Johnny Eager1942
Johnny Eager (1942)
Johnny Eager Photos
Movie Info
Cast
as Johnny Eager
as Lisbeth 'Liz' Bard
as Jeff Hartnett
as Farrell
as Mae
as Jimmy
as Judy
as Garnet
as Marco
as Verne
as Rankin
as Julio
as Peg
as Halligan
as Billiken
as Benjy
as Matilda Fowler
as Floyd Markham
as Miss Mines
as Ryan
as Joe Agridowski
as Tony
as Cop
as Man
as Man
as Man
as Man
as Mabel
as Wife
as Husband
as Headwaiter
as Woman
as Guard
as Ed
as Hanger-on
as Cupid
as Lt. Allen
as Switchman
as Frenchman
as Girls in Verne's Office
as Ruffing
as Maid
as Pawnbroker
as Bus Conductor
as Card Player
as Card Player
as Card Player
as Card Player
as Butler
as Traffic Cop
as Ryan
Critic Reviews for Johnny Eager
All Critics (3) | Top Critics (2) | Fresh (1) | Rotten (2) | DVD (1)
Mr. Taylor won't toughen up. He's too nice to be a melodramatic mobster, and he shows it. Lana Turner is similarly handicapped: Metro has swathed her best assets in a toga, swears that she shall become an actress, or else.
Mervyn LeRoy's picture is more a melodrama than a crime-gangster due to star Robert Taylor and the studio behind it (MGM), but it's worth seeing for Van Heflin's Oscar performance as the cynical alcoholic given to philosophical observations.
Nothing can save this syrupy crime melodrama from its eagerness to please as a romantic sudser.
Audience Reviews for Johnny Eager
a surprisingly good film with one of the most beautiful screen couples i've seen in lana turner and robert taylor. these two aren't noted for their acting skills but they manage all right, especially taylor playing a dashing but amoral thug. what makes the film work however is the startling performance of van heflin as johnny eager's best friend, an alcoholic intellectual type who is pretty obviously in love with johnny. he's the pivotal character bringing the flat performances of the two leads to life and making eager's redemption in the last act believable. one of the best and most sympathetic portrayals of a gay character in classic hollywood and heflin well deserved his only academy award
Super Reviewer
Tough little actioner, Lana never more beautiful. Van Heflin excellent in support. Worthwhile
Super Reviewer
With this film about a gangster in love with a girl out of his league, Robert Taylor showed the world that he was more than just a (VERY) pretty face. He showed his soft romantic side that all the ladies loved, but also pulled a badass out of his hat that satisfied the male audience. Lana Turner did a fine job as his love interest (she'd really show her stuff a few years later in The Postman Always Rings Twice), and Van Heflin won an Oscar as Eager's alcoholic sidekick. A good example of 40's film noir.
Super Reviewer
Johnny Eager Quotes
| Pawnbroker: | Say, it just goes to show you what luck is. 20 minutes ago I was going to close up and I got to reading the paper. For no reason I'm reading, and it keeps me 20 minutes late and I make an 11 dollar sale. Just goes to show you a man can't tell what's going to happen next! |
| Jeff Hartnett: | You know when a woman loves like that she can love you with every card in the deck, and then pull a knife across your throat the next morning. |
| Jeff Hartnett: | Mr. Freud, take a letter. |
| Jeff Hartnett: | This guy could have climbed the highest mountain in the world---if he'd just started up the right one. |