JOHNNY TROUBLE

US, 1957, 80 minutes, Black and white.
Ethel Barrymore, Stuart Whitman, Cecil Kellaway, Carolyn Jones, Jesse White.
Directed by John H. Auer.

Johnny Trouble is a short, low budget, sentimental drama. The focus is on Ethel Barrymore in her last film as an elderly widow looking for her lost son. Stuart Whitman is introduced in this film although he had appeared in supporting roles prior to this. He is her wish fulfilment. There in a strong performance by Carolyn Jones as Johnny’s girlfriend. The film serves as a reminder of the styles and interests and sentiment of the mid-fifties.

1. The focus of the title and audience expectations?

2. A sentimental drama, for what audiences, for what kind of response? Pleasant, insight?

3. Black and white photography, small budget? Ethel Barrymore and the focus of the drama? The appeal with the presentation of the church and Mom Chandler's story? The presentation of her hopes? The focus on her as a character, her age, relationship with him and the help that he gave? The transition from church to fashionable hotel? The crisis of her being evicted and her ploys with the university? Her friendly relationship with the students, her visits, embarrassment, calling her 'Ma'? Her focusing on Johnny? The encounter with Julie and the verbal confrontation, Ma's helping her? The helping of Johnny, especially with the board? Her joy at their marriage? Her explaining her belief to Johnny? The contentedness of her death? The irony in Tom's explanation to the congregation? How interesting a portrait of a disappointed lady growing old and getting satisfaction from life? Her old wisdom?

3. The portrait of Tom Mc Kay, his loyalty and help, his enjoying the encounters with the university, students, the importance of his revelation of the truth? The social comment and humour at the hotel situations, the man encountering Mrs Chandler and trying to argue her out of the hotel, the change of attitude on his part, on the part of the university authorities?

7. The portrait of American university students in the late 1940s? Ordinary types, humorous, roughneck,, sentiment? Their various personalities, rough talk to one another? The influence of Nana?

8. The portrait of Julie? Tough, getting late, the hotel at night, the conversation, the clash with Johnny, their being together, the coping with the pregnancy, the married couple staying with Mrs Chandler?

9. The focus on Johnny, the chip on his shoulder, tough attitudes, the background of the Marines, his reaction to being called ‘killer’? Study. relationship with Mrs Chandler, the marriage and the long discussion about the right thing to do - and Mrs Chandler’s ploy of appearing callous? The happy ending?

10. A piece of sentimental Americana, a portrait of ordinary people, their needs, happiness?