Johnny Angel (1945)
Directed by Edwin L. Marin

Film Review

One of the lesser entries in the film noir murder mystery genre, Johnny Angel is formulaic fare that struggles to sustain its stumbling narrative but impresses with its relentlessly moody atmosphere.  George Raft is his usual dour self, suitably cast as the Maigret-like outsider determined to resolve a mystery that is shrouded in sea mist and deceit.  As the alluring siren of this eerily moody piece, Claire Trevor stands out like a lighthouse in a bone-chilling pea-souper, a striking contrast to the more enigmatic 'other woman' played by a darkly sensual Signe Hasso.   The plot is nothing more than the usual B-movie hogwash, with a resolution that manages to be both totally predictable and frantically unconvincing, although such is the chemistry of the principal cast that this hardly matters.  Johnny Angel does little to stimulate the intellect, and in no way could it ever be mistaken for great art, but it still manages to be an enjoyable timewaster.

Film Synopsis

Shrouded in thick fog, a solitary cargo vessel drifts into the docks of New Orleans and is immediately a thing of mystery.  The ship is deserted and there is no sign of what became of the crew.  Since his father was onboard the ship, sea captain Johnny Angel feels impelled to solve the mystery of the crew's disappearance.  As he begins his unofficial investigation, he soon finds himself hanging out in the town's seedier districts.  In the French Quarter, Angel comes into contact with Paulette Girard, an attractive young French woman who may well hold the key to the mystery.  She was seen near to the ship when it docked.  Another likely lead is the ship's owner, Gusty Gustafson, but he seems strangely reluctant to help Angel in his enquiries - and the reason for this soon becomes apparent...