Dick Powell, Evelyn Keyes, Lee J. Cobb, Ellen Drew, Nina Foch, Thomas Gomez, John Kellogg, Jim Bannon, Mabel Paige, Phil Brown, Fred Aldrich, George Alesko, John P. Barrett, Fred Beecher, Brooks Benedict
When an employee at an illegal gambling den dies suspiciously, her sister, Nancy, looks into the situation and falls for Johnny O'Clock, a suave partner in the underground casino. Selfish and non-committal by nature, Johnny slowly begins to return Nancy's affection and decides to run away with her, but conflict within his business threatens their plans. As Johnny tries to distance himself from the casino, his shady past comes back to haunt him.
You play very cute, and nasty! 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...
I have to say I was quite disappointed with this. Dick Powell is the eponymous character, a casino manager who on the face of it is as hard as nails, but a little scratching under the surface reveals that he's actually quite a soft old chap. He's had an affair with the much younger wife (Ellen Drew) of his partner (Thomas Gomez) and she is determined to get him back. Just what is she prepared to d...