Too Much Johnson

Name: Too Much Johnson
Genre: Comedy
Released: 2014-08-30
Duration: 1 h 7 min
Rating: 5.7
Cast: Joseph Cotten, Virginia Nicolson, Edgar Barrier

IMDb RATING

5.7/10

854

YOUR RATING

Joseph Cotten in Too Much Johnson (1938)

Comedy

A woman has two lovers. When one man finds out about the other, he acts as a villain and chases after the protagonist.A woman has two lovers. When one man finds out about the other, he acts as a villain and chases after the protagonist.A woman has two lovers. When one man finds out about the other, he acts as a villain and chases after the protagonist.

Director
- Orson Welles
Writers
- William Gillette
- Orson Welles
Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

5.7/10

854

YOUR RATING

Director
- Orson Welles
Writers
- William Gillette
- Orson Welles
Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

Awards
- 1 win

Trivia
Orson Welles shot this film as part of an experiment in using film as part of a stage production of William Gillette's farce. Unfortunately, the film was never shown publicly because, though Welles had legally arranged for the right to stage Gillette's copyrighted play, the movie rights were held by Paramount, which took out an injunction to prevent Welles from showing the film.

Alternate versions
This film was published in Italy in an DVD anthology entitled "Troppo Johnson", distributed by DNA Srl. The film has been re-edited with the contribution of the film history scholar Riccardo Cusin . This version is also available in streaming on some platforms.

Connections
Featured in Magician: The Astonishing Life and Work of Orson Welles (2014)

User reviews15

Review

Featured review

5/10

unfinished work by Welles

A dirty pun. Because the lead clairette (arlene francis) is married. But has taken a lover, augustus billings (cotton). And the lover must try to escape before he is discovered by the returning husband (barrier) . And it's actually all silent, so this one is for the patient viewer. The first few scenes have dialog cards, but none after that. Omg, the chase scene with the keystone cops just goes on forever! The ladder bit on the roof looks like something from harold lloyd. Lots of running around rooftops, fire escapes, mountains. Editing is terrible.. as described in the trivia. People mouth words to the camera, but mostly no cards showing what they are saying. Lots of repetition, since little editing was ever done. Early early role for mary wickes. Directed by orson welles. Unfinished work from william gillette's play of 1894. Please read the trivia items in imdb to have a full understanding of the challenges of having this sixty six minute film ever presented, in any form. It really is a silent film.