Friday, July 27, 2012

Movie review - "The Tall Target" (1951) ***

One of a series of unpretentious movies Anthony Mann made early in his career - a highly enjoyable train thriller, with a great idea: Dick Powell (as John Kennedy!) tries to prevent the assassination of Abraham Lincoln in 1861 just prior to his inauguration. It's brisk and quick - I did laugh when Powell talked lovingly about how he met Abe for 48 hours and thought he was awesome. Americans do have to put their presidents on pedestals.

There's some decent twists and an interesting array of characters: a Southern belle, mysterious officer, Southern idiot, slave, anti-slavery campaigner. And train movies always have a solid in-built tension. Worth seeking out.

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