Johnny Eager

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Johnny Eager

Released Jan 17, 1942

1h 47m

Crime

Drama

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4 Reviews

77%

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500+ Ratings

After Johnny Eager (Robert Taylor) is released from jail, the unreformed gangster fools his parole officer (Henry O'Neill) into believing his ways are changed. In actuality, Eager wants to return to racketeering by opening a dog-racing track, but the man who put him behind bars (Edward Arnold) is in the way. When that man's stepdaughter (Lana Turner) falls for Eager, the crook uses her as leverage to get what he wants. In this world of deceit, Jeff Hartnett (Van Heflin) is Eager's only friend.

James Agee

TIME Magazine

Mr. Taylor won't toughen up. He's too nice to be a melodramatic mobster, and he shows it. Lana Turner is similarly handicapped: Metro has swathed her best assets in a toga, swears that she shall become an actress, or else.

Feb 27, 2018

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Emanuel Levy

Variety

Mervyn LeRoy's picture is more a melodrama than a crime-gangster due to star Robert Taylor and the studio behind it (MGM), but it's worth seeing for Van Heflin's Oscar performance as the cynical alcoholic given to philosophical observations.

Rated: C+

Sep 29, 2009

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Yasser Medina

Cinefilia

A well-entertaining piece of film noir, which never misses its rhythm of consistency in its plot of gambling, blackmail and murder. [Full review in Spanish]

Rated: 7/10

Sep 25, 2023

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Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

Nothing can save this syrupy crime melodrama from its eagerness to please as a romantic sudser.

Rated: C

Dec 26, 2004

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Brian D

This movie is killer. I wish they made movies like this now.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

12/09/22

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Audience Member

Good gangster picture. Robert Taylor and Lana Turner

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

04/13/21

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Audience Member

Great script and performances were stellar! Both Robert Taylor and Lana Turner are not what I would call great actors, but more "pretty people" who look mesmerizing on the silver screen. But director, Mervyn LeRoy really gets greatness our of these two, along with a great supporting cast. For 1941 this was a pretty off center story that didn't have pure good and pure evil characters. Yet it didn't feel like Noir to me, which is usually pretty heavy handed. Though the plot twists weren't surprising to me, I'll bet many were when this great film first came out. I was impressed and would happily see it again in the future.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/19/23

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deke p

Interesting. Great shootout ending. Taylor & Novak very young. Never heard of until saw on THE MOVIE CHANNEL, film Noir, 8-2020. Note to self, remember.TWO DIFFERENT PEOPLE!: Robert Taylor young is not Robert Young old. & THE LAST 30 SECONDS of the movie is important twist, you'll understand only you follow the whole movie carefully. "711" saw again on the movie channel 12.26.2021

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

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steve d

Nothing special but the acting is strong.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

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Audience Member

Wow! The sexual energy between Lana Turner and Robert Taylor shoots off the screen. Taylor serves up a fascinating portrayal of a sociopathic mobster. Van Heflin is interesting, too, as a close friend with repressed homosexual feelings for Taylor. The film's finale is among the finest crime picture closures I've ever seen.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/13/23

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Mervyn LeRoy

Director

Robert Taylor

John "Johnny" Eager

Lana Turner

Lisbeth "Liz" Bard

Edward Arnold

John Benson Farrell

Van Heflin

Jeff Hartnett

Robert Sterling

Jimmy Courtney

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Synopsis

After Johnny Eager (Robert Taylor) is released from jail, the unreformed gangster fools his parole officer (Henry O'Neill) into believing his ways are changed. In actuality, Eager wants to return to racketeering by opening a dog-racing track, but the man who put him behind bars (Edward Arnold) is in the way. When that man's stepdaughter (Lana Turner) falls for Eager, the crook uses her as leverage to get what he wants. In this world of deceit, Jeff Hartnett (Van Heflin) is Eager's only friend.

Director: Mervyn LeRoy
Producer: John W. Considine Jr., Mervyn LeRoy
Screenwriter: John Lee Mahin, James Edward Grant
Distributor: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Production Co: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Genre: Crime, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 17, 1942, Original
Release Date (DVD): May 5, 2009
Runtime: 1h 47m