Johnny Cool *** (1963, Henry Silva, Elizabeth Montgomery, Richard Anderson) – Classic Movie Review 11,444

Johnny Cool (1963): ‘Headline-Hot! The Terror Behind “Cosa-Nostra” – The Brotherhood of Crime! The International Murder Machine They Couldn’t Turn Off!’

Director William Asher’s 1963 low-budget ($500,000) black and white neo-noir crime thriller Johnny Cool is a tough, dramatic and effective account of Sicilian mobster Johnny Cool aka Salvatore Giordano (Henry Silva) going to the US with murder on his mind.

Sent from Italy by exiled gangster Johnny Colini (Marc Lawrence), Johnny Cool arrives in New York on a vengeance mission and kills several underworld figures, and picks up wealthy divorcée Darien ‘Dare’ Guinness (Elizabeth Montgomery), who becomes his accomplice.

This partly Peter Lawford-produced B-movie mob thriller is very coolly filmed, with no social commentary on the violence. Silva is excellent, and there are some neat performances from a fascinating cast throughout.

Though the lack of big movie star names in the main roles is slightly felt, there are vivid lead performances, and the cameo stars (Jim Backus, Marc Lawrence, John McGiver, Sammy Davis Jr, Mort Sahl, Telly Savalas, Robert Armstrong, Douglass Dumbrille, Elisha Cook Jr, Joseph Calleia, Richard Anderson, Joey Bishop, Brad Dexter) lend it the occasional welcome lighter touch while they are on screen.

The strong screenplay by Joseph Landon is based on the novel The Kingdom of Johnny Cool by John McPartland.

The notable neo-noir-style jazz score is composed, arranged and conducted by Billy May, and Sammy Davis, Jr also sings the theme song, ‘The Ballad of Johnny Cool’ (lyrics by Sammy Cahn and music by Jimmy Van Heusen) as well as ‘Bee-Bom’ (words and music by Johnny Worth as Les Vandyke). Billy May’s soundtrack album was released on the United Artists label in 1963.

The main cast are Henry Silva as Johnny Cool aka Salvatore Giordano, Elizabeth Montgomery as Darien ‘Dare’ Guinness, Richard Anderson as Correspondent, Jim Backus as Louis Murphy, Joey Bishop as Used Car Salesman Holmes, Brad Dexter as Lennart Crandall, Mort Sahl as Ben Morrow, Telly Savalas as Vincenzo ‘Vince’ Santangelo, Sammy Davis, Jr as Educated, Marc Lawrence as Johnny Colini, John McGiver as Oscar B ‘Oby’ Hinds, Joseph Calleia as tourist, Clegg Hoyt as Craps Player, Wanda Hendrix, Gregory Morton, Joan Staley, Katherine Bard, Steve Peck, Frank Albertson, Robert Armstrong, Douglass Dumbrille, Elisha Cook Jr, John Dierkes, Douglas Henderson, Mary Scott, George N Neise and Frank Wilcox.

Henry Silva (September 23, 1926 – September 14, 2022).

Henry Silva (September 23, 1926 – September 14, 2022). The prolific American character actor Henry Silva was usually typecast as criminals or gangsters. Henry Silva recalled: ‘Funny thing, in America they see me as a bad guy; in Europe they see me as a hero.’ His notable films include Ocean’s Eleven (1960), The Manchurian Candidate (1962), Johnny Cool (1963), Sharky’s Machine (1981).

© Derek Winnert 2021 Classic Movie Review 11,444

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