Johnny Nobody *** (1961, Nigel Patrick, Aldo Ray, Yvonne Mitchell, William Bendix, Cyril Cusack) – Classic Movie Review 13,166

‘He came from nowhere and killed a man he’d never seen!’ The 1961 Irish black and white mystery thriller film Johnny Nobody is directed by and stars Nigel Patrick, alongside Aldo Ray, Yvonne Mitchell, William Bendix, and Cyril Cusack.

‘He came from nowhere and killed a man he’d never seen!’

The 1961 Irish black and white drama thriller mystery film Johnny Nobody is directed by and stars Nigel Patrick, alongside Aldo Ray, Yvonne Mitchell, William Bendix, and Cyril Cusack. It is based on the story The Trial of Johnny Nobody by Albert Z Carr.

An atheist alcoholic Irish-American author/ writer James Ronald Mulcahy (William Bendix) is mysteriously murdered by mentally unstable ‘Johnny Nobody’ (Aldo Ray) in a small Irish town. This apparently motiveless ‘act of God’ is investigated by a suspicious priest, Father Carey (Nigel Patrick), who uncovers more than he bargained for.

In the deeply religious Irish village, Mulcahy challenges the wrath of God to strike him down. But when that happens it is from a bullet from a gun fired by a man who makes no attempt to escape and has an unknown identity.

The man the press call Johnny Nobody claims that he has amnesia and has no knowledge of who he is, or of Mulcahy, and asks Father Carey’s help in his trial for Mulcahy’s murder. Father Carey ponders questions of faith as he finds out more about Johnny Nobody, and discovers at the last minute that it has been a plot, actually a revenge killing. And who is the woman known as Miss Floyd (Yvonne Mitchell)?

It is an intriguing religious mystery thriller with a strong, intelligent script by Patric Kirwan, powerful acting from a fascinating cast, and tight direction from star Patrick.

Patrick, Ray, Mitchell, Bendix and Cyril Cusack as the prosecuting counsel are excellent on the acting front, giving the film’s outstanding performances. The Irish writer Dominic Behan appears as the ballad singer.

It is produced John R Sloan for Viceroy Films, with Irving Allen and Albert R Broccoli as executive producers for their Warwick Film Productions.

It is shot in the studio at Ardmore Studios, Herbert Road, Bray, County Wicklow, Ireland, and on various locations, including Dublin; Enniskerry, County Wicklow; and the Harcourt Street branch line (closed in 1958) for the train scenes.

Second and final feature film directed by Nigel Patrick, following How to Murder a Rich Uncle (1957).

Release date: October 1961 (UK).

The cast are: Nigel Patrick as Father Carey, Yvonne Mitchell as Miss Floyd, William Bendix as James Ronald Mulcahy, Aldo Ray as Johnny Nobody, Cyril Cusack as Prosecuting Counsel O’Brien, Bernie Winters as Photographer, Niall MacGinnis as Defending Counsel Sullivan, Noel Purcell as Brother Timothy, Eddie Byrne as Landlord O’Connor, John Welsh as Judge, Joe Lynch as Tinker, Jimmy O’Dea as Postman Tim, Frank O’Donovan as Garda, T P McKenna as Garda, May Craig as Tinker’s Mother, Norman Rodway as Father Healey, Michael Brennan as Superintendent Lynch, Joe Lynch, J G Devlin, Norman Rodway, Dominic Behan, Christopher Casson, Michael Brennan, Gerry Sullivan, Geoff Golden, and Seamus Healy.

Johnny Nobody is directed by Nigel Patrick, runs 88 minutes, is made by Viceroy Films, Safir, Warwick Film Productions, and Columbia, is released by Eros Films (UK) and Medallion Pictures (US), is written by Patric Kirwan, based on the story The Trial of Johnny Nobody by Albert Z Carr, is shot in black and white by Ted Moore, is produced by Irving Allen, Albert R Broccoli and John R Sloan, is scored by Ron Goodwin, and is designed by Tony Inglis.

© Derek Winnert 2024 – Classic Movie Review 13,166

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