Watch Suddenly

Suddenly is a 1954 thriller film featuring the legendary Frank Sinatra. The film is directed by Lewis Allen and also stars Sterling Hayden and James Gleason. It tells the story of a small town in California named Suddenly, which is suddenly visited by assassins who are planning to kill the US President during his short stay in the town.

The plot kicks off with three assassins - John Baron (Frank Sinatra), Benny Conklin (James O'Hara), and Harvey (Kim Charney), arriving in Suddenly on a train. They quickly take over the home of the local banker, Dan Carney (Willis Bouchey), which has a clear view of the train station where the President is to arrive. The assassins are disguised as FBI agents and are aided in their plan of sniping the President by a collaborator within the town, Jud (Paul Frees). Jud is a veteran who is resentful of the President and has been provided with funds to facilitate the assassination plan.

Meanwhile, the town's sheriff, Tod Shaw (Sterling Hayden), receives notification about the President's impending visit. As the sheriff, his duty is to provide security for the President. He is a widower with a young son named Pidge (Kim Charney). Tod is a war hero, decorated for his bravery during the World War II Battle of Monte Cassino. He is respected and loved by the town's residents.

As the day of the President's visit approaches, the assassins tighten their grip on the town. They force the Carneys and their maid, Ellen (Nancy Gates), into the basement to keep them from alerting the Sheriff amidst the chaos of the assassination. Once the President arrives in town, the suspense intensifies as the assassins prepare to execute their plan. With the town on high alert, Tod takes up position on the roof of the bank opposite the Carney house, keeping watch for any suspicious activity.

The rest of the film offers a series of tense and thrilling moments as Tod begins to realize that something is not right in the Carney house. He enlists the help of a deputy, Barney (Paul Genge), and a local doctor, Dr. Benson (Richard Whorf), to investigate the situation. The three of them eventually discover that the President is in grave danger and that they must take action to save him.

The tension ratchets up as Sheriff Shaw and the assassins face off in a thrilling climax that has the audience on the edge of their seats. The plot of the film is well-crafted and keeps viewers gripped with suspense, wondering whether the President will survive or not.

The performances in Suddenly are top-notch. Sinatra, in his role as the assassin, gives a chilling performance as the ruthless and cold-blooded killer, with Sterling Hayden providing a perfect balance as the courageous and determined Sheriff Shaw. James Gleason adds comedic relief as the Deputy Barney, while the young Kim Charney delivers a powerful performance as the collaborator Harvey.

The film is a taut, fast-paced thriller that keeps viewers guessing until the very end. Its small-town setting and the sinister scheme of the assassins add to the film's tension, making it a must-watch for fans of the thriller genre.

Overall, Suddenly remains a classic film from 1954 that is worth watching for the stellar performances of its cast, the gripping plot, and the suspenseful climax. It was one of the first films to portray presidential assassination attempts on the big screen and paved the way for films with similar themes in the years that followed.

Suddenly is a 1954 crime movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 15 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.8.