Johnny by Johnny: What does the Netflix documentary series have in store for us?

“What was I singing at that time!” Jean-Philippe Smet alias Johnny Hallyday says with a small smile when he sees the black and white footage of him at the time. leave the girlsIt was published in 1960. “Then one day, as I was walking down the street near Drouot (Le Golf-Drouot, one of the first rock clubs in France), I heard young people whistling my song…, I knew.” Do you know? It’s the audience. How to describe the life of a very French legend? Directors Alexandre Danchin and Jonathan Gallaud are doing their best with this five-part documentary series, available on Netflix since March 29.

Is there everything? Obviously not, but based on numerous quotes from Johnny’s interviews, comments from people who met him and sometimes shared his life (Sylvie Vartan, Nathalie Baye, Adeline Blondieau, Laeticia Hallyday), and biographers, it’s a complex portrait of the character. It turns out he died on December 5, 2017. “They said he was born on a big farm in Texas”says Charles Aznavour will write to him later in his archive hold the night and even teach the fake cowboy to ride a horse.

king of speech

“He invented lives”corrects journalist Gilles Lhote, co-author of his autobiography, dantesque, baptized… destroy. Which indicates: “Besides, his main job was to lie.” Thus, for a long time, Johnny made believe or made believe that he met his idol, Elvis Presley, and even televised the American saying hello to him at the end of a concert. “Adorn the stories”, laughs, Patrick Mahé, director of Paris Match:“Of course he never met Elvis.” On the other hand, at the Palais des Sports in 1969, Stones’ Mick Jagger came to listen and applaud him, fascinated by his presence on stage. Thus, the series covers all aspects of Johnny’s life, including his dark side playing Russian roulette with his mistress, American singer Nanette Workman. Using a real bullet. Extreme. Shocking.

Johnny by Johnny on Netflix from March 29

Frederick Rapilly