Suddenly

In the city of Suddenly, three gangsters trap the Benson family in their own house, on the top of a hill nearby the railroad station, with the intention of killing the president of the USA.

• Director: Lewis Allen
• Genre:Crime / Drama / Film-Noir / Mystery / Thriller
• Runtime:76 minutes

Cast

Frank Sinatra : John Baron
Sterling Hayden : Sheriff Tod Shaw
James Gleason : Pop Benson
Nancy Gates : Ellen Benson
Kim Charney : Peter Benson III – ‘Pidge’

In post-war America the president of the United States of America is scheduled to journey through the fictional small town of Suddenly, California. Frank Sinatra plays ruthless, troubled assassin John Baron. He and his henchmen pretend to be FBI agents ordered to protect the president and talk their way into the Benson home. Sheriff Tod Shaw (Sterling Hayden) arrives with Dan Carney (Willis Bouchey), a Secret Service agent in charge of the president’s security detail. When he does, Baron and his gangsters shoot Carney and a bullet fractures Shaw’s arm.

Baron sends one of his two henchmen to double-check on the President’s schedule but he is killed in a shootout with the police. Jud (James O’Hara), a television repairman, shows up at the house and also becomes a hostage. Pidge (Kim Charney) goes to his grandfather’s (known as Pop) dresser to fetch some medication and notices a fully loaded revolver which he replaces with his toy cap gun.

Baron is confronted by the sheriff on the risks and meaning of killing the president and Baron’s remaining henchman begins showing some reluctance.

The Gewehr 41 sniper rifle has been mounted on a metal table, which Jud hooks up to the 5000 volt plate output of the family television. Pop Benson (James Gleason) then “accidentally” spills a cup of water on the floor beneath the table. Although the hope is Baron will be shocked to death, his remaining henchman touches the table first and is electrocuted, firing the rifle repeatedly and attracting the attention of police at the train station as he struggles to free himself. Baron shoots Jud, disconnects the electrical hookup and aims the rifle as the president’s train arrives at the station, but to his surprise, doesn’t stop (having been alerted to the risk). Ellen Benson (Nancy Gates) shoots Baron in the chest and Shaw shoots him again. Baron’s last words are, “Don’t… please.” Read more