Johnny Handsome (1989) – Nostalgia Central

Adapted from the novel The Three Worlds of Johnny Handsome by John Godey, director Walter Hill’s dark revenge drama is a film noir full of gleaming evil.

Mickey Rourke starts out as John Sedley, a hideously malformed career criminal (mockingly nicknamed “Johnny Handsome” by the criminal underworld) whose life is changed by plastic surgery, much like Joan Crawford in her 1941 star vehicle A Woman’s Face.

Stabbed in prison after taking the rap for two double-crossing colleagues on a New Orleans robbery, he comes out with a new face, a new job, a new life – and old scores to settle at whatever cost.

Elizabeth McGovern plays Donna McCarty – the nice girl who comes along too late to save him – while masterful Morgan Freeman (as New Orleans Police detective Lt. A. Z. Drones) hovers over the action like a Greek chorus foretelling Johnny’s fate.

Rourke’s enemies, Rafe and Sunny, are a treacherous duo played with go-for-broke style by Lance Henriksen and Ellen Barkin, with Barkin’s Sunny as the nastiest screen bitch since Baby Jane.

John ‘Johnny Handsome’ Sedley/Johnny Mitchell
Mickey Rourke
Sunny Boyd
Ellen Barkin
Donna McCarty
Elizabeth McGovern
Lt. A.Z. Drones
Morgan Freeman
Dr Steven Resher
Forest Whitaker
Rafe Garrett
Lance Henriksen
Mikey Chalmette
Scott Wilson
Vic Dumask
David Schramm
Sister Luke
Yvonne Bryceland
Mr Bonet
Peter Jason
Larry
J.W. Smith
Earl
Jeff Meek
Bob Lemoyne
Allan Graf
Prestige Manager
Ed Zang
Prestige Salesman
John Fertitta
Judge
Edward Walsh
Sheriff Monte
Blake Clark

Director
Walter Hill