Suddenly Trivia Quiz

Answer: Pop Benson

Pop Benson is a retired Federal Agent who now resides in Suddenly with his widowed daughter-in-law, Ellen, and grandson, Pidge. He is well acquainted with Agent Dan Carney who visits the Benson household on business. Gleason was a stage and movie actor.

Some of his other films include "What Price Glory" (1952), "The Bishop's Wife" (1947) and "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" (1945). He passed away just a month shy of his 77th birthday in 1959.

Answer: killed in World War II

The death of her husband deeply effected Ellen's (Nancy Gates) attitude. She had come to detest violence of any kind and forbade her son, Pidge, to even have a toy gun since she blamed guns for killing her husband. Her son, Pidge, wanted to be in law enforcement when he grew up and looked on Sheriff Shaw as a role model.

This created some conflict between her and Shaw (Sterling Hayden), who was trying to pay court to Ellen at that time.

Answer: agents of the FBI

Sadistic John Baron (Frank Sinatra) was an infantryman in World War II and liked the killing, but not having to be subservient to officers. He's been paid to assassinate the President of the United States, whose train is scheduled to stop in Suddenly that afternoon. Baron sets up a command post at the Benson home which is on a hill overlooking the train station.

He figures an old man, a woman and a small boy will not put up much resistance.

Answer: arm

Baron's ruse is successful until Sheriff Shaw arrives with Federal Agent Carney. Carney immediately sees through the intrigue. A scuffle ensues. Carney is shot and killed and Sheriff Shaw is wounded in his upper arm breaking the bone. Baron takes great delight when he is called upon to help set the broken arm, knowing it will cause the sheriff much discomfort.

Answer: Paul Frees

Frees makes a rare on-screen appearance in this movie. He also had a cameo playing a news reporter in the sci-fi movie "War of the Worlds" (1953). He is best known for is voice work on literally hundreds of animated cartoons, other movies and TV shows. He passed away at age 66 in 1986.

Answer: Silver Star

The Silver Star is the third highest military decoration that is awarded to any military personnel within the United States Armed Forces. It is awarded for gallantry in action. Baron's whole life seems to hinge on this as he mentions it several times especially when his emotional security is threatened.

Answer: Deputy Adams

Of the townspeople, only Sheriff Shaw and the telegraph operator know of the expected arrival of the President. This has to be kept a strict secret, so Shaw doesn't even tell his deputy. However, the unusual and urgent preparations surrounding the President's arrival in Suddenly have the populace asking questions, including Deputy Adams (Paul Wexler).

Answer: no

Although color movies were in abundance by 1954, this film was originally shot in black and white. There are colorized versions, but some film buffs say the black and white version lends more of a "film noir" mood to the movie.

Answer: electrocuting him

Pop Benson hits on a plan of electrocuting Baron by hooking a wire from the TV set being repaired by technician and additional hostage, Jud Hobson (remember this was in the days of vacuum tubes and open circuits), to the metal kitchen table Baron had set in the front window on which he mounted his machine gun. Pop also "accidentally" spills a glass of water on the carpet in front of the table, ensuring a good grounding.

However, when one of Baron's men (Christopher Dark), leans over the table and touches the gun trigger, he gets fatally shocked and starts the gun firing.

This alerts the law enforcement at the station and they wave the President's train through. A scuffle ensues in the Benson house, Baron is killed and the crisis averted.

Answer: Ellen Benson

After all her protestation about guns, it is Ellen that grabs her father-in-law's loaded pistol and shoots Baron. Her concern for her loved ones overcame her abhorrence of violence. However, she doesn't kill him outright, it is Sheriff Shaw that delivers the fatal shot. When Shaw raises the pistol, Baron groans his last words, "Don't... please."