Johnny Cool (1963)

60% of users liked it
(212 ratings)

In this offbeat crime drama, Mafia boss Johnny Colini (Marc Lawrence) has run afoul of the law and is being deported back to his native Sicily. Colini is not at all happy about this, and after he saves the life of a young thug, Johnny Giordano (Henry Silva), he knows the perfect way for Giordano to… More In this offbeat crime drama, Mafia boss Johnny Colini (Marc Lawrence) has run afoul of the law and is being deported back to his native Sicily. Colini is not at all happy about this, and after he saves the life of a young thug, Johnny Giordano (Henry Silva), he knows the perfect way for Giordano to pay him back. Colini teaches Giordano the fine art of being a hit man, then sends him to America as Johnny Cool, with a long list of people who he believes informed on him to the police. Johnny Cool begins knocking off Colini's old enemies with a brutal violence that betrays the cool detachment of his personality; along the way, he meets Dare Guinness (Elizabeth Montgomery), a beautiful but promiscuous woman with whom Johnny falls in love. Several gangsters wanting to stop Johnny Cool's reign of terror rough up Dare as a warning to the hit man, but this only serves to make him all the more bloodthirsty. Produced in part by Peter Lawford, Johnny Cool features an interesting variety of notables as Johnny's associates and victims, including Telly Savalas, Mort Sahl, Joey Bishop, Jim Backus, and Sammy Davis, Jr., who also sings the theme song. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 41 min.
Directed By: William Asher
Written By: Joseph Landon, John McPartland
Genres: Drama, Mystery & Suspense, Classics

In Theaters: Oct 2, 1963 Wide
Studio: United Artists

Critic Reviews

Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
It relies on its implausible brutal action scenes to provide most of the entertainment.

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Featured Audience Ratings

jay n

Brutal tale especially for a 60's flick but interesting with an unusual role for Elizabeth Montgomery who looks great.

Cast

            Henry Silva as Johnny Cool/Giordano

            Elizabeth Montgomery as Dare Guiness

            Richard Anderson as Correspondent

            Marc Lawrence I as Johnny Colini

            Telly Savalas as Mr. Santangelo

            Jim Backus as Louis Murphy

            Joey Bishop as Used Car Salesman

            Brad Dexter as Lennart Crandall

            Sammy Davis Jr. as "Educated"

            Wanda Hendrix as Miss Connolly

            Hank Henry as Bus Driver

            John McGiver as Oby Hinds

            Gregory Morton as Jerry March

            Mort Sahl as Ben Morrow

            Joan Staley as Suzy

            Steven Peck as Kromlein

            Douglas Henderson as FBI Man

            Frank Albertson as Bill

            Mary Scott as Margaret Huntington

            Elisha Cook Jr. as Undertaker

            John Dierkes as "Cripple"

            Robert Armstrong as Gang Member

            Katherine Bard as Mrs. Crandall

            Joseph Calleia as Tourist

            Douglas Dumbrille as Gang Member

            George N. Neise
            
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