It’s like a sub-genre: ‘JOHNNY’ crime pics of the ‘40s: JOHNNY APOLLO; JOHNNY EAGER; JOHNNY O’CLOCK; JOHNNY ALLEGRO.* And here’s another, a sort of maritime noir that sees George Raft declining from A-list to B+. (Even further down on his next ‘JOHNNY,’ JOHNNY ALLEGRO/’49.) This one comes fully-rigged with plot & atmosphere (crawling ships at sea, foggy docks), but promises more than it delivers in a tale nearly as head-scratchingly twisty as next year’s GILDA/’46. Raft’s a second generation sea captain who spots an unmanned ‘ghost ship.’ And not just any ship, his dad’s, who's missing along with the crew. Taking on the investigation himself once he lands in New Orleans, he tracks down the sole living link to the mystery, Signe Hasso. Turns out, she’d been hiding on the ship when he found it at sea. Unmanned, but not ‘unwomanned!’ Claire Trevor is on hand, an old flame from shore, wooing Raft with one lie after another femme fatale style. Less typically noirish is melodic cabby Hoagy Carmichael, offering his service as Raft’s personal chauffeur in a search that reveals smuggled gold and a massacre at sea. Journeyman megger Edwin L. Marin & lenser Harry Wild stylishly pretend this all adds up. And, for about two-thirds of the short running time, you may, too.
DOUBLE-BILL: *First & probably best of the JOHNNYs is JOHNNY APOLLO/’40, with Tyrone Power, Dorothy Lamour & director Henry Hathaway all in top form. (see below)
SCREWY THOUGHT OF THE DAY: Seven decades ahead of the curve, Hoagy Carmichael works a nifty fidget spinner all thru the pic.
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