JOHNNY ANGEL

US, 1945, 79 minutes, Black and White.
George Raft, Claire Trevor, Signe Hasso, Hoagy Carmichael.
Directed by Edwin L.Marin.

Johnny Angel is an atmospheric mystery thriller from the mid-'40s. Short running time, small budget - but quite effective star turns from the leads. There is a studio-bound atmosphere of the waterfront and of New Orleans. George Raft walks through the film solidly, perhaps stolidly. Claire Trevor does her usual stagecoach turn. Signe Hasso is an effective heroine. The material is not original but it is done quite effectively and unpretentiously.

1. The impact of the Hollywood thriller of the '40s? Entertainment value? Character, situations, themes?

2. Black and white photography? Studio-bound locations - the atmosphere of New Orleans? Musical score?

3. Audience acceptance of the styles of thriller? The solid hero, the temptress, the harassed heroine. the suave villains? How well used? Audiences relying on the stereotypes for enjoyment?

4. American gangsterism and double-dealing for the plausibility of the plot? The shipping line, the wealth, the hijacking of the gold, international trade? Corruption in big business? Nightclubs? The violence? The resolution of the mystery?

5. George Raft and his sombre style as Johnny Angel? The meaning of his name? The mystery of the ship, the death of his father? His sombre reaction? The confrontation of Leila and Gustafson? His attack on Gustafson's secretary? Trying to get clues? The taxi-driver following him around and helping him? The confrontation with Paulette at the nightclub? Her being shot at and his defending her? Leila and her persuasion. the offering of the gold? Paul and the Jewel Box? The suspect? The gradual unravelling of the mystery? Paulette explaining the situation? Confrontation with Leila? The final confrontation with Gustafson and the resolution of the problem? The almost stolid American hero?

6. Paulette and her mystery background? Presence in New Orleans? At the nightclub, her reaction to Johnny kissing her, her being shot at? Johnny's tracking her down? Her gradual telling of the story -being on board. relationship with Captain Angel, seeing the gold taken aboard, hiding in the cabin, the violence? Her fears? Paul and his seeming to threaten her? The final confrontation? The strong heroine?

7. Hoagy Carmichael - the touch of singing, the smooth offsider, his moving people around, his help for Johnny?

8. Leila - and the typical temptress American blonde, her double-dealing - especially the irony with Paul? With her husband? Her husband and his weakness, audiences not suspecting him of violence, the final confrontation, his hatred of his wife and his disbelief, his having killed the people on the ship on her behalf? Credible villain?

9. The assistant, her protecting Gustafson, her attitude towards Johnny, her finally shooting him?

10. The atmosphere of melodrama, of New Orleans, of the waterfront? The flashbacks and the violence on the ship? The final confrontations?

11. The background of so many American gangster films - and audiences relying on them? The straightforward hero, the harassed heroine, the villains and the mystery killer? An effective combination?