Johnny Eager (1941)

The step-daughter of a district attorney falls in love with a gangster on parole who her father originally imprisoned.

Director:

Mervyn LeRoy

Writers:

John Lee Mahin (screen play), James Edward Grant (screen play)

Stars:

Robert Taylor, Lana Turner, Edward Arnold

Won 1 Oscar.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Robert Taylor	...	Johnny Eager
Lana Turner	...	Lisbeth Bard
Edward Arnold	...	John Benson Farrell
Van Heflin	...	Jeff Hartnett
Robert Sterling	...	Jimmy Courtney
Patricia Dane	...	Garnet
Glenda Farrell	...	Mae Blythe
Henry O'Neill	...	Mr. Verne
Diana Lewis	...	Judy Sanford
Barry Nelson	...	Lew Rankin
Charles Dingle	...	Marco
Paul Stewart	...	Julio
Cy Kendall	...	Halligan
Don Costello	...	Billiken
Lou Lubin	...	Benjy

Storyline

Ruthless hood Johnny Eager is pretending to his parole officer that he has chucked the rackets and is working as a taxi driver. In fact, he's as deep into crime as he ever was and desperately needs official permission to open his new dog racing track. When he meets up with Lisbeth Bard, the step-daughter of the district attorney, he finds she is not only stunning but a possible way to get his permit.

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Plot Keywords:

cynic | district attorney | gangster | taxi driver | love triangle | 

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Taglines:

A Roaring Blast Of Dynamic Action

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Genres:

Crime | Film-Noir | Thriller

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Certificate:

Passed

Did You Know?

Trivia

In one of the bedrooms in Johnny's apartment at the track is a large painting, done in the art deco style, of a reclining blonde woman. Coincidentally, this same painting is featured briefly but prominently in Eyes in the Night (1942), released the same year and also starring Edward Arnold, referred to in that film by Marty as "a blonde tomato."

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Goofs

When Johnny enters the room where his girlfriend and Jeff are quarreling, he closes the door in a normal fashion but there is no sound of the door closing.

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Quotes

Johnny Eager: Oh, now don't turn ordinary on me. I get tired of ordinary dames. And I don't want to get tired of you.

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Connections

Edited into Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid (1982)

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Soundtracks

Melancholy
(1911) (uncredited)
(Also known as "Melancholy Baby" and "My Melancholy Baby")
Music by Ernie Burnett
Played during the opening and closing credits
Played as dance music by the band at Tony Luce's place
Played as background music often

User Reviews

Bearing the MGM Stamp

"Johnny Eager" reeks with the look and feel of a typical MGM production. It's glossy, high class, not particularly realistic but very dramatic, and given to a kind of heightened fantasy world, even when tackling a tough scenario.

Robert Taylor was always at best a competent journeyman leading player, whose "perfect profile" merged with acceptable physique and resonant voice to sustain a remarkably prolific career.

Lana Turner was perfectly paired with him, as her abilities were an equal match. She likewise possessed striking looks and a willingness to do a good job. Those qualities also sustained a folio as full and lengthy as Taylor's.

Van Heflin turned in fine character performance (he always seemed a striking forerunner of Arthur Kennedy) which was one of his numerous outstanding performances.

All in all, "Johnny Eager" is quite entertaining, as long as one's willing to go with the uniquely MGM type of dramatic fantasy.

I was.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

17 January 1942 (USA)

Also Known As:

Johnny Eager

Filming Locations:

Pan-Pacific Auditorium - 7600 W. Beverly Boulevard, Fairfax, Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$651,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

107 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1