Suddenly Blu-Ray + DVD Combo Pack (1954)

This review is for the December 4, 2012 Image Entertainment/Blackhawk Films Blu-ray release of the 1954 film SUDDENLY, UPC Code# 0-14381-82005-8, Amazon ASIN: B00960EHUE. There is also information on the HD Cinema Classics version at the end of the review......

If you are reading this review on it's correct page you're probably a fan of the film wondering "Will this be the release where they FINALLY get it right? The answer is a resounding YES! YES! YES! Transferred from the original 35MM fine grain master print, the crisp, clear beautiful black and white transfer is also finally reproduced in the correct aspect ratio and exhibits added picture information on all four sides compared to the literally dozens of earlier Public Domain VHS tape, LaserDisc and DVD releases. It also has two New Audio Commentary tracks, one featuring Frank Sinatra, Jr. (!) and the other by Dr. Drew Casper, Professor of American Film at the USC School of Cinematic Arts. There is also a Short Film by Francis Thompson made in 1957 titled N.Y., N.Y.: A DAY IN NEW YORK, and an Image Gallery.

SUDDENLY stars Frank Sinatra as psychopathic hired presidential assassin John Baron, who with two compatriots take over the hilltop home of retired Secret Service agent Pop Benson (veteran character actor James Gleason) in the small town of Suddenly ("that's a funny name for a town..."), who lives with his widowed daughter-in-law Ellen (Nancy Gates, THIS LAND IS MINE, SOME CAME RUNNING) and grandson "Pidge" (Kim Charney). Sinatra chooses the location since it overlooks the train station where the President is due to make an unscheduled stop. SUDDENLY was Sinatra's first film after his Academy Award winning "comeback" role in FROM HERE TO ETERNITY. Upon release it garnered good critical reviews including those in The New York Times and Variety. Sinatra's co-star Sterling Hayden (THE ASPHALT JUNGLE, JOHNNY GUITAR, DR. STRANGELOVE) anchors the picture as town Sheriff Tod Shaw, who loves Ellen, but even though three years has past she still cannot come to terms with her husband's war death. When Hayden accompanies Pops' former Secret Service co-worker Carney to the house, Carney is killed and the Sheriff is wounded. The movie remains taut and exciting until the inevitable, but surprising conclusion.

In what became a strange coincidence, Sinatra had a lead role in another film about a planned presidential assassination, 1962's THE MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE, but this time as the hero. A terrific movie with a terrific cast, based on the popular novel by Richard Condon. Sinatra's acting in the film is considered by many as his finest film performance. The novel and the film were also a favorite of President John F. Kennedy, who was also a "Friend Of Frank." Although Sinatra later had a falling-out with Kennedy, his daughter Nancy has stated that Frank cried for three days straight upon learning the terrible news of the President's murder. After the assassination, Sinatra asked that both SUDDENLY and THE MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE be withdrawn from circulation out of respect for the fallen leader. A rumor had circulated that Lee Harvey Oswald viewed SUDDENLY the month before the assassination, but was investigated and found to have no basis, archetypal of the myriad theories surrounding Kennedy's death.

Upon the cusp of the home video age, SUDDENLY had fallen into the Public Domain, and began to show up on TV. When the VHS era began, suddenly there were eventually dozens of home video releases of SUDDENLY, all mastered from whatever battered prints could be found. In the 90's, a Roan Group LaserDisc purported to be a definitive version, but was hampered by incorrect matting and occasional battered reels. Later versions such as one from Legend Films are touted as "fully restored" (and also adds a colorized version), but they're now worth as much as those old video tapes compared to this Image Entertainment/Blackhawk Films release. Trust me, YOU WILL BE BLOWN AWAY! (Hopefully, not by John Baron)......

ADDENDUM: There have been reviews of another new version from HD Cinema Classics that seem very positive, but mention that it doesn't have Image's Extras or Commentaries: SUDDENLY Blu-Ray + DVD Combo Pack

2nd ADDENDUM: I sprung for the HD Cinema Classics release and I can report that they also did a good job. I have to give the nod to the Image/Blackhawk disc however, it seems to have a slightly better picture and the commentary by Frank Sinatra Jr. is a surprise. The HD Cinema Classics version has a also contains a regular DVD, has a different commentary, and a poster reproduction postcard, and which may be attractive to some buyers. Either way you can't go wrong......

Frank Sinatra is riveting as a cold-hearted hit man obsessed with his spurious war record, who traps a family in their house, along with a few others that get caught in his net, as he plots to assassinate the president, who is making a stop in Suddenly, California, on his way to Los Angeles. It's a great character study, and Sinatra pulls it off flawlessly, making this a taut thriller, with a quiet, folksy beginning that turns into a nightmare.

Sinatra followed his Oscar Award winning performance in "From Here to Eternity" with this film, which unfortunately hasn't been seen much, and one of the reasons is Sinatra himself; he was horrified to know that Lee Harvey Oswald had watched "Suddenly" shortly before the Kennedy assassination, and requested the film be pulled from distribution.

Co-starring Sterling Hayden who is excellent as Sheriff Tod Shaw, it has well paced direction by Lewis Allen, a crisp script by Richard Sale, and a score by David Raskin. There have been other films with this type of hostage scenario like the '55 Humphrey Bogart "Desperate Hours" and its 1990 remake, and this is up there with the best.

My DVD copy is of the inexpensive variety, a little blurry with imperfect audio (distributed by VINA) but is still fascinating viewing.

Filmed almost entirely in one room, it holds one's attention, mostly due to Sinatra's superb performance.

Total running time is 75 minutes.

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While the Roach edition of "Suddenly" may have a better picture quality than other releases, the overall transfer is disappointing. It has numerous video issues, along with splices and one instance where there appears to be a small amount of missing dialogue. Have not seen a better overall print yet.

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Great little noirish-type-thing with Frank Sinatra and the great Sterling Hayden--directed by Lewis Allen....this one seems to tighten up as it gets closer to the finale as Sinatra waits for his chance to assassinate the President.... This one looks very very good on blu-ray, with decent mono audio....also a very interesting 15 minute color film from 1958 made up of kaleidiscopic views of New York City....two commentaries also--Frank Sinatra jr. and Dr. Drew Casper....great stuff here for sure....

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Long in the public domain, "Suddenly" (1954) provides Frank Sinatra with one of his finest dramatic roles in this low-budget noir thriller. Ol' Blue Eyes makes the most of his villainous portrayal, with solid work from Sterling Hayden and James Gleason. Taut direction by Lewis Allen does justice to Richard Sale's memorable screenplay. Made during a time when Sinatra actually cared about his movies. After years of poor-quality dupes, Legend Films offers the best available DVD release. Needless to say, the excellent black-and-white restoration is preferable to the colorized version.

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