JOHNNY EAGER

US, 1941, 107 minutes, Black and white.
Robert Taylor, Van Heflin, Lana Turner, Edward Arnold, Robert Sterling, Patricia Dane, Glenda Farrell, Henry O' Neill.
Directed by Mervyn Le Roy.

Johnny Eager is a gangster film of the early '40s. Warner Brothers had a monopoly on this kind of film and made them in brisk action-filled black and white movies. M.G.M. gives this one its customary production gloss. Robert Taylor has quite a good part as the gangster who is obtuse until he meets Lana Turner - who unfortunately is a prosecutor's daughter. Edward Arnold is once again the hard man as the prosecutor. Van Heflin appears as an alcoholic, a constant companion of Johnny Eager and devoted to him - and Eager dies in his arms. Van Heflin at the beginning of his career won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor. The film is conventional in its way but with the production values and the good performances. it has quite some impact. Direction was by Mervyn Le Roy who made one of the original gangster films, Little Caesar.

1. The gangster tradition, its place in the American heritage? The '30s film with their brisk black and white action? The contrast with this smoother production, more expensive taste? An entertaining film?

2. Black and white photography, sets,. the atmosphere of the city, gangsters, wealth? The popularity of the stars in their time? Van Heflin and his meriting the Oscar?

3. The presentation of conventional characters, material, clashes? How much better than the average? A more presentable gangster film?

4. The opening and Johnny as taxi driver, his visit to the Parole Board, the women there? The audience believing that he was genuine - his speeches to the parole officer? The sudden change and his being the boss,, his using his henchmen as covers? His sister and niece and the apartment and his having to use it for Parole Board inspections? His being tipped off by the secretary to whom he was hostile in the office? His capacity for manipulating people? The spread of corruption?

5. The background of the race track, the big time, the big investment of money? The tough Johnny Eager contrasting with the humble taxi driver? Marco and his using him - even with the taxi? Julio and his use, his being a gunman, his using him to frame Elizabeth for a killing. this use backfiring and Julio's eventual killing him? His being a boss, fixing things, ordering deaths, bribing policemen? His lack of scruple? The story of the past, his hardness? His using women and discarding them? His friendship with Jeff - Jeff as companion. only friend. possible conscience? A weak conscience? The significance of Johnny Eager's name? A portrait of a gangster?

6. Jeff and his alcoholism, his intelligent talk.. his defending the woman, his arguing with Johnny? His being the only friend? Seeking information, making contacts? The alcoholic sequences and his need for a drink and his wittily arranging situations? The clash with Johnny, the punch? His helping him, his holding him in his arms at his death? The compassion and his own personal love for Johnny? The isolated individual - homosexual overtones?

7. Elizabeth as a sociologist, the irony of her curiosity about Eager, meeting him in the nightclub and his acting the tough boss? Her infatuation? Her knowledge of him, going off with him,, not telling the police or the Parole Board? The irony of her father and his reputation, his toughness in prosecuting and refusing permits for race tracks? Johnny and his growing love for Elizabeth? Her being warned by Jim Courtney and her willingness to go with Johnny? The build-up to the killing of Julio - and the audience being deceived like Elizabeth? Her torment, Johnny's not visiting her. Courtney's appeal to him? Her discovery of the truth and her refusing to believe it? Her going off with the loyal Courtney?

8. Elizabeth's father as tough. his ability to be corrupted - to get vengeance on Johnny. to save his daughter? The reflection on gangsters and authorities?

9. The women in Johnny's life - their devotion, visiting his home. being fobbed off with holidays to Florida? His obtuseness in sensing their feelings?

10. The various killings especially Johnny's arranging the killing of his friend and its being made to look like an accident while he was playing cards? The lack of conscience?

11. Julio and his acting, the pay-off, his pride, the clash with Johnny, the final shoot-out?

12. Johnny's selfishness his not understanding what Jeff was saying, the unselfishness of Courtney and others? His change in his attitude towards Elizabeth, the possibility of love? His going to his death in a blaze of gunshot - but for her? His death in Jeff’s arms? The final comment of the police?

13. The atmosphere of the city underworld, corruption, wealth? The type of man who is a gangster?