Johnny Dark

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

A young auto racing enthusiast and automotive engineer, Johnny Dark (Curtis) designs a new type of race car that his auto manufacturer-employer, Fielding Motors, won't build, so he enters it in a Reno, Nevada to Tijuana, Mexico road race. His girlfriend, Liz (Laurie), daughter of the CEO of Fielding Motors, as strong-willed as he is, finally realizes how important his passion for racing is, and fully supports him to win his heart.

A really fun picture, in glorious Technicolor. This film was made by many of the same personnel who worked on THIS ISLAND EARTH (1955), including the producer, and featured some prime examples of a custom-fiberglas bodied sports car made in Lynwood (a suburb of Los Angeles, Calif.) in limited numbers by a small auto-maker company. The car was the Woodill Wildfire, made from 1953 to 1957 in small, hand-crafted numbers by Woody Woodill Motors. Film also features many other rare early-1950s American sports cars, made in small numbers by independent manufacturers. They are rare collectors' cars today. This movie was remade exactly ten years later by Bill Alland and director Jack Arnold as The LIVELY SET (Universal, 1964). Great fun for all. Hey, Universal, why isn't this movie out on video?

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.