Comments on: Dangers on a train

By: Andrew Monroe

Andrew Monroe — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 19:44:32 +0000

A terrific piece RHS, really enjoyed your thoughts on the film. Dick Powell is one of my favorite noir stars, to think he was once thought of as strictly a hoofer and light comedy man seems so strange today. Depending on my mood, his Philip Marlowe rates over Bogart`s. Marshall Thompson impresses in The Tall Target too, he was capable of giving some memorable off kilter performances such as Dial 1119.

By: Alan K. Rode

Alan K. Rode — Sat, 01 Dec 2007 17:39:44 +0000

Richard, The Tall Target is a superb "train" movie to blog about, just a notch behind The Narrow Margin and The Lady Vanishes IMHO. It is a prototypical Tony Mann picture with the pace building the tension and the dialogue being complimentary I saw it last year on the second half of a double bill at the Egyptian Theatre on a Sunday night with about 50 other fortunate souls and it was an absolute delight. I particularly enjoyed some of the characters on the train encountered by Powell including Florence Bates as an ardent abolitionist and a mutton-chopped Percy Helton. The Tall Target served as a final transitional bridge in Mann's career where one could see his unique noir style crafted in films like T-Men and Raw Deal morph into his primal Western phase beginning with Winchester '73, Devil's Doorway and his first legitimate "A" film, The Furies made the previous year.After The Tall Target, Mann ended up directing the fire sequences for Metro in Quo Vadis before moving on to greater glory with James Stewart. You are absolutely correct about Dick Powell, an entertainment powerhouse who has been all but forgotten today.

By: RHS

RHS — Sat, 01 Dec 2007 15:35:45 +0000

Watching Dick Powell in this, I really wished I had a biography at hand to find out more about his life. He really accomplished a lot in his unfortunately short life as an actor, singer, director and producer. To think that he lived only to age 58 or 59 really is a tragedy.

By: moira finnie

moira finnie — Sat, 01 Dec 2007 15:23:40 +0000

Hi RHS,Thanks so much for reminding others of this taut, unfortunately rather obscure Anthony Mann film. Why this film isn't on video is puzzling.One of the many interesting aspects of Mann's films is the good acting he elicits from most actors--even those who seem over-familiar or limited. In The Tall Target (1951), Mann used such good actors as Will Geer, Ruby Dee, and Florence Bates perfectly, but he also drew something different from Adolphe Menjou. Despite films such as A Woman of Paris (1923) and Paths of Glory (1957) on his resume, I often tended to dismiss Menjou as a pompous clotheshorse with some extreme political opinions in private life in the past. In the last few years, however, after viewing films such as this and Frank Capra's Forbidden (1932) and William Wellman's marvelous Roxie Hart (1942), I've realized that a good script and director made a world of difference in the quality of his work. Do you think that Menjou was a better actor than he is remembered--or was he just a lucky guy who managed to work with good directors?I also wonder about your opinion of Dick Powell, another actor who often seems to be dismissed by some, (perhaps in part due to his musical roots). I'd love to hear your and others opinions. RHS, I hope that you continue to explore the trains on film theme as it is a favorite motif of mine too.

By: RHS

RHS — Sat, 01 Dec 2007 06:16:20 +0000

The title is pretty funny. As for Lincoln and Kennedy, there are a couple of similarities in their careers but the coincidences are largely the work of selective history. I refer you to… http://www.snopes.com/history/american/lincoln-kennedy.asp… for an unbiased overview.

By: Penny

Penny — Sat, 01 Dec 2007 03:00:06 +0000

How interesting that in a film about Lincoln, the protagonist is named John Kennedy! It made me think of the long list of coincidences which link the two presidents and their assasinations (Kennedy's secretary was named Lincoln, etc.) Also, I think the title is hilarious!