The Tall Target (1951) coming from Warner Archive on December 17th

[Areyakiddin]

COMING TO BLU-RAY FROM THE WARNER ARCHIVE COLLECTION ON DECEMBER 17th!
New 2024 1080pHD MASTER FROM 4K SCAN OF BEST PRESERVATION ELEMENTS

THE TALL TARGET (1961)
BD-50
B&W
RUNNING TIME: 78 Minutes
ASPECT RATIO: 16x9 1.37:1 with side mattes
AUDIO SPECS: DTS HD MA 2.0 Mono
SUBTITLES: ENGLISH SDH
NOT RATED
Cast: Dick Powell, Paula Raymond, Adolphe Menjou

SPECIAL FEATURES: March 6, 1949 radio broadcast of “MR. PRESIDENT” starring Edward Arnold, Classic M-G-M cartoons JERRY’S COUSIN (HD) and SLICKED-UP PUP (HD), Original Theatrical Trailer

Former police officer John Kennedy doesn’t have a ticket, but he’s determined to stay aboard the overnight train rolling from New York to Washington, D.C. He’s convinced that someone – or someones – among the passengers intends to kill newly-elected President Abraham Lincoln when the train stops in Baltimore. The true-life “Baltimore Plot” provides the inspiration for this M-G-M thriller directed with film noir overtones by auteur Anthony Mann. Under his distinctive direction, The Tall Target possesses a real feel for the powder-keg political atmosphere of 1861. Dick Powell (Murder, My Sweet) portrays Kennedy with appropriate grit, sifting through layers of duplicity and confronting escalating dangers as the Night Express rumples towards destination…or assassination.

[Watershipdownisgood]

Let’s goooooooooo bout freaking time too

[Richard--W]

Wonderful news.

A seriously underrated historic noir from the maestro of film noir.

I can't wait to see it in 4K.

[Winslow Leach]

Exciting news!

[RiFiFi1955]

Excellent news!

[Benjis Dad]

Now available on Movie Zyng (as is same-day offering Nora Prentiss).

[SpookyDollhouse]

Finally up for pre-order on Amazon too

[Randy Miller III]

Site review is live! As usual, a good-looking and sounding disc from WAC.

The Tall Target Blu-ray Review

[Areyakiddin]

Just got this. Movie looks excellent of course, miles ahead of the old SD transfer where there was frequent rainbow shimmering.

For those who are interested in the T&J's included, Jerry's Cousin doesn't look like it's actually in HD. If it is, it's a very dated raw HD scan of the cartoon.

Slicked-up Pup on the other hand looks like your usual unused HD GC V2 transfer.

[MifuneFan]

I wish WAC wouldn't advertise their shorts as HD when they're not. This isn't the first time they've done that. There are other tims when they don't even include the shorts they announced.

[SGFfilmfan]

Beautiful transfer! People should get this one!

[jonmayo15]

I enjoyed this one much more this time around than I did on the old SD transfer, the cinematography stood out as a huge strength. Now one of my favorite MGMs of the era I think.

[SpookyDollhouse]

Originally Posted by SGFfilmfan

Beautiful transfer! People should get this one!

Originally Posted by jonmayo15

I enjoyed this one much more this time around than I did on the old SD transfer, the cinematography stood out as a huge strength. Now one of my favorite MGMs of the era I think.

You two aren't kidding! I'd only seen this on TCM years back and I remember it being a very green ~480p image, so while there are a handful of shots that were sourced from a lesser element, the bulk of the movie now looks so improved its like watching for the first time. A lot of things like the hallways and shadows of the train cars, and especially the guns, are clear enough to make out the details of now and add so much to the experience. The short mentioned above is actually in HD, but hasn't been restored for color or markings so it looks a bit washed out compared to the other short on the disc. I didn't have a problem with it, all things considered.

I think this is a supremely underrated movie at only 78 mins. Adolphe Menjou brings something to his role that's just fun to watch - he reminds me of Claude Rains at times where you almost go along with the villain. Also this has the great Ruby Dee in a small but important role.