Johnny Angel

George Raft plays the good guy for a change, and Claire Trevor plays the villainous femme fatale in a nicely done mystery. This was the first time that I remember seeing Signe Hasso in a film, and I very much enjoyed her performance as the subject of George Raft's rescue, and romantic interest.

George Raft is compelling (as he was in the similar NOCTURNE); the rest of the movie is so-so. This is a naval-themed film noir type movie in which Raft plays a tough guy investigating a modern-day Mary Celeste episode, in which his father is among the missing seaman. What unfolds is a conspiracy containing the usual ingredients you expect from this genre: femme fatales, snivelling bad guys, a handful of amusingly-staged punch-ups. JOHNNY ANGEL is a RKO-produced cheapie and the poverty of its budget is apparent from its talky nature. The script is unremarkable, offering each of its cast only a few good lines to get ahold of; the dialogue, for instance, was much snappier in NOCTURNE. Claire Trevor has a nice supporting role as a sinister lady and Hoagy Carmichael is entertaining, but it's not quite enough to lift this above mediocrity. The truth is there just isn't much here and it feels drawn out, despite the short running time.

I just caught this on TCM's Noir Alley. It's not really Noir and it should have been taken into an alley and beat up. Raft moves along stiffly in his crisp, white captain's outfit even though he was far from stiff in real life. He was an excellent dancer. Here though, he is badly miscast as a leading man. Hoagy Carmichael steals the show, though it's like taking candy from a baby. One of Noir Alley's most boring offers yet.

While the true high point of this film may well be Hoagy Carmichael playing and singing Memphis In June--and let's face it, THAT IS A HIGHLIGHT!--Raft is compelling as the ship's captain who wants to solve the murder of his father, also a ship's captain. Claire Trevor is smooth and devious, and like all the best noir, several characters die. Not available on video, but ABC affiliates with access to Movietime films may show this once a year or so. You had best remember to tape it!

George Raft investigates what happened to his father and the cargo bound for Louisiana. The cargo had gold aboard and someone made off with the shipment killing everyone on board. Signe Hasso spends about 40 minutes of the film on the lamb. She is running away from just about everyone and everything here. In this film, she is vulnerable and cautious, so unlike her memorable turn as Elsa Gephardt in "The House on 92nd Street." Claire Trevor is her usual dame and would you believe she is married to Marvin Miller, a sheepish man who is dominated by the woman who reared him, a cold calculating Margaret Wycherly. You may very well guess who the culprit is after a while, but you would never believe how the person is done in and by whom.

Johnny Angel (George Raft) finds his father's ship abandoned and adrift. He assumes that his father, as the Captain, would not abandon ship and is probably dead. He sets out to investigate. He tracks down surviving passenger Paulette Girard who tells him about a secret gold shipment being stolen by a gang of killers. This is a standard noir. Raft is very ordinary as a leading man. The most memorable part is Paulette's flashback. There is a lack of spark in the performances and story. I have to attribute it to Raft as a performer. He's trying to be Bogie but it's not in him.

Shades of the "Mary Celeste" as a seemingly deserted ship looms out of the mist off the coast of New Orleans. It's boarded by George Raft whose father was it's captain. Raft (more animated than usual} uncovers a complex plot. The colorful New Orleans backgrounds and good performances make this an above average noir film. Claire Trevor is excellent as a double crossing blonde and Hoagy Carmichael plays to type as a ubiquitous taxi driver and sings "Memphis In June". All very nicely put together.

This should have been rated higher since it had several people who usually keep your attention: George Raft, Claire Trevor, Signe Hasso and Hoagie Carmichael. The story moved along pretty well but had an unsatisfying ending. Overall, it was simply an unmemorable story and film. Too bad, because Raft usually adds an edge to almost every film he's in: a true, convincing tough guy. In this movie, the plot revolves around him trying to find his father's killer. It's worth a look, but I wouldn't go out of my way to find this movie or buy it sight unseen. You're not missing anything if you don't find it.