The Tall Target 1951

The Tall Target

Critics Consensus

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68%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 248

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Oof, that was Rotten.

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Awesome!

So Fresh: Absolute Must See!

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The Tall Target Photos

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Movie Info

Abraham Lincoln will be traveling by rail to his inauguration in Washington and a plot is being hatched to assassinate him as he passes through Baltimore. New York detective John Kennedy (Dick Powell) tries to alert his superiors to the scheme, but his suspicions are dismissed. He decides to quit the force and boards the train to try to thwart the assassins himself. He's unsure of whom he can trust but finds a potential ally in Ginny Beaufort (Paula Raymond), the sister of one of the plotters.

Genre:

mystery and thriller
Original Language:

English
Director:

Anthony Mann
Producer:

Richard Goldstone
Runtime:

1h 18m
Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

Cast & Crew

Dick Powell
John Kennedy

Paula Raymond
Ginny Beaufort

Adolphe Menjou
Colonel Caleb Jeffers

Marshall Thompson
Lance Beaufort

Ruby Dee
Rachel

Will Geer
Homer Crowley

Show all Cast & Crew

Critic Reviews for The Tall Target

All Critics (5) | Top Critics (2) | Fresh (5)

Director Anthony Mann fleshes out the intricate story with vigorous and subtle attention to its disparate elements-political, psychological, and brutal.

January 27, 2020 | Full Review…

Richard Brody
New Yorker
As in Reign of Terror, Anthony Mann fashions a noir mini-masterpiece out of incongruous period reconstruction.

June 8, 2006 | Rating: 4/4 | Full Review…

Fernando F. Croce
Slant Magazine
... a film full of dynamic images and marvelous grace notes.

December 6, 2009 | Full Review…

Sean Axmaker
Seanax.com
For all its social relevance, The Tall Target is first and foremost a 50's drama, full of action, whiskey, and saucy characters.

February 14, 2009 | Rating: 76/100 | Full Review…

Gabe Leibowitz
Film and Felt
Mann's strong direction keeps things taut, fast-paced, very well-detailed and nail-biting.

July 6, 2006 | Rating: A | Full Review…

Dennis Schwartz
Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

View All Critic Reviews (5)

Audience Reviews for The Tall Target

Aug 18, 2020

An excellent film based on the alleged plot to assassinate Abraham Lincoln on the way, via train, to his inauguration. Director Anthony Mann is often overlooked as one of Hollywood's great directors. Watch this film to see why he truly is.

Aldo G Super Reviewer
Feb 13, 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]

Walter M Super Reviewer