Pretty soon every nerve in their body is screaming and they’re tearing off their clothes and they’re tearing at their skinny bodies with their nails and screaming – Johnny Stool Pigeon (1949)
Hello to all of the classic people that are returning. I am glad you are back. I want to welcome any new visitors. Today on Classic Movie Review, we are taking on Film Noir Johnny Stool Pigeon (1949).
I want to shout out to Thunderstruck54 for their comments on Manhandled (1949), to David R. for his email about the Audie Murphy’s biopic To Hell and Back (1955), and to Robert H. for recommending Night Has a Thousand Eyes (1948). I have obtained a copy but have not watched it yet. You people are the best!
This movie has a well-deserved low score of 6.6[1] on iMDB.com. On Rottentomatoes.com, this film has neither a Tomatometer score nor an audience score[2].
New York Times film critic A. W. said in a September 23, 1949 review:
“Johnny Stool Pigeon, which came to the Palace yesterday, is proof that the hard-pressed film makers are running out of Federal law enforcement agencies to extol. The diligent producers, who already have unfolded sagas of G-Men, T-Men and practically all the other bureaus in the alphabet, again are lauding the indomitable narcotics men, a tough contingent whose deeds previously were noted in “To the Ends of the Earth.” However, “Johnny Stool Pigeon” is no improvement on this predecessor. Despite a serious attempt at authenticity it is merely a brisk cops-and-smugglers melodrama, which follows an obvious pattern and is fairly strong on suspense and short on originality and impressive histrionics…
Howard Duff, who has had plenty of experience as a gumshoe both on the radio and in films, is appropriately self-effacing, hard and handsome as the intrepid agent. Dan Duryea adds a surprising twist to his usual characterizations of tough hombres as the convict who turns on his own kind, and Shelley Winters gives a credible performance as the blonde moll who also gives the law a much-needed assist. But aside from a few variations, their crime and punishment adventures are cast in a familiar mold.”[3]
Actors – Johnny Stool Pigeon (1949)
Returning
Great Film Noir, bad guy Dan Duryea brought his talents to the role of Johnny Evans. Duryea was first covered in the World War II desert film Sahara (1943).
Shelley Winters was pretty good as a relatively innocent girlfriend to criminals Terry Stewart. Winters was first covered in the dystopian film Wild in the Streets (1968).
John McIntire played dude ranch manager and master criminal Nick Avery. McIntire was first covered in the Film Noir The Phenix City Story (1955).
Tony Curtis played the role of mute hitman Joey Hyatt. Curtis was first covered in The Vikings (1958).
New
Howard Duff played the role of Treasury agent George Morton. Duff was born in Washington in 1913. Duff grew up in the Seattle area and attended Roosevelt High School. Duff first began acting in high school. After he graduated, he began studying drama and eventually became a member of the Repertory Playhouse in Seattle.
Like many actors of his era, except John Wayne, Duff’s career was put on hold due to World War II. Duff served from 1941 to 1945 in U.S. Army Air Force’s radio service.
Following the war, Duff began a successful career in entertainment. He was hired for the radio role of Sam Spade and worked from 1946-1950. His first movie was the gritty Film Noir Brute Force (1947), which had a master class of actors. He quickly followed this film with The Naked City (1948) and All My Sons (1948).
Duff was in an impressive number of films. These include Red Canyon (1949), Johnny Stool Pigeon (1949), Illegal Entry (1949), Shakedown (1950), Spy Hunt (1950), and Woman in Hiding (1950), where he met and married Ida Lupino. This marriage lasted from 1951 – 1984. The couple made four films together; Jennifer (1953), Private Hell 36 (1954), Women’s Prison (1955), and While the City Sleeps (1956).
Duff continued with films like The Yellow Mountain (1954), Flame of the Islands (1955), Sierra Stranger (1957), A Wedding (1978), Kramer vs. Kramer (1979), and No Way Out (1987).
In the 1950s, the studio system broke up, and Duff was listed in Red Channels. Duff always denied that he was a communist. These two events limited the roles Duff could obtain. Duff started working in theater and was very successful on television. In addition to single appearance shows, he starred in a sitcom with his wife and on several other series. Later in his career, he was on “Knots Landing” from 1984 – 1985. Duff died in 1990 at the age of 76.
Story – Johnny Stool Pigeon (1949)
The movie begins with the shield of the U.S. Department of Treasury. The crawl tells that the department handles customs, narcotics, and other functions. A big thanks and shoutout is given. An aerial view of San Francisco is shown. It zooms down to the Embaradro and to the ships landing there.
Agents George Morton (Howard Duff) and his partner Sam Harrison (Gar Moore) wait in the shadows to watch the activity on a ship. They see a sailor flash a signal light. The signal is answered by another from the dock. The sailor from the ship heads down and meets the second man as the two agents follow.
The agents draw their guns as they enter the dark warehouse. They try to make an arrest when the sailor from the ship delivers a package of narcotics to the dockman in exchange for cash. The man from the dock begins firing at the agents.
In the gun battle, the sailor is killed by his dock-side partner. The dockman escapes out the back exit. Morton narrates how the 20-year-old sailor tried to make some easy money and was killed. He also says this will become the most significant case of his life.
The two agents return to headquarters. They could identify the man that escaped as Pete Carter (Edwin Max) and a couple of other names. The boss T.H. Benson (Wally Maher), says Carter went quiet during the war, and he is not acting with the support of a big organization. The boss decides not to follow Carter but to bring him in and charge him with killing the sailor.
They start hitting the bars and streets to find an informant that will tell them where Carter is located. An informant tells them that Carter is in room 303 of a local hotel. But before they can arrive, a criminal, Joey Hyatt (Tony Curtis), fills Carter with lead. Joey escapes before the agents see him.
Morton says that they have lost their single lead and the mob Carter worked for killed him before he could talk to the agents. Harrison has taken an address/records book as evidence from the dead body. Harrison thinks a listing for the Arctic World Trading Company in Vancouver is worth looking into.
The agency checks with the Canadians and finds that the Arctic World Trading Company is controlled by William McCandles (Barry Kelley). However, McCandles does not have a record. Benson goes on about all of the overdoses that have been occurring lately. This gives Morton an idea.
Morton says Johnny Evans (Dan Duryea) can help him get into any mob. Benson thinks it is a crazy idea. Morton takes to the boat out to Alcatraz Prison to see Johnny. Morton is the agent that sent Johnny to prison; they have known each other since they were kids. Johnny hated cops, but Morton thinks he has an edge.
Johnny is brought out and is not happy to see Morton. Morton lays out that there is a big mob somewhere, and Morton wants Johnny to help him get inside. There is a vague promise of some help with his sentence. Johnny says no dice. Morton says he will take him outside for 24 hours, just like the plot of 48 Hours (1982). Johnny doesn’t want to be a stool pigeon. Morton cons him into accepting the trip by talking about the girls. Johnny is still acting hard.
The two men leave the island and go to the city morgue. They take Johnny into the back, showing him the dead body of his wife, who has died of a narcotics overdose. Morton tells Johnny that the addition of his wife was a murder. Morton talks about how bad it is to go through withdrawals. Johnny becomes enraged, but he says he will do it. He also says he will get even with the cop.
Morton gives a rundown of a fake criminal record so Johnny can sell him to the mob. Johnny also shows Morton how to dress like a hood. While doing a shake-down of Morton’s gear, Johnny pulls out the agent’s revolver. After a long second, Johnny says that the gun reeks of being a cop and that he should replace it.
Morton gets a ticket and money to head to Vancouver. The police revolver is replaced by an automatic. Benson says he doesn’t like Johnny and says nothing better go wrong.
Morton and Johnny cross into Canada. The pair go directly to the Arctic Trading Company to meet with McCandles. Johnny, who is known to McCandles, introduces Morton as his partner. They say they want to handle McCandles merchandise.
McCandles says he is only a wholesaler. He opens a wall safe, but he brings out only furs. Morton says they want different merchandise. McCandles starts checking out Morton, but Johnny jumps in and bluffs the mobster. McCandles tells them to meet him at the Frontier Club that night. When the two men leave, McCandles calls for Terry Stewart (Shelley Winters).
Johnny and Morton go to the club. They are seated at a table to wait for McCandles. Terry is already waiting at the table. Everyone at the table tries to figure out the racket of the others. Morton turns her down for a dance, but Johnny takes her to the floor. Terry kind of likes Morton. Terry is from Arizona. She keeps asking Johnny about Morton. Johnny gets short and warns her away from him. She slaps Johnny but quickly apologizes.
When they return to the table, McCandles is waiting with his partner Ray Dallas (Kenneth Patterson ). They send Terry away so they can talk. Morton says they just want to buy the product so they can sell it. It turns out that the McCandles source has dried up. Morton says they want McCandles to give them the connection that Carter was using so they can get everyone back to distributing. Morton says they have a fix at the border that can get the stuff across. As they are leaving, Terry begs Morton to take her with them. He refuses.
Morton and Johnny get on a train heading south. They see that Terry is also on the train. Terry is heading back to Arizona. Morton is really mean to her and says she is a plant from McCandles. Terry admits that it is true and says she won’t betray him. Terry says she has had a hard life and only depends on money. Johnny steps up and says Terry goes along with them, or he is out of the deal.
Morton meets with Benson at the train station in San Francisco. Morton thinks Johnny is running some kind of setup with Terry. He also says that McCandles has instructed him to go to a dude ranch in Tuscon. Morton says he needs to keep Johnny with him.
The trio makes it to Tuscon. Terry picks up a pamphlet for the B-Bar-M dude ranch. She is very excited. The taxi driver (Bill McLean) confirms it is a great place to visit. He also says a lot of bigwigs show up there. Terry gets nervous and doesn’t want to go. Johnny makes her.
Terry shows where she used to sling hash. Johnny has the taxi stop at a store so he can buy some nice clothes for Terry.
The ranch is on a dirt road, but it is lovely inside. People are wearing western gear and hanging out in the lobby. They don’t have a reservation, but Morton tells the hotel clerk (Charles Drake) their names. He has a double for the men and a single for the lady. Morton is suspicious of the clerk. The hitman, Joey, walks past the trio and seems to remember the faces.
Morton questions Johnny about what he is doing by helping Terry. Later she calls and wants Johnny to meet her in the bar. Morton forces Johnny to stay in the room at gunpoint. He then puts his gun in a dresser drawer.
There is a knock on the door, and a dude ranch-dressed Nick Avery (John McIntire) enters the room. He gives his name as Hank, and he is the manager/honcho at the dude ranch. Johnny uses this time to slip out to the bar. Nick/Hank tells Morton they need western dudes for tomorrow night’s big dance. He sees Terry, Johnny, and Nick/Hank enter the bar together.
The next night, the ranch has a big square dance. Nick/Hank greets the three travelers. He is very jovial, but Morton, Johnny, and Terry don’t seem to be having a good time. Nick/Hank introduces the trio to Señor Martinez (Nacho Galindo), who is from Mexico. Terry tells the men to relax and stop hating each other.
Johnny and Terry slipped away from the dance floor. Joey is at the bar watching Morton. Morton goes looking for the missing couple. The is an airfield, planes, and a hangar at the resort. Morton begins checking it out. With his gun drawn, a guard, Pete (Robert Foulk), sends Morton back to the dance.
At the party, Morton complains to Nick/Hank but is told not to worry about Pete because he is an over-eager guard. Morton is taken back to Nick/Hank’s office for a drink. Once inside, Nick/Hank pulls a gun. Johnny can be heard being tortured in the back room. Johnny doesn’t break, even under the worst beating. Finally, Nick/Hank stops the beating that Charlie (Hugh Reilly) is giving to Johnny.
In the room are Joey and Terry. Morton slugs Charlie. Johnny gives a story, and they all buy it. Johnny says Nick/Hank is really Nick and is the head of the entire drug racket. Señor Martinez is brought into the room, and Terry is sent away.
Morton says he is the banker and will pay when he gets the product. Nick says they have 500 acres planted with poppies and their own processing plant. Nick tells Morton and Johnny to relax and wait. Nick assigns Charlie to keep an eye on Morton and Johnny. Morton thanks Johnny, but Johnny says he still plans on having revenge.
Terry comes by the table where Morton and Johnny are waiting with their guard. Terry is flying to Mexico with Nick and Martinez.
Terry returns with Nick. Johnny and Morton are drinking at the bar. Johnny rages on Morton for not caring about Terry. He almost spills the beans that Morton is a cop. Joey gets the idea too, and runs out.
Alone in the room, Morton is awakened by Charlie and told to report to Nick. Johnny is already in the office with Nick and Joey. They are planning some kind of deal. Nick tells Morton they are making a big haul from south of the border that night. Joey is sent to guard Morton, so he can’t tip anyone off. Joey is mute. Charlie says the only thing Joey can do is shoot a gun.
Before they leave at 8:45 pm, Morton sees Terry heading across the courtyard. He gets her attention through the bathroom window. Morton thinks the trip will be a one-way trip for him. He gives her a number to call for police backup, but he doesn’t know if she will call.
All the men load up in two cars and leave the resort. Terry goes into the bar but is quickly joined by Pete, who says he has been told to keep an eye on her. Terry plays it cool and starts drinking with Pete.
The two cars travel down a dirt road lined with saguaro cacti. They hit the paved road and drive towards Nogales, Mexico. Eventually, the tow cars turn down another dirt road. They meet another man digging a grave. Johnny says that’s a grave, copper.
Nick tells Johnny to take Morton and Joey to meet with Martinez. Nick asks Johnny where to send his cut, and Johnny replies that getting Morton will be his cut. Morton, Johnny, and Joey continue south.
Terry is acting like she is having a good time drinking with Pete. She goes into the lady’s room and asks the Indian attendant (Grace Lenard) to make the call for her. Terry gives her some money with the note.
In the car, Morton tries to convince Johnny not to kill him. They enter Mexico with no issues. Johnny drives through the dusty backstreets until they reach any alley. Joey and Johnny have guns on the agent the entire time. Johnny says so long, copper, and slugs Morton. He then turns and shoots Joey but is shot simultaneously by Joey. Johnny drags Joey’s body away.
Later, Morton awakes and is surprised to be alive. An extensive search is taking place as cars try to cross the border. A Mexican couple is kissing in a doorway. Morton says he is a federal agent and must get to the border. The man drops him at the search area.
Morton contacts the agent in charge, Pringle (Leif Erickson). They can’t figure out why Morton was left alive. Johnny staggers in and says that Joey spotted him, and he had to pretend to go along to save them both. Johnny says it was a funeral.
Pringle tells Morton that a funeral crossed the border, but they didn’t search the casket. They head across to the United States. The grave, they saw earlier, is the hiding place for the drugs. The agents pull down the side road in three cars.
They capture four men burying the casket. However, the drugs have already been removed. They head towards the ranch. Pringle calls in an ABP for the remaining men.
Nick is in his office packing as fast as he can. Charlie is there, and Terry wants to know where they are going. The cops arrive, and a gunbattle breaks out. Nick and company run to an airplane. Pete comes out of the hangar and is shot down.
Morton tells the agents to drive behind the hangar. The plane roars out with Nick, Charlie, and Terry on board. Not wanting Terry to be taken away, Morton drives onto the runway and plays chicken with the plane. He jumps at the last second. The plane hits and crashes.
Nick and the gangs in both Canada and Mexico are arrested. Morton says that within six months, all of the criminals were convicted. The key witnesses were Johnny and Terry. Johnny is released and leaves with Terry.
Conclusion – Johnny Stool Pigeon (1949)
Wait. I thought Terry really liked Morton.
This is an average Film Noir, but it is worth the time to watch. Duff, Duryea, and even Lief Erickson were models of Film Noir tough guys. Winters was very good as more of a damsel in distress. She was in no way a Femme Fatale.
World-Famous Short Summary – Convict gets a new girlfriend
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[1] https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0041529/
[2] Johnny Stool Pigeon – Rotten Tomatoes
[3] At the Palace – The New York Times (nytimes.com)
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