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      Johnny Eager

      Released Jan 17, 1942 1 hr. 47 min. Crime Drama List
      Reviews 77% 500+ Ratings Audience Score 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. Read More Read Less

      Audience Reviews

      View All (38) audience reviews
      Brian D This movie is killer. I wish they made movies like this now. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 12/09/22 Full Review david l Johnny Eager has strong acting performances across the board and pretty good dialogue, but the movie lacks a proper noir atmosphere and it jettisons its inherent crime elements in favor melodrama and romance, which wasn't a good choice. It's a fine flick, but nothing special overall. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member Good gangster picture. Robert Taylor and Lana Turner Rated 3 out of 5 stars 04/13/21 Full Review 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 Full Review 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 Full Review steve d Nothing special but the acting is strong. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Read all reviews Post a rating

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      Critics Reviews

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      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 Full Review 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 Full Review 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 Full Review 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 Full Review Read all reviews

      Movie Info

      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
      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