"Johnny Staccato" (1959) TV series

User Rating:

8.7/10   

Writers:

John D.F. Black (writer)
Stanford Whitmore (story) (episode "Collectror's Item")
(more)

Seasons:

1

Release Date:

10 September 1959 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot Keywords:

Jazz Musician | Pianist | Jazz Score | Private Detective | Character Name In Title

Cast

John Cassavetes	...	Johnny Staccato / ... (27 episodes, 1959-1960)
Eduardo Ciannelli	...	Waldo (18 episodes, 1959-1960)

(more)

Series Directed by
John Cassavetes		(5 episodes, 1959-1960)
Robert B. Sinclair		(5 episodes, 1959-1960)
Boris Sagal		(3 episodes, 1959)
Richard Whorf		(3 episodes, 1960)
John Brahm		(2 episodes, 1959-1960)
James Hogan		(2 episodes, 1959)
Paul Henreid		(2 episodes, 1960)

Series Writing credits
Richard Carr		(8 episodes, 1959-1960)
Robert L. Jacks		(3 episodes, 1959-1960)
Stanford Whitmore		(3 episodes, 1959-1960)
James Landis		(2 episodes, 1959-1960)
John D.F. Black		(unknown episodes)

Series Produced by
Everett Chambers	....	producer (26 episodes, 1959-1960)
William Frye	....	executive producer (23 episodes, 1959-1960)

Series Original Music by
Elmer Bernstein		(26 episodes, 1959-1960)

Series Cinematography by
Lionel Lindon		(10 episodes, 1959-1960)
Ray Cory		(3 episodes, 1959-1960)
William A. Sickner		(3 episodes, 1959-1960)
John F. Warren		(3 episodes, 1959)
Bud Thackery		(2 episodes, 1959-1960)
John L. Russell		(2 episodes, 1959)

Series Film Editing by
Irving M. Schoenberg		(19 episodes, 1959-1960)
Eugene Pendleton		(3 episodes, 1959-1960)
Edward Haire		(2 episodes, 1959)

Series Art Direction by
John Meehan		(20 episodes, 1959-1960)
Martin Obzina		(4 episodes, 1960)

Series Set Decoration by
Perry Murdock		(15 episodes, 1959-1960)
John McCarthy Jr.		(6 episodes, 1959)

Series Makeup Department
Florence Bush	....	hair stylist (25 episodes, 1959-1960)
Jack Barron	....	makeup artist (17 episodes, 1959-1960)
Leo Lotito Jr.	....	makeup artist (5 episodes, 1959-1960)
Robert Dawn	....	makeup artist (3 episodes, 1959)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Edward K. Dodds	....	assistant director (5 episodes, 1959-1960)
James Hogan	....	assistant director (3 episodes, 1959-1960)
Will Sheldon	....	assistant director (3 episodes, 1959)
Frank Fox	....	assistant director (2 episodes, 1959-1960)
Hilton A. Green	....	assistant director (2 episodes, 1959)
Nat Holt Jr.	....	assistant director (2 episodes, 1960)

Series Art Department
Robert M. Anderson	....	lead man (unknown episodes)

Series Sound Department
Earl Crain Sr.	....	sound (8 episodes, 1959-1960)
William Russell	....	sound (4 episodes, 1959-1960)
Earl Crain Jr.	....	sound (3 episodes, 1959-1960)
John C. Grubb	....	sound (3 episodes, 1959-1960)
Melvin M. Metcalfe Sr.	....	sound (3 episodes, 1959-1960)
Frank H. Wilkinson	....	sound (2 episodes, 1959)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Vincent Dee	....	costume supervisor (25 episodes, 1959-1960)

Series Editorial Department
Richard G. Wray	....	editorial supervisor (26 episodes, 1959-1960)

Series Music Department
Stanley Wilson	....	music supervisor (26 episodes, 1959-1960)
Pete Candoli	....	musician (3 episodes, 1959)
Red Mitchell	....	musician (3 episodes, 1959)
John Williams	....	musician (3 episodes, 1959)
Barney Kessel	....	musician (2 episodes, 1959)
Shelly Manne	....	musician (2 episodes, 1959)

Series Other crew
Richard Carr	....	story consultant (6 episodes, 1960)

Production Companies

• Revue Studios

Distributors

• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1959-1960) (USA) (TV)
• Studios USA Television

Other Companies

• Mr. Bongo and His Quartet  group cast members (episode "Nature of the Night, The")

Also Known As:

"Staccato" (USA) (short title)

Runtime:

30 min (27 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Filming Locations:

Revue Studios, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Revue Studios

"JOHNNY STACCATO" - jazz and crime drama at its early best

Despite Cassavetes' sometimes intense acting style (or maybe because of it), "JOHNNY STACCATO" was easily one of my favorite TV shows of the late 50s, early 60s. It had a dark-haired, bedroom-eyed, brooding hero and it had jazz - really GOOD jazz, sometimes even great jazz by big names like Pete Condoli and Ray Brown and Mel Lewis (the latter two would later form one-half of the MJQ). East coast jazz mixed with private eyes was a popular theme in that black and white era (think "PETER GUNN" and "FIVE FINGER EXERCISE" with David Hedison and Luciana somebody as his OTT Italian girlfriend). STACCATO didn't last more than one year but it was well-written, beautifully shot, and certainly caught the zeitgeist in its web. There is even one episode that starred a young Mary Tyler Moore. Get a copy on CD or video and prepare to be impressed.