Johnny Dark

I just happened to notice this film was on TV tonight and had never seen it before. Usually I'll watch because of the actors who are in it. Although the movie is mainly about car racing I really did enjoy seeing a youngish Tony Curtis (in the lead as Johnny) and Piper Laurie (as Liz). Both are strong willed so romance isn't easygoing at the start.

Johnny is the auto engineer who is determined to drive his new model race car to win the 2200-mile race from Canada to Mexico and Liz, when she realizes her love for him, supports him entirely.

Lots of action throughout from players and race cars. The speeding cars keep you on the edge of your seat - great film shots from the air and the road as they blaze along from stop to stop during the race.

if you are into car racing films,johnny dark gives you plenty of high speed action of two man racers flying throughout the open roads of 1950s america.i just wish someone would release it to homevideo.

Automotive engineer Tony Curtis has been designing a sports car in his spare time. His employer, Sidney Blackmer, isn't interested, until a group of investors fighting for control cause him to back the project, and kill it once the proxy vote is over. Curtis, Blackmer's grand-daughter Piper Laurie, and test driver Don Taylor decide to steal the car and enter it in a race.

It's a pretty good programmer for Curtis to star in, and the highlight is about twenty minutes of aerial photography showing the cars on the roads. While the print I looked at wasn't a shimmering first-generation Technicolor print, I could see the careful work that went into Carl Guthrie's camerawork. With Paul Kelly, Ilke Chase, Russell Johnson, and Scatman Crothers at the piano.

This film begins with an automobile engineer by the name of "Johnny Dark" (Tony Curtis) working on a new design for a sportscar which he believes will greatly benefit the car manufacturer he works for named of Fielding Motors. Yet even though his immediate supervisor "William H. Scott" (Paul Kelly) shares his enthusiasm, the CEO of the company "James Fielding" (Sidney Blackmer) is intent on producing family vehicles and adamantly rejects the new test model. This infuriates Johnny who, with the help of key members within the company, steals the sportscar prototype and enters it into a cross-country race from Canada to Mexico. The problem, however, is that Johnny's best friend "Duke Benson" (Don Taylor) has also entered this race--but for a major competitor. Now, rather than reveal any more, I will just say that this was an entertaining action film which benefited from solid acting and some excellent camera work from the driver's point-of-view. Admittedly, it's somewhat dated and lacks the advantages of modern-day film technology. But even so, I enjoyed it for the most part, and I have rated it accordingly. Slightly above average.

Am a huge fan of older films and 'Johnny Dark' interested me. Mainly to see a very young Piper Laurie and Tony Curtis an early role as part of my Tony Curtis film completest quest and how they would fare individually and as a partnership. Also because the story on paper seemed intriguing if silly.

Saw 'Johnny Dark' with the mind-set of not expecting a masterpiece and just some escapist entertainment without expecting too much or everything to be of superb quality. 'Johnny Dark' achieved this goal and is very overlooked. It may not blow the mind and it may not be one of Curtis's best films or contain one of his best performances. A lot is done right however and it compels and entertains throughout its length, which didn't feel too long or too short.

Do think that the script is not the best, certainly not terrible but could have been tighter and sharper.

Excepting Don Taylor, the supporting cast don't properly stand out as characters with not much to them.

However, Curtis is both youthful and charming, clearly having fun with his role and looking comfortable in it. Lovely Piper Laurie matches him in the charm factor and is equally spirited. Their chemistry has a real warmth and playfulness, so is very believable throughout. Don Taylor is able support. There is wit and liveliness in the script. The direction has an efficiency that suits the adventurous element of the story perfectly.

It is very difficult to dislike the story. Like the script, it doesn't boast many surprises but it is not a dull one and clips along at a breezy pace, with a clear idea at what it was trying to be and appeal to without trying to do more. The characters are archetypes but likeable ones. The action and chasing continually excite and the music is rousing. 'Johnny Dark' is shot with vibrant colour and the setting colourful and atmospheric. Love the car and it is like a character of its own.

Overall, good fun. 7/10 Bethany Cox