Wed 12 Aug 2015
JOHNNY ROCCO. Allied Artists, 1958. Richard Eyer, Stephen McNally, Coleen Gray, Russ Conway, Leslie Bradley, James Flavin. Screenplay: James O’Hanlon, based on a story by Richard Carlson. Director: Paul Landres.
The answer to the first question you are probably asking is, No, it’s not the same Johnny Rocco. Far from it. Just about as far opposite as you can get. Richard Eyer, who was 13 when this movie was made, plays the title role, and he looks even younger.
He plays the son of a small-time hoodlum in this film, a young boy who adores his single-parent father, and the affection is mutual, although the kid does get tough love in return. The reason Tony Rocco takes Johnny on his latest job for the mob is so he and his partner in crime can get back across the Mexican border with fewer questions asked.
What they didn’t count on a motorcycle cop trying to pull them over for speeding, and what Tony the father really didn’t count on is that his fellow mobster would pull a stunt that gets the cop killed. With Johnny in the car, as a terrified witness.
If this is a noir film, you might classify it under “inspirational noir.” Johnny’s teacher (Coleen Gray) knows something is wrong — he is withdrawn in class and can speak only by stuttering — and she is ready to help him if he will let her. And while on the run to sort things out, Johnny finds a brief sanctuary in a Catholic church, where the priest finds a place for him in the boys’ choir.
Richard Eyer’s career as a child lasted less than ten more years, but in playing a young wholesome lad in trouble in this movie, he is outstanding. The terror he has after what happened, the fear in his eyes, his worry about his Dad, all 100% believable. Even his stuttering sounds natural. An actor three or four times his age could not have done it better.
August 12th, 2015 at 9:31 pm
Richard Carlson did some writing and directing though with only minor success, though he managed to change from leading man to character fairly successfully.
James O’Hanlon wrote numerous screenplays and one of the wackier husband and wife mystery novel series, one of which is featured in one of Bill Pronzini’s two Gun in Cheek books on alternative classics.
Eyer was a good enough child actor, though I have no idea what happened to him. Maybe he just got out lucky.
This one sounds pleasant enough, but it certainly slipped past my radar.
August 13th, 2015 at 2:44 pm
Thank you for a good review!
I’ve never seen, or even heard of this film.
Richard Carlson was excellent in films for Budd Boetticher (Behind Locked Doors, Seminole), Joseph H. Lewis (Retreat, Hell!) and Douglas Sirk (All I desire).
Richard Eyer was the nice kid in “Sincerely Yours” (Gordon Douglas).
It’s a good movie. But everyone snickers at it because it stars Liberace. It’s actually a very nice movie about the joy of music.
August 13th, 2015 at 5:16 pm
The first thing I think of when I see Richard Carlson’s name on anything is that he grew up in my home town of Albert Lea, MN and lived just a few blocks from where I lived. No, I never met him. I think he left town before I was born.
Marian Ross from “Happy Days” grew up there too and my Dad remembered having her in the high school math or science class he taught. Now there’s a community theater named for her in town and she visits from time to time.
August 13th, 2015 at 9:18 pm
I was surprised to see Richard Carlson’s name in the credits as the author of the story this strangely entertaining film was based on. I had to check to see if it were the same Richard Carlson, and it was.
While otherwise enjoying myself at PulpFest — photos later — I have been wondering how many noirish type films also utilized priests or ministers in major roles.
These two may qualify:
RED LIGHT (1949) with George Raft
I CONFESS (1943) with Montgomery Clift.
There are probably many others that have not occurred to me yet.
August 13th, 2015 at 10:14 pm
There is probably what is an unauthorized DVD of this film available on Amazon. You my find it worth $16, but that is more than what I am willing to pay for a copy.
The copy I watched was one I taped from a local (CT) station that went off the air in 2009 but I’m sure the tape (VHS) is older than that. As part of their late night movie series the film was interrupted every ten minutes by ads with ladies in lingerie in them and 900 numbers on the screen. I fast forwarded through those, so I wonder what that was all about.
August 13th, 2015 at 10:59 pm
That was nothing you needed to concern yourself with, Steve. Glad to hear you are enjoying yourself at PulpFest. Say hello to Walter and Jim from me.
August 14th, 2015 at 7:17 pm
I passed your hello along, Randy. We all wish you could have been here again this year. I was hoping to post some photos I’ve taken, but it looks like I need a photoshop editor before I can, and I don’t have access to one on this laptop I’m using.
August 15th, 2015 at 11:25 am
PulpFest memories may be just fine without any photos. Have you gone out in Columbus and experienced the cuisine and the Acorn Bookstore?
August 15th, 2015 at 12:57 pm
As it so happens, we have just returned from such a sojourn. The cuisine for lunch today was at Panera, which was fine, as usual, but I came away from the Acorn Bookstore empty-handed. Richard Moore purchased a few items, as did Dan Stumpf, I believe. Walter asked about pulps, and one of the staff brought out a dozen sci-fi paperbacks that none of us bothered to delve into. But it was a nicely arranged bookstore, with a sizable selection otherwise. They were low on hardcover mysteries, but they had plenty of paperbacks I haven’t seen anywhere else in a long time.
August 15th, 2015 at 1:29 pm
I’ve always found good things at Acorn I remember finding books I used for an article in Dime Novel Round-up in 2012 and last year I bought a number of items in the P. G. Wodehouse section, so many I had to have them mailed to me.
August 15th, 2015 at 3:37 pm
Steve, You have to be careful when you ask anyone if they have any pulps. The word is no longer limited to magazines and you can expect to be shown a batch of paperbacks. I guess it’s almost dinner time out there and you are deciding where to go to eat and whether to be back in time for the presentation of the Munsey Award and then whether to stay up for the auction. I’ve been following some of PulpFest on the website. I saved a bundle by not attending this year.
August 16th, 2015 at 10:12 pm
Randy
I think you cleaned the store out last year. At least as far as I was concerned, though I confess I did not look in the Wodehouse section.
I am back at home now, and Walker Martin promises a full report on this year’s PulpFest on Tuesday. While we’re waiting, I should be able to post some photos tomorrow, just as a preview. You’ll be able to put faces to some of the names of people you contribute to this blog, either with articles, reviews or frequent comments. Unfortunately Mike Nevins was not able to attend. He has been selected, of all thing, for jury duty.
I’m way backed up on reviews, both mine and Jon’s, plus older ones from Dan Stumpf, Barry Gardner, and Walter Albert, among others. It’s been a long day. I’ll get back in action tomorrow.
August 16th, 2015 at 10:28 pm
We’ll all wait for you to catch up. I have Walker’s permission to use some of his PulpFest Report for the one I concoct for DNRU.
Jury duty for Mike Nevins? I’ve never been called for jury duty in my life!
Mike usually makes one or two appearances at PulpFest and that’s it.
August 16th, 2015 at 11:27 pm
The P. G. Wodehouse was in the aisle across from the check-out counter and they had more in the basement! Of course, they might have moved it, but I had the feeling no one bought much Wodehouse. BTW, do you have a contact for Richard Moore?