JLRMovieReviews Review of Johnny Eager

Johnny Eager (1941)

T'N'T Turner and Taylor at Their Scintillating Best

[9/10 · 14 April 2009]

Robert Taylor as Johnny Eager, gangster/criminal/racketeer, has done his time and turned over a new leaf. Or, so his parole officer thinks so. On one of his surprise visits to Johnny's place of residence to make sure he's following the straight and narrow, the parole officer shows up with two sociology students, played by Diana Lewis (who would later marry William Powell in real life) and Lana Turner, who are there "to see how the other half lives." What happens after that was "TNT," as the MGM publicity posters said. Taylor 'n' Turner make love to the screen and bother each other so much they make Romeo and Juliet seem like toddlers. Their chemistry is enough to make the viewer want to smoke. If you want a scintillating, involving, and very intelligent crime drama with great performances by all, including character actors Edward Arnold, Robert Sterling, Barry Nelson, Paul Stewart, Glenda Farrell, and Van Heflin, in his Oscar-winning role as Johnny's literature-spouting best friend. ("'Cause even Johnny Eager needs one friend.") This is definitely one of the best of the old-fashioned crime dramas and one that shouldn't be missed.