Johnny Dangerously (1984)

Set in the 1930s, an honest, good-hearted man is forced to turn to a life of crime to finance his neurotic mother's sky-rocketing medical bills.

Director:

Amy Heckerling

Writers:

Norman Steinberg, Bernie Kukoff

Stars:

Michael Keaton, Joe Piscopo, Marilu Henner

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Michael Keaton	...	Johnny Kelly / Johnny Dangerously
Joe Piscopo	...	Danny Vermin
Marilu Henner	...	Lil
Maureen Stapleton	...	Ma Kelly
Peter Boyle	...	Jocko Dundee
Griffin Dunne	...	Tommy Kelly
Glynnis O'Connor	...	Sally
Dom DeLuise	...	The Pope
Richard Dimitri	...	Roman Troy Moronie
Danny DeVito	...	Burr
Ron Carey	...	Pat
Ray Walston	...	Vendor
Dick Butkus	...	Arthur
Byron Thames	...	Young Johnny
Alan Hale Jr.	...	Desk Sergeant

Storyline

Set in the 1930s, an honest, goodhearted man is forced to turn to a life of crime to finance his neurotic mother's skyrocketing medical bills.

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Plot Keywords:

1930s | newspaper boy | nightclub | organized crime | gangster | 

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Taglines:

Organized crime has never been so disorganized!

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Genres:

Comedy | Crime

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Certificate:

PG-13

Did You Know?

Trivia

In the scene where Tommy (Griffin Dunne) is in the hospital room in a full body cast, the hospital loudspeaker pages for "Dr. Michael Hertzberg". Michael Hertzberg is one of the film's producers.

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Goofs

At the end of the film, set in 1935, the Rolls-Royce Johnny steps into is a 1939 model.

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Quotes

Ma Kelly: I love him, but someday I'm gonna knock him on his ass.

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Crazy Credits

After the opening credits, you see "1935" on the screen. A car in the near lane of the street drives behind it. Then, another car (in the far lane) runs into the number sitting on the road, and smashes it to pieces.

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Alternate Versions

Around the time of the Columbine shootings, Comedy Central removed Danny Vermin's line (referring to his specially made 88 Magnum) "It shoots through schools.".

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Connections

Featured in 'Weird Al' Yankovic: The Videos (1996)

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Soundtracks

Dangerously
Lyrics by Norman Gimbel
Performed by Marilu Henner

User Reviews

Cagney Esq.

Michael Keaton had the job of not only portraying the fictional gangster Johnny Dangerously, but he had to play the role by giving his best James Cagney impression. From the Irish smile, the walk and the way he hung his gangster type hat on his head, Keaton captured the Rocky Sullivan character from the 1940's. Like Keaton's character, many of the sets the movie was shot on were taken right out of movies like Little Caesar and Public Enemy. The Club Scene is right out of Little Caesar as well as the exterior of the hotel and the downtown newspaper stands. The Mafia's office room is straight out of Little Caesar as well. An amazingly funny cast including Danny DeVito, you can't beat this comedy. A well done story with non stop comic relief with great production value and acting.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

21 December 1984 (USA)

Also Known As:

Johnny Dangerously

Filming Locations:

Century City, Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$9,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$2,947,746, 25 December 1984

Gross USA:

$17,124,395

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$17,124,395

Company Credits

Production Co:

Edgewood Productions, Twentieth Century Fox

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1