Johnny Allegro
{{Short description|1949 film by Ted Tetzlaff}}
{{more citations needed|date=December 2013}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Johnny Allegro
| image = Johnny Allegro poster.jpg
| alt =
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| director = Ted Tetzlaff
| producer = Irving Starr
| screenplay = Guy Endore
Karen DeWolf
| story = James Edward Grant
| starring = George Raft
Nina Foch
George Macready
| music = George Duning
| cinematography = Joseph F. Biroc
| editing = Jerome Thoms
| color_process = Black and white
| studio = Columbia Pictures
| distributor = Columbia Pictures
| released = {{Film date|1949|5|26}}
| runtime = 81 minutes
| country = United States
| language = English
}}
Johnny Allegro is a 1949 American film noir directed by Ted Tetzlaff and starring George Raft. An ex-gangster (Raft), temporarily working as a federal agent, runs afoul of a counterfeiting crime lord (Macready) who enjoys hunting.Everett Aaker. The Films of George Raft, McFarland & Company, 2013, pg 138. It was one of several thrillers Raft made in the late 1940s.{{cite magazine|magazine=Filmink|url=https://www.filmink.com.au/stars-stop-stars-george-raft/|first=Stephen|last=Vagg|title=Why Stars Stop Being Stars: George Raft|date=February 9, 2020}}
Plot
Johnny Allegro (George Raft) escaped from prison in New York and is trying to rebuild his life working as a florist in a large hotel in Los Angeles. He meets Glenda Chapman (Nina Foch) when she asks for his help in avoiding police detectives who are following her. But Treasury agents ask Allegro to help them by working undercover for them to stop the plot that Glenda is involved in. Allegro has no choice but to cooperate because they know that he is an escaped prisoner. At the same time Glenda and Allegro are falling in love even though Glenda is married. Glenda takes Allegro with her to an island off the coast of Florida where Morgan Vallin (George MacReady), her husband, is the mastermind of a plot to bring down the American government by flooding the U.S. economy with counterfeit currency. Vallin is a sadistic criminal who enjoys toying with his victims. He doesn't trust Allegro nor even his wife.
Allegro manages to contact the Treasury agents with a short wave radio on one of the boats at the wharf. Allegro finds out where the counterfeit bills are hidden on the island. The Treasury agents arrive after Allegro kills Vallin in a desperate fight. The agents tell Allegro that he can rest easy about returning to prison now that his cooperation has resulted in the end of the threat. As they all sit in the boat leaving the island, Allegro and Glenda hug.{{Cite web|url=http://www.allmovie.com/movie/johnny-allegro-v97258|title=Johnny Allegro (1949) - Ted Tetzlaff | Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related | AllMovie}}
Cast
- George Raft as Johnny Allegro
- Nina Foch as Glenda Chapman
- George Macready as Morgan Vallin
- Will Geer as Schultzy
- Gloria Henry as Addie
- Ivan Triesault as Pelham Vetch
- Harry Antrim as Pudgy
- William 'Bill' Phillips as Roy
Production
The film was originally known as The Big Jump.{{Cite news|title=ACADEMY AWARDS WILL BE AT STUDIO|author=THOMAS F BRADY|date=Nov 20, 1948|work=New York Times|id={{ProQuest|108240057}}}} Then it was known as Hounded.
George Raft signed on to make the film in July 1948. It was his first movie at Columbia since She Couldn't Take It (1935).{{Cite news|author=Schallert, E.|title=Donna reed will play 'one woman' title role.|date=Jul 1, 1948|work=Los Angeles Times|id={{ProQuest|165851640}}}} Jane Greer was sought for the female lead.{{Cite news|author=Schallert, E.|title='Murder is my business' heflin gotham venture; lake set in 'hurricane'.|date=Nov 19, 1948|work=Los Angeles Times|id={{ProQuest|165878819}}}} However Nina Foch, who had just enjoyed a big stage success with John and Mary, took the role.
Filming started in December 1948.{{Cite news|author=Schallert, E.|title=Lamour company set; slate of comics heavy; nina foch now siren.|date=Dec 13, 1948|work=Los Angeles Times|id={{ProQuest|165865388}}}} Filming went for longer than intended, meaning Raft missed out on starring in The Big Steal and the role went to Robert Mitchum, with leading lady Jane Greer.{{Cite news|title=MITCHUM IN LEAD OF 'THE BIG STEAL': RKO Moves Actor Into Role Originally Given to Raft -- Bank Tightens Loans|author=THOMAS F. BRADY|date=Dec 23, 1948|work=New York Times|page=25}} Some scenes were shot at Catalina Island, which was renamed 'Palm Island' for the film.{{Cite news|title=HOLLYWOOD DIGS OUT|author=T. F.|date=Jan 16, 1949|work=New York Times|id={{ProQuest|105795779}}}}
Reception
The Los Angeles Times thought the film had "polish and novelty as a melodrama" but was still essentially a B picture. "Raft does well enough in a routine way although there is not too much illumination in this performance."{{Cite news|author=Schallert, E.|title=Slickness all but masks weak spots in 'allegro'.|date=Jun 14, 1949|work=Los Angeles Times|id={{ProQuest|165991896}}}}
The New York Times said "nothing of any slight distinction" except a scene where someone is killed with a bow and arrow "has been written into this low-grade fiction... Nothing with any vague resemblance to vivid acting is contributed by Mr. Raft, who has become one of the most indifferent and comatose actors extant."{{cite news|newspaper=New York Times|title=The Screen|date=31 May 1949|url=https://www.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9B01E7D8103CE23BBC4950DFB3668382659EDE|first=Bosley|last=Crowther}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb title|id=0041527|title=Johnny Allegro}}
- [https://www.allmovie.com/movie/johnny-allegro-am47765 Johnny Allegro at AllMovie]
- {{AFI film|id=25980|title=Johnny Allegro}}
- {{TCMDb title|id=27640|title=Johnny Allegro}}
- [https://variety.com/1948/film/reviews/johnny-allegro-1200416287/ Review] at Variety
{{Ted Tetzlaff}}
Category:Columbia Pictures films
Category:American black-and-white films
Category:Films scored by George Duning