Johnny Angel

Johnny Angel is a 1945 American film noir directed by Edwin L. Marin and written by Steve Fisher (adapted by Frank Gruber) from the 1944 novel Mr. Angel Comes Aboard by Charles Gordon Booth. The movie stars George Raft, Claire Trevor and Signe Hasso, and features Hoagy Carmichael.[3]

This article is about the 1945 film. For other uses, see Johnny Angel (disambiguation).
Johnny Angel
theatrical release poster
Directed byEdwin L. Marin
Screenplay bySteve Fisher
Frank Gruber (adaptation)
Based onMr. Angel Comes Aboard
1944 story
by Charles Gordon Booth
Produced byWilliam L. Pereira
executive
Jack J. Gross
StarringGeorge Raft
Claire Trevor
Signe Hasso
CinematographyHarry J. Wild
Edited byLes Millbrook
Music byLeigh Harline
Production
company
Distributed byRKO Radio Pictures
Release dates
  • October 25, 1945 (1945-10-25) (LA)[1]
  • December 20, 1945 (1945-12-20) (Sweden)[2]
Running time
79 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Synopsis

A merchant ship captain (George Raft) finds his father's ship – of the same line – derelict at sea, the entire crew having disappeared. From an unlisted passenger (Signe Hasso), the only survivor of the hijacking of the ship, he learns of a plot involving secret gold, and searches New Orleans for his father's murderer.

Cast

Production

Mr Angel Comes Aboard was published in 1944. The New York Times described it as "a tale of adventure, mystery, treachery, and murder, that reaches a happy ending amid a welter of gore."[4] RKO bought the film rights that year, with Jack Gross originally signed to produce and Pat O'Brien mentioned as a possible star.[5]

In July 1944, George Raft signed to play the lead and the film was to be called Johnny Angel. Ray Enright was to direct.[6] Eventually William Pereira became producer and Edwin L. Marin was the director, his first assignment under a two-picture deal with RKO.[7] Signe Hasso was borrowed from MGM and Claire Trevor hired to play the main female lead.

Hoagy Carmichael, who had just made his film debut in To Have and Have Not, was hired to play a small role and to sing "Memphis in June".[8]

Release

Box office

Although RKO had low expectations for the film it was an unexpected hit, earning the studio a profit of $1,192,000.[9][10]

Raft went on to make a number of films with Marin including three more thrillers for RKO.[11][12]

Critical reception

The staff at Variety magazine gave the film a lukewarm review, and wrote, "Johnny Angel is another in the seemingly never-ending series of maritime intrigues involving murder and lust. It is slow and plodding, with poor story development...Raft is his invariably glowering self as a guy who really handles his mitts - and the dames - while Claire Trevor and Signe Hasso are the romantic interests. Rest of the cast is weighted down too much by the story..."[13]

Time Out film guide gave the film a positive review and wrote, "The world of Johnny Angel is very noir indeed...They all inhabit a closed world, where even pastoral idylls reek of claustrophobia and obsession. The men struggle against the towering shadows of their fathers, the women are dangerously enigmatic, and the docks of New Orleans glisten under the diffuse light of a single street-lamp. Even Hoagy Carmichael sounds eerie singing "Memphis in June." There are no black diamonds, but Johnny Angel glitters like one."[14]

References
  1. "Johnny Angel: Detail View". American Film Institute. Retrieved April 28, 2014.
  2. "Johnny Angel". imdb.com. Retrieved April 28, 2014.
  3. Johnny Angel at IMDb.
  4. Booth, Charles G. (May 21, 1944) "Mr. Angels Comes Aboard" (review) The New York Times
  5. Schallert, Edwin (May 2, 1944) "Swashbuckling Realm Invaded by Columbia: R.K.O. Also Schedules Action Feature; Ted Donaldson Wins Role in 'Tree'" Los Angeles Times
  6. Staff (July 24, 1944) :George Raft Is Signed by RKO for 'Johnny Angel' -- Four New Pictures Due This Week" The New York Times p.18
  7. Staff (November 7, 1944) "Screen News: Phyllis Thaxter Named for 'Alter Ego' Role" The New York Times p.24
  8. Staff (November 19, 1944) "Screen News: Lee Tracy Is Signed for Lead in 'Gift of Gab'" The New York Times p.19
  9. Richard Jewell & Vernon Harbin, The RKO Story. New Rochelle, New York: Arlington House, 1982. p205
  10. Jewell, Richard B. (2016) Slow Fade to Black: The Decline of RKO Radio Pictures, University of California Press
  11. Aaker, Everett (2013) The Films of George Raft, McFarland & Company, p.116
  12. Vagg, Stephen (February 9, 2020). "Why Stars Stop Being Stars: George Raft". Filmink.
  13. Staff (1945) "High and Low" Variety] Last accessed: January 24, 2008.
  14. Staff (2008) "High and Low" Archived 2008-06-05 at the Wayback Machine. Time Out Last accessed: January 24, 2008.
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