Frank Sinatra’s unnerving gaze. Image: New Beverly Cinema
One of the more remarkable films from the 1950s, we think, is a gritty black-and-white indie thriller that clocks in at 77 minutes.
The film, Suddenly (1954), is about an assassination attempt of an American president. Specifically, it centres on a house overlooking a train station where the president – for security reasons – will disembark from an unscheduled train and continue his journey by vehicle.
This town is Suddenly, California, so named because its history is pockmarked with sudden, unpleasant events, e.g. robberies, gun fights, etc. But now Suddenly is quiet and unassuming – until the day the president secretly rolls into town where hired gunmen are waiting.
There are many exceptional things about this film, starting with its structure. The story takes place during a four-hour period on a lazy Saturday afternoon while characters wait for the 5:00 train. It feels like events are transpiring in real time, and whenever we’re shown a closeup of a clock we think, It’s that time already?
Because time is short (figuratively and actually), we meet all the characters – and their motivations – during the first few minutes, then we see how they react in a time of violent crisis.
The film is Tense. Although we suspect – this being a film from the 1950s – that the president will not be killed, we’re unsure of who might survive the afternoon.
Because of the sparse, economic framework here, you need credible actors who establish an immediate connection with audiences. That’s why the role of the lead assassin is a brilliant choice. He is played by crooner and actor Frank Sinatra.
Before he won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for From Here to Eternity (1953), Frank Sinatra was a popular singer; in fact, he is still one of the best-selling musical artists of all time.
He was also a very good actor, and his performance in Suddenly is the one we respect the most.
Sinatra stars as a WWII veteran who was awarded the Silver Star Medal for bravery during the war. He’s savvy and tough, and he can muster charm when necessary.
But he’s callous. When he and his accomplices enter the house overlooking the train station, he takes the family hostage, along with the town sheriff (Sterling Hayden). He tells the grandfather (James Gleason) to make sure his grandson behaves. “One sound from the kid, Pop, and he’s dead,” he says, as though suggesting a Time Out.
His scene-stealing interactions with Hayden are fascinating. He pings his lines off Hayden like he’s shooting elastic bands. “Sheriff, if you think I have any qualms about killing this kid, you couldn’t be more wrong,” he smirks. “The thing about killing [anyone in the house] is that I wouldn’t be getting paid for it. And I don’t like giving anything away for free.”
Suddenly has a smart script that never talks down to the audience, and Sinatra’s performance makes it even better. He convinces us he’s responding to a Calling, like others might be drawn to public service or a religious order.
He believes he’s no hypocrite and that he has the right to kill. “In the war you do a lot of chopping and you get a medal for it,” he says. “You come back and do the same thing, and they fry you for it.”
Sinatra delivers these words in a businesslike manner and the effect is chilling.
Nancy Gates’s pacifist views are severely tested. Image: TCM
Now, you may be thinking this isn’t the only film Frank Sinatra made about an attempted assassination of a high-ranking American political figure, and you’d be right. Sinatra also starred in The Manchurian Candidate (1962), a film pulled from theatres after the death of U.S. President John F. Kennedy.
They say the only time Sinatra played a villain was in Suddenly, and if you’ve not yet seen it, we implore you to do so. Because it’s in the public domain, there are a lot of sub-quality versions, but even then the script and Sinatra’s performance are riveting.
This post is part of The POP STARS MOONLIGHTING Blogathon, hosted by Realweegiemidget Reviews.
Suddenly: starring Frank Sinatra, Sterling Hayden, James Gleason. Directed by Lewis Allen. Written by Richard Sale. Libra Productions, 1954, B&W, 77 mins.
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Sounds interesting. “Suddenly” seems to pop up quite often on the film channels over here. I haven’t managed to catch it yet, but I do have The Manchurian Candidate sitting on my DVR. So I might watch that film first, as preparation.
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Both are terrific films. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.
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Suddenly seemed to be on television every weekend during the 1970s, at least on southern Ontario/western New York channels. We used to watch out of habit, and it wasn’t until the last couple of years that I recognized the smartness of the script, as you put it. It is a remarkable tight, exciting, and thoughtful movie. Frank is very impressive in this role.
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It’s a thought-provoking film, isn’t it? When I first saw it, I had zero expectations and I was blown away.
In those channels, back in the 1970s, were there a lot of old Hollywood films?
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It’s a while since I’ve seen a very bad copy of it, but I thought it was good mainly because of Sinatra. He wasn’t tall or physically imposing like other actors, but could scare the hell out of you anyway.
I believe the movie has received a restoration though. I’d like to see it again.
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Ha! Good point. Frank is not an imposing figure physically, but he’s pretty intimidating here.
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Suddenly is such an edgy thriller! Thanks for a great post. I feel like watching it this weekend now! Cheers Joey
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I hope you get the chance to see it again soon. 🙂
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Short, clever and intense! It doesn’t waste a single frame. All the actors were great. Nice review! 🙂
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Beautifully said. This is efficient filmmaking at its best.
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Great movie with very eerie parallels to the Kennedy assassination nine years later. Sinatra is wonderful here, as is the story and direction. As usual, great writing and beautiful screen captures!
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Thanks! There are eerie parallels here, aren’t there? That may be why there’s the rumour Lee Harvey Oswald drew inspiration from this film, although there’s no proof.
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I’ve seen both films and I admire Sinatra’s performance in those. Not to mention Man With the Golden Arm and From Here to Eternity. He was just wonderful!
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Sinatra was amazing in so many ways, wasn’t he? Now that you mentioned From Here to Eternity, you’ve got me jonesing to see to again this weekend.
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I thought SUDDENLY featured one of Frank Sinatra’s best performances (though my favorite of his movies is VON RYAN’S EXPRESS). It’s a tense, nifty little film and very well made. A great choice for him at that point in his movie career.
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I think it’s one of his best performances, too, and that is saying something. Even if he didn’t have the musical career he had, his acting career alone is remarkable.
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I’ve always thought Sinatra was an excellent actor, so I’ll have to check this out!
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I hope you get the chance to see this one. It may seem a bit dated at first, but once Frank Sinatra makes an appearance, you’re hooked.
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Greta review Ruth!
This is one of my faves. Love the way the story unfold in near real time. The remake from 2013 isn’t even close to being as poignant as this one is.
Sterling Hayden is also great here as the cop and the scenes that he and Sinatra have together are so thrilling and gripping to watch.
You’ve now given me the urge to watch it again… Tnx
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I didn’t realize this was remade in 2013, but I’m not surprised it isn’t as memorable as the original.
I hope you do get the chance to see this again soon. 🙂
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me too
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I am ready to watch this again! I remember the first time I saw it, and the way it starts on the edge of town, with someone asking directions. It reminds me of Andy Griffith, gone thriller.
I hope you and yours are all healthy! Take care-
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Ha! Andy Griffith gone thriller – perfect!!
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Thank you for bringing this movie to my attention. Sinatra sounds absolutely riveting, based on your description. Great review!
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Thanks! You can’t take your eyes off Sinatra in this film. He is that good.
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I thought you were writing about The Manchurian Candidate until I caught the title. This sounds fascinating–like Bogart in The Petrified Forest fascinating (OK, maybe not THAT good, but still!). Also, I want to thank you for such soothing posts in a tough time!
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Thanks so much! We live in troubled times & I don’t want to add to them. As for the film Suddenly, I hope you get the chance to see and review it. (Hint hint.)
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Excellent and riveting post and sounds just like the movie. Remind me of this one if anyone tributes Frank in a blogathon.. Loved this line “He pings his lines off Hayden like he’s shooting elastic bands. ” Stay safe and take care!
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Thanks! I’d love to see your take on this film if/when you are able to see it. I hope you and yours are keeping safe, too!
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Just found it on a streaming channel here. So watch this space.. thanks for reviewing it.
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Interesting theory about Lee Harvey Oswald I had never thought about that!
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I hope you get the chance to see this film. It’s short and it covers a lot of territory.
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You always make such great arguments haha. He was impressive in The Mancunian Candidate. Rat Pack Confidential was a good book if you were interested.
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Thanks for the book recommendation. I hadn’t heard of it before, so I’ll look for it when the library re-opens.
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Sounds great! I didn’t know 99% of the things you write about 😀 Very interesting, great blog. Thank tou for making an effort
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Thanks for dropping by! I hope you get a chance to watch a couple of films, and please let me know what you think of them. 🙂
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I will, for sure 🙂 thank you!
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Great post! I love Frank Sinatra!
I wanted to reach out and see if you may be interested a Peter Lawford Blogathon that I’m putting on at knwiniarski.com. 🙂 Michaela from Letters to Old Hollywood is participating as well. Let me know! Thanks!
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Thanks for stopping by! The Peter Lawford Bloglathon sounds like an excellent idea, but I’ll have to pass because I’ve got lots going on then. But I’ll still stop by your fab blog to check it out. 🙂
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This felt like a surprisingly modern film, made at a time when many movies were made that feel quaint now. I think this one was remade too, as The Desperate Hours, but you really need a Sinatra level actor, and he’s playing into a famous off-screen tough guy act here…
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This really does feel modern, doesn’t it? When I first saw it – quite by accident – I thought, Where has this film been all my life? Sinatra is in fine form here.
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While this isn’t a B picture, not with this talent, I do find that some of the old B pictures work better than the longer, glossier and yet less direct A pics. 77 mins is a perfect run time, no padding, no nonsense…
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I agree completely. It gets right down to Business.
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