JOHNNY STACCATO - THE COMPLETE SERIES (NBC 1959-1960) John Cassavetes, Eduardo Ciannelli

Step into the smoky, jazz-filled world of Johnny Staccato, where the beat of the city and the thrill of mystery collide. John Cassavetes stars as Johnny Staccato, a hardboiled private detective with a love for jazz and a nose for trouble, in one of the most iconic roles of 1959.

Set in the gritty underbelly of New York City, this classic noir series follows Staccato, a former jazz pianist turned private eye, as he navigates a web of crime, betrayal, and mystery. Balancing his sleuthing skills with his passion for music, Johnny’s cases take him into the heart of beatnik culture and the shadowy corners of Manhattan.

Johnny Staccato was born in Manhattan and calls 860 West 40th Street home. His favorite haunt is Waldo’s, a bar owned by his friend Waldo (Eduardo Ciannelli), an Old-World Italian who favors opera but “puts up with” jazz. Johnny himself plays piano in the jazz band that performs there, with real-life jazz greats like Red Norvo, Red Mitchell, Shelly Manne, Johnny Williams, Barney Kessel, and Pete Candoli sitting in.

This complete collection brings together all 27 episodes, each brimming with atmospheric style, suspenseful storytelling, and a killer jazz soundtrack.

With Cassavetes’ standout performances, Johnny Staccato also boasts an array of notable guest stars who helped make the show a cult classic, including Mary Tyler Moore, Martin Landau, Dean Stockwell, Elizabeth Montgomery, Michael Landon, Cloris Leachman, Gena Rowlands, Susan Oliver, Madge Redmond, Jack Weston, Frank DeKova, Norman Fell, Nita Talbot, Shirley Knight, Ruta Lee, J. Pat O'Malley, Elisha Cook Jr., John Marley, and Vito Scotti—each bringing their own intensity to the high-stakes cases Johnny faces.

Also known simply as Staccato, this superb noir series ran for just a single season on NBC from September 1959 to March 1960. Whether you’re a fan of jazz, noir, or classic detective tales, Johnny Staccato is a must-have for every collection.

________________________________

Number of DVDs: 6

Number of Episodes: 27

Quality: 9.5/10

Running Time: 11 hrs 18 mins (approx)

Aspect Ratio: Fullscreen 1.33:1

NOTES: This is a fan-made DVD set. Not a studio release.