Any picture that Mervyn LeRoy was able to direct, you can always count on him choosing great actors to make his films a success. His choice of Robert Taylor in this role was outstanding; Taylor played (Johnny Eager),"The House of Seven Hawks",'59, a Taxi Cab driver who wore the uniform in most of the scenes with a small bow tie and cap. Eager was also a very tricky crook who did all kinds of things to make a buck, even Dog Racing. In one scene Eager told his girl friend, 'He did not care to make love at 4PM in the afternoon', however, he fell madly in love with Lana Turner,(Liz Bard),"Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde",'41, who looks young and beautiful in her role as a Judge's daughter who is fooled into killing Paul Stewart,(Julio),"The Joe Louis story",'53. Van Heflin,(Jeff Hartnett),"Black Widow",'54, never stopped drinking through out the entire picture and never seemed to get sober. Edward Arnold,(Jeff Hartnett),"The Devil & Daniel Webster",'41, loved his daughter Liz very deeply but Johnny Eager managed to get him involved in his various crimes in the Dog Racing business which almost broke his heart. This is a great Robert Taylor Classic along with great veteran actors and a very worth while film to sit back and enjoy.
Review of Johnny Eager
