Paul Vogel on black & white 35 mm film with spherical lenses, finished photochemically, and presented in the Academy aspect ratio of 1.37:1. Vogel creates a noir-like milieu with night filming, deep shadows on the train, and characters emerging from the train in billows of steam. Rear projection is used often to simulate the train in motion, a technique popular in movies for decades. Production design recreates the mid-nineteenth century setting.
The soundtrack is English 2.0 DTS-HD Master Audio. English SDH subtitles are an option. Dialogue is clear and distinct. Powell’s delivery has a touch of his Philip Marlowe character—clipped, economical, to the point. Menjou has a florid delivery reflecting the officious nature of his character. Key sounds include the train engine, the train racing on the tracks, a train whistle, fist fight struggles, gun shots, and a horse-drawn carriage.
Bonus materials on the Blu-ray release from the Warner Archive Collection include the following:
- Radio Broadcast of Mr. President (29:31)
- Jerry’s Cousin (6:47)
- Slicked-Up Pup (6:24)
- Original Theatrical Trailer (2:17)
Radio Broadcast – Mr. President was a half-hour radio series that ran on the ABC network from June 26, 1947 to September 23, 1953. Each episode dealt with an incident in the life of one of the men who held the office of President of the United States. The dialogue was written so that the name of the President wasn’t revealed until the end of the program. Edward Arnold stars in this episode.
Jerry’s Cousin – In this MGM Tom & Jerry Technicolor cartoon from 1951, directed by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera, Jerry is fed up with Tom’s constant harassment and writes to his cousin Muscles, a tough urban mouse, for help.
Slicked-Up Pup – Spike has just washed his pup, Tyke. As Tom chases Jerry, Tyke gets knocked into a puddle. Spike makes Tom scrub the pup again and promise to keep him clean. This sets Jerry on a mission to get Tom into trouble with Spike, but Tom finds himself at the receiving end of Jerry’s attempts to get Tyke dirty. When Jerry finally succeeds in getting ink and paint all over Tyke, Spike returns, blames Tom, and devises an appropriate punishment. Released in 1951, this Technicolor MGM cartoon was directed by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera.
The Tall Target is an overlooked but excellent film. Well cast, meticulously shot, and with considerable suspense, it tells its story without undue embellishment, at a swift pace. Though he’s not a major character, Abraham Lincoln is the focus. The film portrays divided opinions about his imminent presidency and the fate of the nation, eerily mirroring the present political climate.
- Dennis Seuling