The tranquility of a small town is marred only by sheriff Tod Shaw's unsuccessful courtship of widow Ellen Benson, a pacifist who can't abide guns and those who use them. But violence descends on Ellen's household willy-nilly when the U.S. President passes through town... and slightly psycho hired assassin John Baron finds the Benson home ideal for an ambush.
Acting
Sinatra's nervous energy makes Baron skin-crawlingly real
Direction
Lewis Allen traps you in one house for maximum anxiety
Director
Lewis Allen
Frank Sinatra
John Baron
Sterling Hayden
Sheriff Tod Shaw
James Gleason
Peter 'Pop' Benson
Nancy Gates
Ellen Benson
Kim Charney
Peter 'Pidge' Benson III
Willis Bouchey
Secret Service Detail Chief Dan Carney
Paul Frees
Benny Conklin
Christopher Dark
Bart Wheeler
James O'Hara
Jud Hobson
Charles Smith
Bebop
Paul Wexler
Slim Adams
Clark Howat
Haggerty
Richard Collier
Ed Hawkins (uncredited)
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Sinatra bought the film's rights and buried it for decades after JFK's assassination, fearing it was too disturbing.
The film's title refers to the town's name AND the speed of violence invading postwar American domestic bliss.
US
