Johnny O’Clock (1947) - film review

Johnny O’Clock manages a shady New York casino for his boss Pete Marchettis.   Crooked cop Chuck Blayden tries to muscle in on O’Clock’s territory but ends up dead.  Inspector Koch is convinced that O’Clock killed Blayden but hasn’t the evidence to make an arrest.  It transpires that the dead man’s girlfriend was also murdered, not long after a dinner date with O’Clock...

It was with this minor film noir that Robert Rossen made his directorial debut.  He had already established himself as a screenwriter of considerable ability and would later go on to direct some memorable and highly acclaimed films: Body and Soul (1947), All the King’s Men (1949) and The Hustler (1961).  He was given the opportunity to direct this film when Charles Vidor pulled out at the last moment.

Whilst Johnny O’Clock adheres meticulously to the rules of the classic American film noir, it does so a little too mechanically, as though its writer-director was following a prescribed recipe.  It lacks the inspired touch which the better examples of the genre possess, but it is entertaining enough, in spite of its slow pace and overly complicated plot.  The performances are generally good, particularly that of Dick Powell who, in the wake of Murder, My Sweet (1944), has succeeded in supplanting the amiable song and dance image of his early film career with a much tougher, darker persona, which suits him better.

© James Travers 2008

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