Mjeteconer Just perfect...

Chirphymium It's entirely possible that sending the audience out feeling lousy was intentional

Brenda The plot isn't so bad, but the pace of storytelling is too slow which makes people bored. Certain moments are so obvious and unnecessary for the main plot. I would've fast-forwarded those moments if it was an online streaming. The ending looks like implying a sequel, not sure if this movie will get one

Logan By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

seymourblack-1 "Johnny O'Clock" is a pleasure to watch as it provides a magnificent example of the visual style which is most often associated with the classic film noirs. It uses many of the familiar motifs (e.g. hats, mirrors, clocks, cigarette smoke etc.) in conjunction with some attention grabbing camera-work and inspired use of light and shadow to create the moody environment within which the action takes place.This crime thriller which was written for the screen by first time director Robert Rossen, tells the story of a casino manager, Johnny O'Clock (Dick Powell), who is confident, conceited and shrewd in his business dealings, but who is also surrounded by treachery and consequently has to be sharp witted to navigate his way through the potential pitfalls and dangers that seem to engulf him on all sides. Despite his astute nature, Johnny does keep a great deal of bad company! Chuck Blayden (Jim Bannon) is a corrupt cop whose fiancée is the hat check girl in Johnny's casino. He wants a piece of the action and to do this intends to ingratiate himself with Johnny's senior partner, a gangster called Guido Marchettis (Thomas Gomez), so that he can oust Johnny from his role in the business and pocket Johnny's share of the profits. Chuck has a track record of being quick to use his gun, so when he warns Johnny not to get in his way or he'll kill him, the threat is definitely not an empty one. Chuck dumps the hat check girl and shortly after, she's found dead in her apartment. After Chuck's dead body is also found in a river, Johnny and Guido become the main suspects for having killed both victims.Nancy Hobson (Evelyn Hayes) arrives in New York to find out what happened to her sister Harriet (Nina Foch) who was the hat check girl and Johnny and Nancy enjoy getting to know each other.After Guido discovers that his wife Nelle (Ellen Drew) had given Johnny an identical watch to one that she'd given him, he becomes convinced that she and Johnny are having an affair and so sends some of his henchmen to kill his partner. The plot fails, however, and when Johnny goes to Guido's place to dissolve their partnership and collect his share of the money, there is a confrontation between the two men before their dispute is finally resolved.Dick Powell gives a strong performance as a tough, no nonsense character who has to deal with Chuck's treachery, being betrayed by Charlie (John Kellogg) who was an ex-con that Johnny had been generous to, jealous Guido making two attempts on his life and Nell's vengeance which led her to tell the police that she'd seen him kill a man in cold blood. Fortunately his blossoming romance with Nancy does, at least, provide him with some prospect of better times in the future.Considering the quality of the story, the acting and its stylish look, it's surprising that "Johnny O'Clock" hasn't garnered more acclaim and recognition over the years.

Spikeopath Johnny O'Clock has everything under control. He has a partnership in a thriving casino and all his little peccadilloes are at ease in his world. Then things start to go awry, his partnership with Marchettis comes under severe pressure on account of Mrs Marchettis' dalliances, and worst of all, the hat check girl he had a soft spot for has turned up dead. Johnny is feeling the heat, from every corner of his world it seems.At the time of writing this, Johnny O' Clock has under ten reviews written on IMDb and barely 200 votes cast, one can only assume that Johnny is badly under seen! Without knowing the issues of accessibility on TV and DVD, it may just be that this little noir treasure has slipped through the net of many a genre observer. Without pushing the boundaries of noir and its devilish off shoots, it's a film with all the necessary noir components in place, a tightly accomplished film that definitely deserves a bigger audience.The plot, though very basic in the context of the genre/style it sits in (thus making it easy enough for the casual viewer to enjoy), is a series of double (triple) crosses smothered in a delicate hint of aromatic femme fatale. Throw in crooked and grizzly bear like coppers, get Robert Rossen to make it his directorial debut, and ask Burnett Guffey to photograph it, and you got a lovely helping of noirish stew. All you then ask for is your cast to come up trumps, and thankfully they do.Dick Powell plays Johnny O'Clock with the right blend of dapper charm and cool calm toughness, Lee J Cobb (grizzly bear copper), Thomas Gomez (Pete Marchettis) and John Kellogg (the muscle) all play it tough without over egging the pudding. The girls are nicely played by Evelyn Keyes (99 River Street & The Seven Year Itch), Ellen Drew (The Man from Colorado) and the delicious Nina Foch (The Ten Commandments) - with Drew showing definite shades of Hayworth at times, though only shades mind!It's not a dark picture and those hoping for a head scratcher will be sorely disappointed, and I would be a liar if I said that I didn't think the ending needed a more dramatic punch. But I'll be damned if this wasn't a most enjoyable experience, twisty and turny without making the head spin for sake's sake, Johnny O'Clock is well worth your time. Time! Get it? Groan. 7/10

writers_reign Despite assembling all the staples - nightclub/casino setting, cops, crooks and conmen, low-key dialogue, would-be anti-hero - this entry somehow winds up as less than the sum of its parts. Clearly an admirer of Abe Lincoln (you can fool some of the people all of the time ..) Dick Powell had wisely abandoned his 'singing' career by the mid-forties in favour of thrillers verging on noir and although he did well enough in Murder, My Sweet, here he gives the impression - as do the rest of the cast - that he is acting under water. First-time director Robert Rossen was clearly looking ahead to his follow-up film released that same year which is perhaps why this one seems to boast too much body and not enough soul.

mark ouzman "Old enough not smart enough" a line from the film by the grieving sister describing her dead sibling.Full of one liners this film so, do the ironing, if required, while waiting for the football results on a Saturday afternoon.Then try one liners like "what I don't know I don't like!", "What did you get out of college?", when next on the phone to a rude petulant child dealing with your credit card application, Gas board, Sainsburys Customer services etc. enquiry.Lee J Cobb convinces me as a cop. No knife carrying "Hoody" on his patch I reckon. The nosey neighbour doing her Miss Marple bit is a nice touch.The film is better described elsewhere. For the record though I would put all your money and house on Seabreeze if you should ever be whisked back in time in an "Ashes to Ashes" kind of way!Of note is a lovely line in the restaurant. (Johnny and girl go and sit on table at late night café. Waiter brings drinks to table before any such order is taken). (Johnny O'Clock) "Who ordered the drinks?" (Waiter)"Have you ever eaten here before?". (Johnny O'Clock) "No" (Waiter) "Well you will need the drinks then".Also "O'Clock O'Clock O'Clock all the time it came ticking in my head" surely the corniest line said by a cuckolded husband?Enjoy the film with the awful title and maybe you might discover a smart Alec answer to the meaning of life when asked one day by a young boy called Reece!