Johnny Dark Movie Book

30 Researching the Movie “ Johnny Dark ” In researching this movie, I ’ ve gone to great lengths to get the best detail possible – which is particularly hard since it ’ s nearly 60 years since they shot it in 1953 (it debuted in June 1954). But … what I found and am sharing with you today ….. I actually never thought I would find. An interview about the movie that appeared in the “ Toledo Blade ” newspaper on November 22 nd , 1953 – just weeks after filming had come to an end and about 7 months before the movie would premier in Toledo, Ohio. I was lucky to speak to Tony Curtis several years ago when he lived in Las Vegas. I asked him about his memories and he was very patient with me but explained that the number of movies and the number of cars he drove were fairly numerous – so his memories of any specific car in the movie were faint, at best. Plus, as I came to learn later on (and should have known as well) the racing scenes – what we ’ re interested in – were filmed with different drivers and not the actors that were in the movie. So let ’ s have at it gang. Let the article begin. It starts, for your enjoyment, below. “ Car Buff Tony Curtis Pitches For Toledo Premier of ‘ Johnny Dark ’ Toledo Blade Newspaper, November 22nd, 1953 By Tony Curtis Mitch Woodbury Reports When Tony Curtis, Janet Leigh, and Don Taylor were in Toledo several weeks ago filming background scenes about town at at the Willys plant for Tony and Don ’ s new Universal - International picture, “ Johnny Dark, ” we asked Tony if he would write a guest column on his local visit when he returned to Hollywood. “ Just dictate it to your press agent, Harold Mendelsohn, ” we stated. “ It won ’ t be much of a task. ” The handsome and likable young star promised to fulfill our request as soon as his film making duties would permit. That Tony is a gentleman of his word is proven by this pillar, which arrived last week. Thus, the following (by Tony Curtis). I ’ ll always remember Toledo – for a variety of reasons. It wasn ’ t too many years ago that I was standing out on the street there, thumbing a ride. And then my very next visit was under somewhat different circumstances as one of the principals in Universal - International ’ s “ Johnny Dark, ” with Piper Laurie and Don Taylor.