January is my birthday month, so I decided that I would try and do something quite unique and special for this milestone in my life. I will be turning 48, so I decided to watch 49 (48+1 for good luck) of my all time favorite movies in a random order over the course of this month. I have reviewed every one of these films already, but I will now give new perspectives on them all. Every one of these films received a 10/10 scoring from me. Some of these reviews will contain spoilers so if you have never seen them before, I recommend that you read some of my previous reviews of the film that are spoiler free before reading on…
Hope you enjoy!
This is film #49 of the 49.
Let’s finish things off with…
“I’m not actor, bustin’ my leg on a stage so I can yell ‘down with the tyrants’. If Booth wasn’t such a ham he might’ve made it.” – John Baron
Initial Viewing Memories – Came across this by accident on cable years ago and loved it right away because it’s such a powerful and gripping tale done in a very modest and minimalist way that resonates so much even after nearly 70 years.
Number of Times Seen – Between 5-10 times (Cable, DVD, 25 Jul 2013, 14 Sep 2018, 26 Mar 2020 and 31 Jan 2022)
Link to original review – Here, Here and Here
Brief Synopsis – The police chief of a small town must be on the lookout when he gets information that an assassination attempt will be made on the President when his train stops in their town.
My Take on it – This is such a great thriller that works so well.
The story is simplistic and minimalist, yet is quite poignant and powerful in so many ways.
The characters are developed well even though there isn’t much time to do so and the dialogue helps give each of the characters well rounded stories and personalities.
The cast is great with Sterling Hayden and Frank Sinatra verbally debating one another about heroism and patriotism and works so well.
The story is perfect for a movie from the 50’s because it wouldn’t work as well in a modern setting largely due to technological advancements over the years.
They manage to keep the suspense level quite high for the whole movie and the slim 75 minutes is perfect!
Highly Highly Recommended!
MovieRob’s Favorite Trivia – Contrary to popular belief this film was NOT withdrawn from circulation at Frank Sinatra’s behest, as he had no say in the matter. His own family has gone to great lengths through the years to dispel this rumor. (From IMDB)
Rating – Oscar Worthy (10/10) (no change from original review)
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MovieRob 
A very happy belated birthday, Rob! I’m glad you were able to watch so many favorites in the past month. A lot of them are my faves too, but this is yet another unfamiliar one for me that I’ll have to check out sometime. 😉
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