IMDb RATING
7.0/10
3.4K
YOUR RATING
The step-daughter of a district attorney falls in love with a gangster on parole who her father originally imprisoned.The step-daughter of a district attorney falls in love with a gangster on parole who her father originally imprisoned.The step-daughter of a district attorney falls in love with a gangster on parole who her father originally imprisoned.
- Won 1 Oscar
- 1 win total
Joe Downing
- Ryan
- (as Joseph Downing)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaRobert Taylor fell in love with Lana Turner on the set of the film and asked his wife Barbara Stanwyck for a divorce, although Turner was not in love with him and tried to discourage him from doing so.
- GoofsJohnny Eager is posing as a cab driver and talks to his parole officer about missing the old ways and his fancy clothes, etc. Then several times he changes his cabby jacket and tie only to switch back to his gangster persona. He doesn't change his shoes, pants or the shirts he is wearing that have very fancy cuff links which makes the disguise less plausible.
- 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.
- ConnectionsEdited into Hollywood: The Dream Factory (1972)
- SoundtracksMelancholy
(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
Featured review
Plot-heavy crime melodrama with well-cast Taylor and Turner...
JOHNNY EAGER was one of MGM's early entries into film noir territory and it's an atmospheric and tough crime melodrama that gives Taylor and Turner some emotionally charged scenes. Too bad Turner's part isn't bigger than it is--she's more talked about than seen--but she makes it count in the big moments.
She plays a judge's daughter who falls in love with a mobster who it seems has never really loved a dame before. He leads her on to make her believe that she's guilty of a murder committed when he stages a fake fight with a fellow gangster. It's his way of blackmailing her father. The plot takes a lot of twists and turns before the complicated story runs its course--with Van Heflin in his Oscar-winning supporting role as the man who tries to be Johnny's conscience. Seems to me Heflin played much better roles after the war in leading roles for which he was never nominated again--namely 'Green Dolphin Street' (excellent work) and 'The Three Musketeers' (both times opposite Lana Turner).
You may be interested in reading my feature article on LANA TURNER appearing in the Spring 2002 issue of FILMS OF THE GOLDEN AGE.
Robert Taylor gives a solid, convincing performance in the title role. Barry Sullivan, Robert Sterling, Edward Arnold and Paul Stewart all do well in colorful supporting roles.
She plays a judge's daughter who falls in love with a mobster who it seems has never really loved a dame before. He leads her on to make her believe that she's guilty of a murder committed when he stages a fake fight with a fellow gangster. It's his way of blackmailing her father. The plot takes a lot of twists and turns before the complicated story runs its course--with Van Heflin in his Oscar-winning supporting role as the man who tries to be Johnny's conscience. Seems to me Heflin played much better roles after the war in leading roles for which he was never nominated again--namely 'Green Dolphin Street' (excellent work) and 'The Three Musketeers' (both times opposite Lana Turner).
You may be interested in reading my feature article on LANA TURNER appearing in the Spring 2002 issue of FILMS OF THE GOLDEN AGE.
Robert Taylor gives a solid, convincing performance in the title role. Barry Sullivan, Robert Sterling, Edward Arnold and Paul Stewart all do well in colorful supporting roles.
helpful•117
- Doylenf
- Mar 31, 2002
- How long is Johnny Eager?Powered by Alexa
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- Der Tote lebt
- Filming locations
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $651,000 (estimated)
- Runtime1 hour 47 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1
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