Johnny O'Clock (1947)
Directed by Robert Rossen

Film Review

It was with this comparatively minor film noir crime drama that Robert Rossen made his directorial debut. Rossen had already established himself as a screenwriter of considerable ability and would later go on to direct some memorable and highly acclaimed films: Body and Soul (1947), All the King's Men (1949) and The Hustler (1961).  He was given the opportunity to direct this film when Charles Vidor pulled out at the last moment.

Whilst Johnny O'Clock adheres meticulously to the conventions of the classic American film noir, it does so a little too mechanically, as though its writer-director was following a prescribed recipe.  The pedestrian, slow-paced whodunit lacks the inspired touch which the better examples of the genre possess, but it is entertaining enough, in spite of its slow pace and overly complicated plot.  The performances are generally of a high standard, particularly that of Dick Powell who, in the wake of Murder, My Sweet (1944), finally managed to lay to rest his affable song and dance image of his early film career, replacing it with a much tougher, darker persona, which arguably suits him better. Thomas Gomez makes a superb villain and Lee J. Cobb is, as ever, dependably dour as the obligatory world-weary cop. It's formulaic stuff offering few surprises, but it just about holds the attention.

Film Synopsis

Johnny O'Clock manages a shady New York casino for his boss Guido
Marchettis, whose wife Nelle happens to be his former girlfriend.  Still in love with Johnny, Nelle makes him a present of a watch, but Johnny has no interest in rekindling their former affair and so asks hatcheck girl Harriet to return the unwelcome gift.  Harriet's sudden death arouses the interest of Inspector Koch, who soon discovers she was murdered.  Can it be a coincidence that before she died Harriet was in a relationship with crooked cop Chuck Blayden, who has been putting pressure on Marchettis to let him take over from Johnny?  Blayden would have made a good murder suspect, were it not for the fact that he himself winds up dead not long afterwards.  Koch's investigation seems to be leading him to the conclusion that Johnny was responsible for both of the murders.  With the help of Harriet's sister Nancy Johnny tries to clear his name, but becomes the next target of the real killer...