Johnny Cool

Trailer—Johnny Cool

Althoug the production company was called Chrislaw Productions, Frank Sinatra had to behind the scenes somewhere. So many players in Johnny Cool had something to do with Sinatra, can't be a coincidence. Henry Silva who had played with Sinatra most recently in Ocean's 11 and Sergeant's Three stars in the title role. Silva was a Sicilian partisan as a kid in Sicily and is a bandit chief here now. He's one expert killer and is recruied by a Lucky Luciano type in exile played by Marc Lawrence to go to America and settle old scores. Taking up with party girl Elizabeth Montgomery that's what Silva does as a lot of familiar looking people fall in a variety of creative ways. Fast paced and at times ironically funny, Johnny Cool did not make Henry Silva a leading man. But he still enjoys a geat career as one of the best villainous actors around. It also has Sammy Davis, Jr., singing one dopey title song.

Young Salvatore Giordano kills a Nazi soldier during the war. Exile gangster Johnny Colini grooms him, fakes his death, brings him to America, tasked with killing Colini's enemies, and told that he's the heir apparent. He takes the name Johnny Colini. Darien 'Dare' Guiness (Elizabeth Montgomery) notes that he's not Colini whose nickname is Johnny Cool (Henry Silva). Everybody is trying to be cool and the fact is that most of these are cool actors. Now, Sammy may be trying too hard with the eye patch. That goes with the name. Johnny Cool is a cartoon name or it may be so on the nose that it becomes cool. I don't know. It's the karate chops. It's the jazzy music. It's the lackluster filmmaking. All of it leaves me feeling that it's fake cool. It runs out of steam and is no more than a B-movie.

A fun little gangster movie from 1963 that feels very much like a 'rat pack' picture. Henry Silva stars in an early career badass role, playing an gangster seemingly assassinated in Italy, who turns up in America to bump off some mob foes. A good toughness in the 'killer' plot here alongside an exemplary supporting cast that includes such notables as Elisha Cook, Jr., Sammy Davis, Jr. And Telly Savalas.

Nice little mob movie. And not a bad little showcase for a few Ratpack members either. Great actors...Elizabeth Montgomery, Henry Silva, Jim Backus, and Telly Savalas to name a few. Silva is in his element here, playing a gangster sent to avenge the deportation of a mob boss who can't get back in the country to settle the score himself. No one plays a better heavy than this guy! So cold and calculating! Silva's Johnny is one creepy character! Perfect! Montgomery is absolutely beautiful and shows the beginnings of a great career. No wonder she became a star!!The film itself I found to be a bit slow and, at times, ever so slightly confusing. Even so, I enjoyed it and would watch it again if only to marvel at the talent of Silva.

Greatly enjoyed this fantastic film from 1963 with plenty of cameos of Marc Lawrence, Elisha Cook Jr.,("I Wake Up Screaming"), Telly Savalas,"Kojak", Joey Bishop (Comedian) and Jim Backus, (Mr. Magoo) Henry Silva, (Johnny Cool) was given a job from a retired Mob gangster hiding out in Rome,(Marc Lawrence) who wanted him to repay some guys with a nice Mob Hit. Elizabeth Montgomery, gets involved with Johnny Cool and starts going on a killing spree with him doing all sorts of wild things and at the same time falling in love with this guy. There are plenty of great musical sounds in this picture by Billy May which adds a great deal to the entire picture. This is the type of film that will never grow old and will keep you interested right to the very end. Enjoy.

I saw this movie accidentally a number of years ago channel surfing. I missed the first 5 minutes of it. It caught my eye because of Elizabeth Montgomery. It was a very dark movie considering what I knew Elizabeth for (Bewitched!). It was one of the more gripping movies I have ever seen. Henry Silva is one of the best "bad guy" actors I know. In this movie, he outdoes himself - causing the viewer to both loathe him and feel sorry for him in much the same way Elizabeth's character does. I highly recommend this movie. I was very surprised I had not seen it before, what with all the cameo appearances by rather big name actors and entertainers. If any of you find this on DVD, PLEASE let me know! I would really like a copy for myself. Regards to all, gadgetcoder

This is an entrancing film in which you get lost and don't even think about getting out again until its stunning conclusion. I've been a Henry Silva fan ever since I saw him in it. And it features Elizabeth Montgomery in her most enticing roll ever. The story starts a little rough, and you just have to stick with it for a while, but it ripens into a headlong thriller and finally cruises to its wrenching climax. What do you think? Can a guy like this get away with a relentless series of assaults on such powerful people forever? All that said, and still giving it a high rating, this movie is definitely a 1963 film. What passed for heavy action back then has long been eclipsed. There is somehow almost an innocence to the slaughter, if that's possible. Henry Silva's character, however, will always stand up as a smart, remorseless, merciless and inexorable visitor of revenge. And he's so cool.

Pure 1963 gangster drama. Not sure if this is on DVD yet, but it should be. Elizabeth Montgomery as a brunette, looks amazing. She is a bored socialite who wants excitement, and hooks up with Henry Silva. Some of the scenes are classic. The Beverly Hills Hotel, Las Vegas, a NYC skyscraper. Telly Savalas also has a cameo, and Sammy Davis Jr. Also, John McGiver ("The Manchurian Candidate") as an angry casino boss. There is also something aesthetic and wild about seeing the streets of Los Angeles and NY in black and white, in the 60's. It just seems so surreal. Don't miss this film, they often show it on TCM channel. 9/10

Perhaps this movie is not as realistic or well known as "The Godfather" saga, but I consider it as the most cruel, fierce and interesting film made about the mafia. Henry Silva also gives us perhaps the best performance of his career. A cold, ambitious, ruthless and mechanical killer. Really a vicious, brutal, sadistic but unusual vision of the underworld . And about the end, let me invite you to discover it. You'll never forget it. Note that William Asher, the director, has never shot any better movies since. Only "beach" ones. But that's another story...