The Tall Target (1951)

A police detective (Dick Powell) has stumbled upon a plot to assassinate Abraham Lincoln as he travels to his inauguration. To this end, he travels on the night train from New York City to Washington D.C. and he has only till the train reaches Baltimore to discover and prevent the assassination. Every once in awhile, you come across a relatively unheralded little gem that knocks you for a loop. This little talked about intense thriller directed by Anthony Mann (BEND OF THE RIVER) is, for me, one such film. Clocking in a a brief 78 minute running time with no musical underscore (save The Battle Hymn Of The Republic at the very end), this is real nail biter. There are a multitude of suspects on board including Paula Raymond, Adolphe Menjou, Marshall Thompson, Ruby Dee, Will Geer, Florence Bates, Leif Erickson, Barbara Billingsley and Katherine Warren and even when the assassin is revealed to us halfway through the film, it doesn't end there. Highly recommended. With Jeff Richards and Will Wright.