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Directly in the wake of his Oscar-winning comeback in From Here to Eternity, Frank Sinatra took on the role of a psychopathic hit man in this taut, low-budget film noir. The choice shows how interested Sinatra was in serious acting during the mid- to late '50s; there's nothing remotely likable about this angular, neurotic assassin. He's in the small town of Suddenly to kill the president, who is passing through on a quick train stop. Sinatra makes hostages of a local family and sheriff Sterling Hayden, and the film is basically a countdown to the president's arrival, with Sinatra's patter getting loonier as the day goes on. Aside from the interest of Sinatra's performance (very focused and downright perverse at times), and the film's place in the American noir tradition, Suddenly is uncannily prophetic on the subject of assassination. It's clear that the killer is doing it for the fame as well as the money, a theme that would crop up in later confessions of real-life killers or would-be killers. Perhaps the 1954 film was too prophetic; like Sinatra's Manchurian Candidate, this movie was pulled from circulation for years after the JFK assassination. According to Kitty Kelley's bio of Sinatra, Lee Harvey Oswald saw this film a few days before he took rifle in hand. Now in the public domain, Suddenly is generally available in cheap, scratchy prints. --Robert Horton
Special Features
Although Suddenly is supposed to be 77 min. long, this DVD is only 75 min. The visual quality is nothing less than atrocious, having been transferred apparently from tape. Most DVD lovers will find it unwatchable. --Jim Gay
Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By K. Gordon
TOP 50 REVIEWER
Format:DVD
Intense, sometimes hokey thriller of small time hoods led by a surprisingly good Frank Sinatra, paid to assassinate the president when he stops in a small town.
They take a family hostage, and the cat-and-mouse games ensue. Sometimes obvious, some weak supporting performances, often stagy. But still more fun and
tense then most modern Hollywood thrillers.
A warning, I've tried several different versions of this on DVD and have yet to find a decent looking copy. It must be in public domain since so
many versions are out there. You might try renting and see if you can find a version that's not scratched up, missing frames, etc.
They take a family hostage, and the cat-and-mouse games ensue. Sometimes obvious, some weak supporting performances, often stagy. But still more fun and
tense then most modern Hollywood thrillers.
A warning, I've tried several different versions of this on DVD and have yet to find a decent looking copy. It must be in public domain since so
many versions are out there. You might try renting and see if you can find a version that's not scratched up, missing frames, etc.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Suddenly (1954), starring Frank Sinatra, is a very good thriller. Coming off his Oscar win for "From Here to Eternity" in 1953, Sinatra took on a role as a psychopathic assassin intent on killing the President of the United States. The Secret Service has notified local law enforcement, that the President will be stopping over in the town of Suddenly on his way to California. Sinatra and his clan pose as FBI agents to stake out a house overlooking the railway station. Once inside, they overpower the sheriff, shoot a Secret Service agent, take the family hostage, and set up their sniper's perch. A little far fetched at times, but you can't help but be glued to see what will happen next.
Worth noting that Sinatra tried to have the masters of this film destroyed after his friend John F. Kennedy was killed nine years after the film. He was so distraught at the events in Dallas in 1963 that he wanted the film shelved forever.
This DVD package contains, both the B&W and computer colorized versions. The color version seemed to be crisper than the B&W, so I watched the color version with the color turned all the way off. The restored B&W version was fine, not great. Very short, only 77 minutes. No extra features.
Worth noting that Sinatra tried to have the masters of this film destroyed after his friend John F. Kennedy was killed nine years after the film. He was so distraught at the events in Dallas in 1963 that he wanted the film shelved forever.
This DVD package contains, both the B&W and computer colorized versions. The color version seemed to be crisper than the B&W, so I watched the color version with the color turned all the way off. The restored B&W version was fine, not great. Very short, only 77 minutes. No extra features.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:DVD
Unknown, strange companies crawling out of the woodwork have been, up till now, foisting ill-wind versions of Frand Sinatra in his early surprise hit, SUDDENLY!, a film packed with excitement but the sole purveyors of this excellently high-quality master created from the original 35mm master and, with the quality so high, all one has to do is pay attention and by the second reel--you're hooked. It's short, taught, and guaranteed to impress the riff-raff. Even the old Groaner would love this one. And this is the ORIGINAL version which means great visual field and, most imnportantly---NO "LETTERBOXED" VERSIONS!! This film was shot in a flat, square format, and there it shall stay. Buy the Hal Roach Studios version and avoid the phoney letterbox but receive the best possible show for your trouble. And, that's a promise!! Remember, it was Hal Roach Studios that Colorized "Suddenly" which could only be done from really fine underlying black and white materials and that's what's being offerted here, so enjoy. And, unlike the first try at the color version, "Old Brown Eyes is NOT back"--we made them change them to blue!! Highly recommended
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3.9 out of 5 stars
Most recent customer reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars
An early psychodrama, but not very convincing
*Suddenly* is an intriguing little film about a plot to assassinate the POTUS (President of the United States). Read more
Published on April 29 2004 by Coram
4.0 out of 5 stars
Somebody wants to kill the prez... do you know why?
The president is scheduled to make a stop in a small town called Suddenly, and Sinatra and his buddies are hired hitmen who plan to bump him off when he arrives. Read more
Published on Jan 27 2002 by Shadow Woman
4.0 out of 5 stars
First Presidential Assassination Movie?
This was filmed in 1954, when Ike was President and Tricky Dick was next in line. What could they have been thinking? Read more
Published on Sep 18 2001
4.0 out of 5 stars
Oswald Goes to Mayberry
I first saw this movie at the Chicago Art Institute about 10 years ago double-billed with "The Manchurian Candidate. Read more
Published on Jan 28 2001
1.0 out of 5 stars
Cheap copy of a good movie
This is one heck of a great movie! Unfortunately, I have not been able to get a good, clean copy from this lable (Madacy)...hence the one star. Read more
Published on Jan 9 2001 by lajoes
4.0 out of 5 stars
Sinatra - The Actor
Firstly I'll presume your a Sinatra fan or you would'nt be looking at this Dvd.
Secondly I will further presume you hav'nt heard much about this film, maybe never even heard of... Read more
Published on Aug 29 2000
5.0 out of 5 stars
goo moooie
i touhgt thiz mooie wax sweell i wold lik to pee it agian
Published on Mar 12 2000
1.0 out of 5 stars
A few good moments, but otherwise laughable
I don't normally contribute reviews, but I feel obligated to write in order to lower the rating on this video. Yes, there are a few good lines. Read more
Published on Oct 21 1999
4.0 out of 5 stars
"Suddenly" is a great Sinatra Film!
This 1954 film is one of my favorite films. It is a Film Noir and it stars Frank Sinatra! What a great combination. Sinatra plays the bad guy and he does agood job at it, too! Read more
Published on Sep 28 1999
1.0 out of 5 stars
This film is horrible.
I watched this film early one morning on T.V,and I thought it would be pretty good. It had Frank Sinatra and had a good plot. But it was HORRIBLE! Read more
Published on Sep 4 1999
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