Motion Pictures Johnny Dark

How neat would it be to build a little glass 50's roadster like that?!

 

Some other neat cars in the race. I spotted a Kaiser Darrin, a Muntz Jet and a cuople of Jag XK 120's.

Jerome

 

Always loved that movie! They used to play it on both TMC and AMC back when those two were permanent background noise in my home. All the fifties fiberglass roadsters and of course PIPER did it for me big time. Then one day I ran into a friend of a friend that had a weird fiberglass roadster that had been built for some big movie in the fifities, but no one knew which one...

 

Once you're used to 2 (or 3 ) monitors, its hard to go back to "just" one.

 

I have three little letters for you...C P A. Worth every penny I pay them to never have to do our taxes ever again. With the wife's business, my work, kids, house, investments, blah blah...they keep it all straight, find all the deductions and loses we are due and get the most money back possible. Again, worth every penny.

 

Taxes done weeks ago thanks to Carla. We almost came out even, perfect!

Thanks for the tip on the movie, will watch it this week. Been getting into TV and movies online since we have no TV at the ranch.

 

I know what you mean. Just need to find a little time......

 

Johnny Dark was a pretty famous local radio disc jockey on a local R&R station.

 

Aaaaaamen.

 

haven't seen it since I was a kid and seem to remember a part when they were at the dinner table, talking about building the car, and took a potato put tooth picks and stuck some wheels on it ..."Idaho Spud"....will have to watch it again to make sure I didn't just dream that..?

 

Very Cool. I need to watch this film!


Here's a couple of neat articles written about the movie by Geoff Hacker:
http://www.forgottenfiberglass.com/?p=4473

and one on the real race used in the film:
http://http://www.forgottenfiberglass.com/?p=5920




Article on the movie car that has been restored:
http://autorestoration101.com/2008/11/17/1954-woodill-wildfirethe-idaho-special/

 

Right ! I spotted those in the clip too...as well as the Wildfire. Great Preview !! (The narrator /voice over talent of the Preview was Art Gilmore...a super pro.)

My Dad took me to see this movie years ago when I was in grade school. We saw it at the Fox Theatre here in St. Louis. Always l-o-v-e-d Piper Laurie ! She sent me an autographed photo back at that time but, sadly, it got lost through the years. (She did about 3 pix with Curtis.)

I remembered Don Taylor from "Stalag 17".

I can't believe that Brock Yates, who I've always thought was an excellent journalist, DID NOT say the name of the Wildfire, OR, its creator correctly ! It's not the WOODHILL WILDFIRE...it's the WOODILL WILDFIRE, created by "Woody" Woodill who owned dealerships in California. In fact, here's a cool link to enjoy from the "You Asked For It" TV Show: http://www.woodillwildfire.com/multimedia.html

Thanks for bringing back these memories Ryan ! I know the pic below will bring back the memory of how good Piper looked at that time.

Jonnie King www.legends.thewwbc.net

 

Hi Gang...

Glad Ryan enjoyed the movie.

When it was released in 1954, it was the most expensive sports car movie filmed to date - with "A" level movies stars (Tony Curtis, Piper Laurie, Don Taylor, and others) in it as well.

It was a top shelf effort and no expense was spared. Here's a link to a series of stories directly related to or somewhat related to the Johnny Dark movie on our website:

http://www.forgottenfiberglass.com/?cat=60

Hope you enjoy...

Geoff Hacker
www.forgottenfiberglass.com

 

Johnnie King..

Another mis-step by Brock Yates....he showed the Victress S1 but called it a "Glasspar".

Not a big deal, because so few people know the true names of these cars. I was honored he mentioned any of the cars by name at all

Geoff Hacker
www.forgottenfiberglass.com

 

I gotta see this movie! Thanks for the heads-up Ryan!

 

Filing taxes is great fun....

...if you're getting some back.

But then my taxes aren't terribly difficult to figure out.

 

Looks very cool, does anyone know were we can get a copy?

 

Wow, would have never known that this movie existed unless you had posted it. Love the trailer and will have to watch it soon!

 

I've always wanted to see "Johnny Dark", it sounds like "The Lively Set" was sort of a remake.

 

One of my alltime favorites.

 

Vivacious, indeed! Action sequences look way above par for the era, will have to check it out. Was not on my radar screen . . . thanks.

 

Wow...thanks for this post...will have to get a copy of this movie...looks like a lot of fun and has great photography...beautiful!

 

One of the cars that was used in the Movie was setting in Wichita , Ks. in a business lobby along with The Spirit of America land speed car and a racing cloth fuselage and aluminum winged airplane.

 

thanks for posting this! love the glass!

 

"Grahm motors didn't do right by Johnny Dark"!

 

Here’s a thread by some guy named Ryan. Slim

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/?p=6617

 

Johnny Dark

 

Johnny Dark Review: Published in New York Times, June 26th, 1954:

RIGHTLY assuming that a good many auto passengers also are driving addicts, Universal has put together a mild but rather pleasant little picture called "Johnny Dark." Featuring Tony Curtis, Piper Laurie and Don Taylor, the Palace's newest vaudeville partner remains about as obvious and unstartling as a typical speedway poster, with the same superficial attractiveness.

The plot, in a nutshell, has a bright young engineer, Mr. Curtis, launching his own speed model, winning a Canada-to-Mexico race and the granddaughter of the boss. Not for a minute will anybody doubt his success on all three counts, abetted and opposed, in turn, by the smitten Miss Laurie and his pal, Mr. Taylor. What really sets and sustains the tone of the picture, however, is the familiar, seasoned amiability of Paul Kelly, Sidney Blackmer and Ilka Chase, standing by.

Better still, the goings-on at the Fielding Motor Company, where all six work, hold some tastily authentic shots behind the automobile assembly line. The excellent Technicolor of William Alland's production is even more enhancing to the climactic race, a full-throttle but standard one. Credit the photographer, nevertheless, for some extremely effective hairbreadth coverage from a helicopter, judging by the shadow.

Pictorially, for that matter, the clean, scrubbed looks of the star trio are no less appealing throughout. Likewise their behavior. Their personal drama, as written by Franklin Coen, just isn't particularly interesting. But under George Sherman's casually good-natured direction, the youngsters and their elders make up some pleasant, uncomplicated people, cheerfully doing what they relish. And no harm done.

JOHNNY DARK, written by Franklin Coen, directed by George Sherman; produced by William Alland for Universal-International.

Johnny Dark . . . . . Tony Curtis
Liz Fielding . . . . . Piper Laurie
Duke Benson . . . . . Don Taylor
Scotty . . . . . Paul Kelly
Fielding . . . . . Sidney Blackmer
Abble . . . . . Ilka Chase
Miss Border-to-Border . . . . . Ruth Hampton

Running Time: 79 minutes