Johnny Cool

Plot

Johnny Colini, an exiled American living in Rome, rescues Salvatore Giordano, a young Sicilian outlaw, from the police. After Giordano is groomed, polished, and renamed "Johnny Cool", Colini sends him on a mission of vengeance to the United States to assassinate the men who plotted his downfall and enforced exile. Johnny arrives in New York and quickly kills several of the underworld figures on Colini's list.

Meanwhile, he picks up Darien "Dare" Guinness, a wealthy divorcée who becomes his accomplice, she is later severely beaten by the gangsters as a warning to Johnny against pursuing his vendetta. Soon the FBI becomes involved, and when Johnny and Dare bomb the Hollywood home of gangster Lennart Crandall, the police are able to identify Dare's car when she panics and leaves it parked on the street. The two had separated and planned to meet later, but Dare, abruptly realizing that Johnny is a vicious killer, tells his enemies where to find him. She then surrenders herself to the FBI, as Johnny is being tortured by his captors at the film's conclusion.

Production

The film was executive produced by Peter Lawford, better known as an actor and a member of the Rat Pack. Lawford, who made the film through his company Chrislaw Productions, persuaded fellow Rat Pack members Sammy Davis Jr. and Joey Bishop to appear in the film. It was a star vehicle for Henry Silva, who had previously appeared as a supporting in three Rat Pack films — Ocean's 11, Sergeants 3, and the The Manchurian Candidate.

Before Silva was cast, George Chakiris was attached to play the lead, with Edward G. Robinson in the Marc Lawrence role. At one point, Orson Welles was considered for a part.

Filming

Filming started 17 September 1962. Shooting took place in Los Angeles, Las Vegas, and New York City. A sequence was filmed at the New Frontier Hotel and Casino. Another scene was filmed at Puccini Restaurant in Los Angeles, which was part-owned by Lawford and Frank Sinatra. The 'Sicily' sequences were filmed on Santa Catalina Island and in San Clemente.

Elizabeth Montgomery and William Asher fell in love during filming and got married. They would collaborate on Bewitched.

Release

As a publicity stunt, United Artists invited members of the Cosa Nostra to a special screening.

As a promotional tie-in, The Kingdom of Johnny Cool was republished by Gold Medal Books.

Reception

Box office

In April 1964 Variety reported the film's box office performance in America was "less than stirring" but it "is drawing some attention abroad. The gangster opus is particularly strong in France." According to Lawford's biographer, the film's box office in the US dropped off sharply after the assassination of John F. Kennedy.

Variety said the film "should please though filmgoers who dote on destruction."

Soundtrack

The film score was composed, arranged and conducted by Billy May, and the soundtrack album was released on the United Artists label in 1963. Allmusic's Steven McDonald noted "This soundtrack manages to mix the early '60s caper-flick brand of jazz with the darker feel of 1950s film noir – a genre to which Johnny Cool was a deliberate throwback."

Track listing

All compositions by Billy May except as indicated

"The Lizard" – 2:38

"Window Washer" – 2:37

"Dare's Affair" – 2:40

"Borrow a Knife" – 1:47

"Johnny Cool Theme" – 2:19

"Morning in Balboa" – 2:14

"Nice Quiet Saloon" – 2:35

"Green Tables Blues" – 3:16

"The Coolest Pad" – 3:18

"Juan Coolisto" – 2:19

"Bee Bom" (Les Vandyke) – 2:14

"The Ballad of Johnny Cool" (Jimmy Van Heusen, Sammy Cahn) – 2:58

Personnel

Orchestra arranged and conducted by Billy May

Sammy Davis Jr. – vocals (tracks 11 & 12)