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Johnny O'Clock Photos

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Movie Info

When an employee at an illegal gambling den dies suspiciously, her sister, Nancy (Evelyn Keyes), looks into the situation and falls for Johnny O'Clock (Dick Powell), a suave partner in the underground casino. Selfish and non-committal by nature, Johnny slowly begins to return Nancy's affection and decides to run away with her, but conflict within his business threatens their plans. As Johnny tries to distance himself from the casino, his shady past comes back to haunt him.

Genre:

drama, crime
Original Language:

English
Director:

Robert Rossen
Release Date (Streaming):

Sep 28, 2020
Runtime:

1h 35m
Production Co:

J.E.M. Productions

Cast & Crew

Dick Powell
Johnny O'Clock

Evelyn Keyes
Nancy Hobson

Lee J. Cobb
Inspector Koch

Robert Rossen
Director

Critic Reviews for Johnny O'Clock

All Critics (6) | Top Critics (4) | Fresh (2) | Rotten (4)

The caustically epigrammatic script, the cast's suavely controlled gestures of love and menace, and Rossen's thrillingly restrained and stylishly assertive images... make this pugnacious yet intricate spectacle a hidden classic of the genre.

April 6, 2020 | Full Review…

Richard Brody
New Yorker
Although the plot follows a familiar pattern, the characterizations are fresh and the performances good enough to overbalance.

July 6, 2010 | Full Review…

Variety Staff
Variety
Despite good performances and fine camerawork from Burnett Guffey, Rossen's first film as director is a disappointingly flat thriller.

June 24, 2006 | Full Review…

Time Out Staff
Time Out
The slowness and general confusion of the plot for two-thirds of the film does not make for notable excitement, and the shallowness of the mystery as to who's doing all the killing relieves it of any great suspense.

March 25, 2006 | Full Review…

Bosley Crowther
New York Times
...a head-scratching misfire.

April 3, 2020 | Rating: 5/10 | Full Review…

Nathanael Hood
Nate Hood Reviews
The protagonist, Dick Powell, seems more like a stuffed shirt.

January 17, 2003 | Rating: C+ | Full Review…

Dennis Schwartz
Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

View All Critic Reviews (6)

Audience Reviews for Johnny O'Clock

Jan 19, 2014

Decent noir with a fine cast but Powell seems disengaged in the lead. He doesn't ruin the picture but it would have been a stronger film with Mitchum or Kirk Douglas in the lead.

jay n Super Reviewer