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Johnny Cade is a fictional character and a supporting protagonist in S.E. Hinton's 1967 novel, The Outsiders. The character is significant as the breakthrough role of Ralph Macchio, who famously portrayed him on screen in Francis Ford Coppola's 1983 film adaptation of the novel. Sky Lakota-Lynch originated the role on stage in the 2023 stage musical adaptation.[1][2]
Character overview
editJohnny was jumped by a gang called the Socs (pronounced /ˈsoʊʃɪz/—short for Socials) before the book starts, and still has the scars on his face from Bob Sheldon's rings. Ever since he has carried a switchblade for protection, and as mentioned in the book, "He'd use it on the next person who jumped him." He gets the chance when he and Ponyboy get jumped by five Socs in the park. They take Johnny down and go after Ponyboy. They attempt to drown Pony but Johnny pulls out his blade and stabs Bob. After, they go to Buck Merril's house to tell Dally what happened because he'd know what to do. He gives them fifty dollars, a gun, and directions to an abandoned church in Windrixville. They hide out for a week until everything "cools down". Dally then arrives and takes them out to eat.
When they go back to the church they find it fully engulfed in fire while there are children inside. Ponyboy and Johnny rush inside to rescue the kids. They successfully do so but when Johnny tries to get out, a support beam falls and crushes his lower back. They take all three of them to the hospital, Johnny for his back, Dally for minor burns on his arm he suffered while rescuing Johnny from the church before the whole place came down, and Pony for smoke inhalation. Johnny and Ponyboy are called heroes for risking their lives to save the kids in the church.
After the Greaser versus Soc rumble, Ponyboy and Dally (who escaped from the hospital with Two-Bit's switchblade) rush to see Johnny knowing that his time is running short and to tell him they won the rumble. They get pulled over by the police and Dally has Ponyboy fake being injured, their excuse was he had a motorcycle accident. They receive a police escort to the hospital and get there in time to see Johnny before he dies. His last words are "Stay gold, Ponyboy. Stay gold." Nothing Gold Can Stay seems to be a motif; the phrase is from a Robert Frost poem explaining how nothing good or beautiful can be around forever.
Other appearances
edit- Ralph Macchio plays Johnny in Francis Ford Coppola's 1983 film adaptation of the novel, in his first major role in a feature film. His performance has since been considered his breakthrough and it would ultimately launch him to stardom and make him, alongside his castmates, one of the early pioneers of the phenomena that would become known as the Brat Pack.[3][4]
- Sky Lakota-Lynch originated the role of Johnny in the 2023 stage musical adaptation of both the novel and film, first playing it at its world premiere production at La Jolla Playhouse and continuing with it during its move to Broadway. In this version, his murder charge is cleared following the Church fire instead of after his and Dallas' deaths. On his portrayal, Lakota-Lynch said "Being half Black and half Native American truly makes you the outsider. You're not Native American to the Native Americans. You're not Black to the Blacks. So where does Johnny belong? ... I'm honored that I get to play someone as heroic as Johnny, and that I don't have to necessarily lean on my race. I just get to be my race, and everything that comes with it, without falling into some stereotype."[5]
Reception
editMacchio's portrayal of Johnny in the 1983 film received praise from critics, with Robert Osborne in his 1983 review for The Hollywood Reporter writing that Macchio and C. Thomas Howell, who played Ponyboy, carry the film and do a commendable job with their performances.[6] Lakota-Lynch's portrayal in the 2023 stage musical also received acclaim and earned him numerous award nominations, including becoming the first actor of Native American descent to be nominated for the Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical.[7] Macchio himself also praised Lakota-Lynch's take on the character.[8]
Bibliography
editHinton, S.E. (1967). The Outsiders. New York: SPEAK. ISBN 9780140385724.
References
edit- ^ Krischer, Hayley (March 12, 2017). "Why 'The Outsiders' Lives On: A Teenage Novel Turns 50". The New York Times – via NYTimes.com.
- ^ Tensley, Brandon (June 14, 2017). "The Enduring Fascination of S.E. Hinton's 'The Outsiders'". Pacific Standard.
- ^ Saperstein, Pat (June 13, 2024). "The Brat Pack, Explained: A Guide to the Iconic 1980s Acting Posse".
- ^ "'The Outsiders' Cast: Where Are They Now?". Peoplemag.
- ^ https://playbill.com/article/the-outsiders-brody-grant-and-sky-lakota-lynch-are-this-generations-ponyboy-and-johnny
- ^ Osborne, Robert (March 25, 2017). "'The Outsiders': THR's 1983 Review". The Hollywood Reporter.
- ^ https://www.out.com/theater/tony-awards-2024-nominations
- ^ https://ew.com/the-outsiders-ralph-macchio-visits-cast-tony-award-winning-musical-adaptation-broadway-8666804
S. E. Hinton's The Outsiders (1967) | |
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Category:Fictional characters from Oklahoma Category:Fictional gang members Category:Teenage characters in musical theatre Category:Teenage characters in film Category:Teenage characters in literature Category:Male characters in film Category:Male characters in literature Category:Fictional adolescents Category:Fictional murderers Category:Characters in American novels of the 20th century Category:Literary characters introduced in 1967 Category:Culture of Tulsa, Oklahoma Category:Greasers (subculture) Category:The Outsiders (novel)