Jeanskynebu the audience applauded

ChicRawIdol A brilliant film that helped define a genre

Lollivan It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

Juana what a terribly boring film. I'm sorry but this is absolutely not deserving of best picture and will be forgotten quickly. Entertaining and engaging cinema? No. Nothing performances with flat faces and mistaking silence for subtlety.

darbski Okay, fine; this ain't a review, see. What it is, it's a confession. See, I remember this opening performance of John Cassavetes, and it's a great one. Only thing is; well, it's like this... What I remember, and what is true can be completely conflicted in reality, so, I put off finishing out my Perry Mason collection until later, and bought into this program from Amazon this month. Next month's Amazon budget is spoken for, so I know it's a gamble, but what the hey?

Dewey1960 This short-lived (one season, 1959/60) television detective series is without a doubt, the definitive example of what can now be termed TV Noir, riding high atop a list including such programs as Peter Gunn and 77 Sunset Strip. But JOHNNY STACCATO had much more going for it than those other shows, mainly the presence of the mighty John Cassavetes who starred as the jazz pianist turned Greenwich Village private detective. He also directed a handful of the 27 total episodes. The only other regular character was Waldo (veteran character actor Eduardo Ciannelli), the crusty old proprietor of Waldo's, the jazz club where Staccato hung out. On any given show the "house band" might include Johnny Williams (before he became Academy Award-winning composer JOHN Williams), Red Mitchell, Ray Brown, Barney Kessel and Shelly Manne. In addition to Cassavetes, other directors who stepped in were Joe Pevney, John Brahm, Boris Sagal and Paul Henreid. Among the crack cinematographers on the show were Ben Kline ("Detour") and Lionel Lindon ("The Manchurian Candidate"). Each of the 27 episodes are fantastic in their way, but among the stand-outs are: MURDER FOR CREDIT with Charles McGraw as an egocentric jazz musician; THE NATURE OF THE NIGHT with Dean Stockwell as a psychotic slasher; EVIL with Alexander Scourby as a corrupt religious leader; FLY BABY FLY with Gena Rowlands as the target of a bomb planted on an airplane that Staccato's also on; TEMPTED with Elizabeth Montgomery as an old flame of Johnny's; DOUBLE FEATURE with Cassavetes in a dual role; THE LIST OF DEATH with the great Paul Stewart, SOLOMON with Elisha Cook Jr as a megalomaniac attorney and Cloris Leachman as a mysterious vixen; THE MASK OF JASON with a pre- Dick Van Dyke Mary Tyler Moore; A NICE LITTLE TOWN, a Twilight-Zonish episode and THE WILD REED with Harry Guardino as a heroin addicted jazz musician. Lots of VHS tapes and now DVDs are floating around offering up most of the episodes with varying quality, depending on the original source material. Many are taken directly from 16mm television prints. It's truly criminal that MCA doesn't release a full DVD collection of this show, given its incredible credentials and consistently excellent quality. I CANNOT RECOMMEND THESE EPISODES MORE HIGHLY, they are simply superb in every respect. 10 out of 10.

raysond JOHNNY STACCATO: Produced by Revue Productions/Universal Television and ran for just one season on NBC-TV from 1959-1960. In all 27 episodes were produced all in black and white. Starring John Cassavetes with Bert Freed and Eduardo Ciannelli. Filmed on location in New York City.This was in fact one of the coolest,hippest detective shows that I ever had the pleasure of watching and believe me this was just one "cool" incredible show that centered around the mixture of intrigue,suspense and mystery and all with a truly remarkable jazz score! However the censors canned this show for being too violent or too explicit,but who cares! This short-lived series showcased John Cassavetes' terrific acting ability which would propel him to the next level as one of the most influential American artists in American cimema.In other words,this would be the only TV-series that Cassavetes would star in. He plays Johnny Staccato,a jazz musician who moonlights as a private investigator who is surrounded by mobsters,beatniks,hop-heads,crooked musicians,and femme fatals. It's was such a treat that certain guest stars would make their appearances on this show:stars like Martin Landau Micheal Landon,Yvonne Craig,Tina Louise,Norman Fell,Jack Klugman,and the musical stylings of Shelly Mann and his band. If you should ever catch this show,you'll be glad you did since cable channel TRIO shows this short-lived series every so often. Worth viewing.

StSangue I got to see a handful of episodes one night in Northampton, Massachusetts. A friend of a friend was screening some 16 mm prints he had. I'm a huge fan of John Cassavetes. This series was a terrific showcase for his acting. He plays a jazz musician who sides as a P.I., surrounded by mobsters, hop heads, and femmes fatal. It's such a treat. If you should ever have an opportunity to catch the show I think you'll be glad you did.