Frankie and Johnny (1991)
- Starring:
- Al Pacino, Michelle Pfeiffer, (more)
- Director(s):
- Garry Marshall
- Theatrical MPAA Rating:
- R
- Category:
- Romance
My RatingTheatrical Release Information | See Details About All Versions
Terrence McNally's stage play Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune was a two-character piece, which starred Kathy Bates and F. Murray Abraham on Broadway. Garry Marshall's film version of the McNally play streamlines the title to Frankie and Johnny, expands the dramatis personae to include at least a dozen fascinating characters, and "glamorizes" the decidedly unglamorous Frankie and Johnny in the forms of Michelle Pfeiffer and Al Pacino (their first co-starring stint since Scarface). Purists carped at the changes, but overall the film is likeable enough to transcend these carps. While serving an 18-month sentence on a forgery charge, Johnny (Al Pacino) discovers the joys of cooking and classical literature. Upon his release, he is hired by gruff but good-hearted New York diner owner Nick (played by Garry Marshall "regular" Hector Elizondo). Also working for Nick is a waitress named Frankie (Michelle Pfeiffer). When Johnny expresses interest in Frankie, she keeps him at arm's length, her mistrust of men stemming from an unmentioned but obviously traumatic experience in her past. Eventually, however, Frankie and Johnny do get together, their curious relationship setting the stage for a dramatic denouement wherein both lovers bare their souls. The bulk of the original McNally play is concentrated in the film's final 20 minutes; the rest of the picture is a kaleidoscope of comic and poignant vignettes and quick-sketch character studies. Of the newly minted characters, the standout is Nathan Lane in the traditional "gay best friend/severest critic" role: he plays the character so effectively that one forgets he's essentially a cliché. As for the stars, Al Pacino is ideally cast as Johnny, but Michelle Pfeiffer, superb though she is, seems a bit ill at ease as the emotionally tattered Frankie; she totally wins the audience's hearts, however, in the film's memorable bowling-alley sequence. Smoothing over the rough spots in Frankie and Johnny is the evocative musical score by Marvin Hamlisch. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Theatrical Feature Running Time:
- 117 mins
Complete Cast:
- Al Pacino - Johnny
- Hector Elizondo - Nick
- Kate Nelligan - Cora
- Greg Lewis - Tino
- Ele Keats - Artemis
- Glenn Plummer - Peter
- Harvey Miller - Mr. Rosen
- Hope Alexander-Willis - Night Waitress
- Richard Allison - Johnny's Son
- Mychael Bates - Flower Driver
- Vallery Baynes - Johnny's Daughter
- Flora Berniker - Flora
- Eugenia Bravos - Grandma
- Blanche Bronte - Flower Vendor
- Frank Buxton - Minister
- K Callan - Frankie's Mother
- Barbara Marshall - Helen's Nurse
- Barbara London - Night Waitress
- Joli Lallo - Jorge's Girlfriend
- Elizabeth Kerr - Senior Citizen Customer
- Steve Restivo - Night Cook
- Marc Raducci - Cousin's Husband
- Pricilla Phillips - Snooty Customer
- Julie Paris - Pregnant Customer
- Barbara Nabozny - Eating Woman
- Robert Ball - Haircombing Neighbor
- Shannon Wilcox - Christine the Hooker
- Sophie Von Haselberg - Party Children
- Lorna Thayer - Flower Vendor
- Terri Sigrist - Bowling Twin
- Mark Scarola - Garment Worker
- Shane Ross - Sexy Neighbor
- Blair Richwood - Bus Rider
- Laurie Metcalf
- Shawn McLean - Penny Pitcher
- Kelly McCray - Bus Rider
- Scott A. Marshall - Sidewalk Preacher
- Harvey Keenan - Salesman Customer
- Ronny Hallin - Biker Customer
- Ira Glick - Mutzie Calish
- Diane Frazen - Whispering Customer Marge
- Bettiann Fishman - Aunt Bette
- Karen Case Cook - Megaphone Lady
- Krista H. Davis - Bus Rider
- Michelle Pfeiffer - Frankie
- Nathan Lane - Tim
- Jane Morris - Nedda
- Al Fann - Luther
- Fernando Lopez - Jorge
- Tim Hopper - Lester
- Sean O'Bryan - Bobby
- Paul Allison - Johnny's Son
- Bill Applebaum - Baby's Godfather
- Ashley Baynes - Johnny's Daughter
- Gordon Belson - Marlon the Disc Jockey
- Marvin Braveman - Officer Joe
- Gena Bravos - Greek Dancer
- Robert Brunner - Accident Driver
- Karin Calabro - Dental Technician
- Lori Marshall - Party Guest
- Bud Markowitz - Juggler Customer
- Phil Leeds - Mr. DeLeon
- Shirley Kirks - Greek Dancer
- Diana Kent - Nick's Wife
- Tracy Reiner - Attorney at Party
- Laurie Quinn - Pretty Girl Bowler
- DeDee Pfeiffer - Frankie's Cousin
- Marty Nadler - Rude Customer
- Richard Gillis - Sexy Neighbor
- Dey Young - Johnny's Ex-Wife
- Zachary Weintraub - Handsome Bowler
- Paul Tinder - New Husband
- Lynn Stalmaster
- Lori Sigrist - Bowling Twin
- Al Sapienza - Peter's Roommate
- Joy Rosenthal - Snooty Customer
- Jeff Michalski - Seizure Customer
- Barbara Mealy - Night Waitress
- Goldie McLaughlin - Waitress Helen
- Keith Martell - Party Child
- Allan Kent - Racetrack Customer
- Calvin Jung - Officer Lee
- John Goldman - Parking Lot Owner
- Nick Gambella - Night Busboy
- Hyman Fishman - Cora's customer
- Frank Campanella - Retired Customer
- Lucinda Crosby - Abused Neighbor
- Lou Evans - Eating Man
- Director(s):
- Garry Marshall
- Writer(s):
- Terrence McNally, Terrence E. McNally
- Producer(s):
- Garry Marshall
- Theatrical MPAA Rating:
- R(Sexual Situations, Profanity, Adult Humor, Not For Children, Brief Nudity)
- Categories:
- Romance
- Closed Captioning:
- Check All Versions
- Subtitles:
- Check All Versions
- 1991 - Frankie and Johnny - British Academy of Film and Television Arts - Best Supporting Actress
- 1991 - Frankie and Johnny - National Board of Review - Best Supporting Actress







