Review of Johnny O'Clock

Dick Powell once again proves that he can play the tough guy roles, just as he did in the classic "Murder My Sweet." This time he is a slick, even egotistical, gambling hall owner. He is icy with most, gentle with others, and I believe he doesn't know himself which he really is. Harriet the hat check girl has a problem, namely Chuck Blayden, a crooked cop, who works for Johnny and his partner, Guido Marchettis played by Thomas Gomez who would go on to win an Oscar for his role in "Ride the Pink Horse," with Robert Montgomery, another film noir classic. When Harriet is found dead, by Inspector Kotch, a cigar smoking Lee J. Cobb, Kotch goes after Johnny assuming he knows more than he is willing to say about her murder and Blayden's disappearance. In steps Evelyn Keyes as Harriet's sister, who eventually falls for Johnny. Ellen Drew is married to the boss, but has had an affair with Johnny, which Guido suspects, but lays back like a snake and waits for one of them to make a mistake. The mistake comes by the way of two watches, one for the husband and one for Johnny. The difference, Johnny's watch is inscribed with "To my darling with never-ending love." When Guido discovers this and Johnny figures out that he has murdered both Harriet and Blayden, the cross is on. Keyes tries to make Johnny understand that money is no good, the only thing that counts is life, and if he goes back to get money from his partner, then he just doesn't get it. He returns anyway, and in the process kills Guido, after he shoots him. Trying to escape, he is confronted by both Keyes and the cop in a stand off. He eventually gives up and love conquers all. There are some great scenes in the movie, Lee J. Cobb is just superb as the cop and Evelyn Keys and Ellen Drew, are both great as the two women in Johnny's life. Don't miss this one, it is great noir.