There's not enough happening in the way of plot to make Robert Rossen's "Johnny O'Clock" a classic of its genre. Suffice to say that it has most of the elements and a few extra touches added in---but it all seems a bit contrived. Dick Powell plays the title role; he's a casino owner with a shady past and a quick delivery (dialog and punches). He's in cahoots with a mobster played by creepy Thomas Gomez and the two fellows keep it civil while the tension begins to build between them. What's never established during most of the film is whether old Johnny is strictly in business for the money or simply rotten to the core like the rest of the characters. Luckily for him, Evelyn Keyes brings out the best of his ambiguous personality and that's enough for Johnny to survive the final shootout and walk away without bleeding to death. The same can't be said for gangster Gomez. He receives about six bullets in the gut and ends up face down on his expensive carpet.
"Johnny O'Clock" is fast moving and the rapid-fire dialog fits the storyline to a tee. Others in the cast include Lee J. Cobb who plays the local police investigator without cracking a smile until the final reel. He sees through Johnny's tough-guy act and cuts him as much slack as he can allow. Ellen Drew is along as Gomez's moll and viewers will wonder what this beauty sees in that fellow's oversize frame and nasty disposition. Not much as it turns out. Look for Jeff Chandler in a small role as a mobster working for Gomez who spends most of his time at the poker table. In the end, Johnny wins a reprieve and the love of Ms. Keyes. I guess he was pretty lucky after all.
"Johnny O'Clock" is fast moving and the rapid-fire dialog fits the storyline to a tee. Others in the cast include Lee J. Cobb who plays the local police investigator without cracking a smile until the final reel. He sees through Johnny's tough-guy act and cuts him as much slack as he can allow. Ellen Drew is along as Gomez's moll and viewers will wonder what this beauty sees in that fellow's oversize frame and nasty disposition. Not much as it turns out. Look for Jeff Chandler in a small role as a mobster working for Gomez who spends most of his time at the poker table. In the end, Johnny wins a reprieve and the love of Ms. Keyes. I guess he was pretty lucky after all.