Johns (1996)

It's the day before Christmas, the day before John's 21st birthday. He's a prostitute on Santa Monica Blvd in L.A., and he wants to spend that night and the next day at the posh Park Plaza ... See full summary »

Director:

Scott Silver

Writer:

Scott Silver

Stars:

David Arquette, Lukas Haas, Tony Epper

1 win & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
David Arquette	...	John
Lukas Haas	...	Donner
Tony Epper	...	Santa Claus
John C. McGinley	...	Danny Cohen
Keith David	...	Homeless John
Wilson Cruz	...	Mikey
Joshua Schaefer	...	David (as Josh Schaefer)
Sydney Lassick	...	Al
Chris Gartin	...	Eli
Ruth Silver	...	Tourist Mom
Alanna Ubach	...	Nikki
N'Bushe Wright	...	X-Mas Junkie
Richard T. Jones	...	Mr. Popper (as Richard Timothy Jones)
Richard Kind	...	Paul Truman
Elliott Gould	...	Manny Gould

Storyline

It's the day before Christmas, the day before John's 21st birthday. He's a prostitute on Santa Monica Blvd in L.A., and he wants to spend that night and the next day at the posh Park Plaza Hotel. He's ripped off a local drug dealer to pay the bill, but as he's sleeping that morning, someone steals his shoes right off his feet, with the money in them. Meanwhile, Donner, a lad new to the streets, wants John to leave the city with him for Camelot, a theme park in Branson, MO, where they'll work as lifeguards. John spends the day trying to hustle the money for the hotel, avoid Jimmy the Warlock, keep his girl friend placated, and figure out how to deal with Donner's friendship.

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Plot Keywords:

written by director | 21 year old | eavesdropping | stealing someone's shoes | camera shot of feet | 

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong sexual content and language, and for some violence and drug use

Did You Know?

Trivia

Filmed in 20 days in and around Hollywood.

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Quotes

Donner: I am not a prostitute. I am an entertainer. I do not go in for violence.

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Crazy Credits

The director would like to thank: ... and all the hustlers who shared their stories for $20 - John, Kurtis, Justin, Craig, John, Nikki, David, Scott, Sal and Sal.

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Connections

References True Grit (1969)

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Soundtracks

Sweey Little Jesus Boy
(1934)
Written by Robert MacGimsey
Performed by Keith David & Charles Brown

User Reviews

Johns: Very realistic in its portrayal of the hardships of street life.

Johns quite accurately portrays the nightmarish life of "kids" on the streets of Hollywood. There are indeed bright spots in life for these social outcasts, rare people like the angelic "Homeless John" or Richard Kind's "Paul," the gentlemanly concierge, but the recurring theme of mistrust is "on the money," as we say.

Having lived and/or worked in the Hollywood area for decades, everyone here can also solemnly assure people who do not live in Southern California, that, yes, it CAN be blindingly bright, hot and sunny in December in Hollywood, and yes, that bright glare off of the white stucco walls REALLY occurs, and yes, it IS depressing! Our reviewer has compared the Los Angeles of johns to Oran in The Plague by Camus; visually, the comparison is apt. Morally and spiritually it is perhaps even more apt.

Details

Official Sites:

First Look Pictures

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

31 January 1997 (USA)

Also Known As:

Johns

Filming Locations:

Santa Monica Boulevard, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$50,789, 2 February 1997

Gross USA:

$50,789

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$50,789

Company Credits

Production Co:

Bandeira Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

96 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1