Review of The Tall Target (1951) by Eric S — 13 Feb 2009

[font=Century Gothic]In "The Tall Target," Detective Sergeant John Kennedy(Dick Powell) is convinced there will be an attempt on the life of President-Elect Abraham Lincoln when he speaks in Baltimore on the way to the inauguration but nobody will believe him. So, he telegraphs Lincoln in Harrisburg in the hope of diverting and warning him. Once on the Night Flyer Express to Baltimore, he finds his valise but not his friend who has his ticket and later finds him murdered. On returning to his seat, Kennedy finds a man(Leif Erickson) who claims to be him, leaving the real John Kennedy to get Colonel Jeffers(Adolphe Menjou) to vouch for him.[/font].

[font=Century Gothic]"The Tall Target" is an entertaining thrill ride of a movie full of twists with a superb performance by Ruby Dee. It is a speculation inspired by real events that nails the history and geography which helps in building suspense as the train gets closer to its date with destiny. Speaking of history, the characters are ordinary people swept up in extraordinary events, each with a separate point of view on Lincoln's election. For most of them, it is just talk but there are people who are vile enough to resort to violence. Kennedy is the only one with a personal connection to Lincoln, being inspired to risk everything on his behalf.[/font].