Johnny Stool Pigeon

1949
A
1h 16m

IMDb RATING

6.6/10

866

YOUR RATING

Shelley Winters, Dan Duryea, and Howard Duff in Johnny Stool Pigeon (1949)

US Treasury agent George Morton persuades convicted criminal Johnny Evans to help him destroy a drug smuggling ring in exchange for early parole.

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Film Noir Crime Drama Thriller

US Treasury agent George Morton persuades convicted criminal Johnny Evans to help him destroy a drug smuggling ring in exchange for early parole.US Treasury agent George Morton persuades convicted criminal Johnny Evans to help him destroy a drug smuggling ring in exchange for early parole.US Treasury agent George Morton persuades convicted criminal Johnny Evans to help him destroy a drug smuggling ring in exchange for early parole.

Director
- William Castle
Writers
- Henry Jordan
- Robert L. Richards
Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.6/10

866

YOUR RATING

Director
- William Castle
Writers
- Henry Jordan
- Robert L. Richards
Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

Joey Hyatt
(as Anthony Curtis)

John McIntire

Nick Avery

Gar Moore

Sam Harrison

Leif Erickson

Pringle

Barry Kelley

William McCandles

Hugh Reilly

Charlie

Wally Maher

T.H. Benson

Patricia Alphin

McCandle's Secretary
(uncredited)

Gregg Barton

Treasury Man
(uncredited)

Mary Bayless

Ranch Guest
(uncredited)

Eumenio Blanco

Pallbearer
(uncredited)

Tex Brodus

Nightclub Patron
(uncredited)

James Conaty

Courtroom Spectator
(uncredited)

Oliver Cross

Nightclub Patron
(uncredited)

Dulce Day

Train Passenger
(uncredited)

Director
- William Castle
Writers
- Henry Jordan
- Robert L. Richards
All cast & crew
Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
The old plane seen outside the airport hangar at the end, was a captured Japanese Nakajima B5N ("Kate") Torpedo Bomber from World War II. It had been shot down at the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.

The plane had been sent to Arizona and stored at the Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, in Tucson, Arizona for warfare aeronautical studies during the beginning of the war. It was lent to the movie producers.

Goofs
Near the end, when Morton and the plane are on a collision course, we see through Morton's car window the plane has lifted off, and is about to clear the car, but when they cut to the crash, the plane hasn't left the ground.

Quotes
Terry Stewart: [in Canada, while Johnny and Terry are dancing] Where're you from, Johnny?
Johnny Evans: The States - California.
Terry Stewart: Ohh, California... you mean there's still a place where it's warm and got palm trees... and you can lie out in that lovely hot sun all the year round...
Johnny Evans: I guess so. You know California?
Terry Stewart: Uh-uh. Ah, I was brought up in Tucson - Arizona. Wish I'd never left it. Been in this dump for 2 years. The only time I've ever been warm was once I went to sleep with a cigarette and I set the bed on fire.

Crazy credits
[prologue] In their never-ending task of law enforcement, the officers of the Bureau of Narcotics and the Bureau of Customs of the United States Treasury fight many battles such as the one you are about to see. Their successes are a tribute to their skill, intelligence and courage. To their fearless officers we respectfully dedicate this picture.

Connections
Referenced in Johnny Staccato: An Angry Young Man (1960)

User reviews18

Review

Featured review

7/10

Enjoyable Minor Noir

Enjoyable minor film noir with a good cast, tough dialog, and interesting locations. Dan Duryea and Tony Curtis (in a non-speaking role) would appear the same year in CRISS CROSS, while John McEntire and Barry Kelley would be in THE ASPHALT JUNGLE the following year. Also in the cast Shelley Winters and Howard Duff.

This is a frequently used plot of a government agent or policeman secretly infiltrating a criminal organization and it works very well with Duff and especially Duryea, playing the leads. Winters is a sympathetic call-girl and McEntire is great as a duplicitous character. The day-for-night locations in Mexico (or a stand-in for it) are dramatically shot with overhanging clouds and trees that seem to glow in the shadows. William Castle directs and he's at his best. Not a major noir by any means, but a fine film that deserves to be restored.