Johnny Cool (1963)

An exiled mobster (Marc Lawrence) living in Rome rescues a Sicilian outlaw (Henry Silva) from the police. After grooming and polishing him, he is sent to America to exact revenge on the men who plotted his mentor's downfall and deportation. Based on the novel THE KINGDOM OF JOHNNY COOL by John McPartland and directed by William Asher (BEACH PARTY). A rather sleazy low budget gangster movie that is not without some entertainment value. The title protagonist is a cold blooded killer and the movie is not shy about his vicious nature. In fact, just about everyone in the movie is sordid, even the romantic interest played by Elizabeth Montgomery is amoral until her conscience conveniently bothers her near the end of the film. The film's moralistic message isn't that crime does not pay but rather crime pays but you have to watch your back or someone will stab it. The film is crammed with recognizable faces, many who have just a minute of screen time. With Telly Savalas, Sammy Davis Jr., Joey Bishop, Wanda Hendrix, Jim Backus, Brad Dexter, Mort Sahl, Richard Anderson, Katharine Bard and Joan Staley.