The gangster Johnny Eager (Robert Taylor) has a scheme to pose of taxi driver to his parole officer Mr. Verne (Henry O'Neill). However he is unsuccessfully trying to get the license to open a dog racing track. Johnny is a ruthless and handsome man and his only friend and partner is the alcoholic Jeff Hartnett (Van Heflin). When Mr. Verne visits Johnny at home, he brings the social assistant Lisbeth Bard (Lana Turner), who is the daughter of the District Attorney John Benson Farrell (Edward Arnold) that is Johnny's greatest enemy and responsible for sending him to the prison. Johnny seduces Lisbeth that falls in love with him. But Johnny is a heartless man and lures Lisbeth making her believe that she killed a man to protect Johnny. Then he blackmails Farrell to get his permit to open his dog track. Meanwhile Lisbeth is deeply affected by her love for Johnny and for the death of a man. When her former boyfriend Jimmy Courtney (Robert Sterling) offers all his money to Johnny to leave the country with Lisbeth, he has difficulties to understand Jimmy's attitude. But when he visits Lisbeth, he begins to understand the meaning of love and sacrifice. What will Johnny do?
"Johnny Eager" is a great film-noir, with the story of a selfish cold- blooded gangster that learns the meaning of love. Robert Taylor is perfect in the role of a notorious and manipulative gangster and Van Heflin has magnificent performance in the role of his only friend. The twenty-year old Lana Turner is amazingly beautiful. The story and the screenplay are excellent with top-notch direction of Mervyn LeRoy. My vote is eight.
Title (Brazil): "Estrada Proibida" ("Forbidden Road")
"Johnny Eager" is a great film-noir, with the story of a selfish cold- blooded gangster that learns the meaning of love. Robert Taylor is perfect in the role of a notorious and manipulative gangster and Van Heflin has magnificent performance in the role of his only friend. The twenty-year old Lana Turner is amazingly beautiful. The story and the screenplay are excellent with top-notch direction of Mervyn LeRoy. My vote is eight.
Title (Brazil): "Estrada Proibida" ("Forbidden Road")