Johnny Eager - 1942 - Mervyn LeRoy

This is film noir at it's best. Robert Taylor and Lana Turner - T 'n' T as it says on the poster are great together, but the star of this film is Van Helfin as Johnny Eager's drunken literary sidekick, Jeff. Brilliant dialog and typically beautiful MGM sets and lighting, including Eager's open concept, art deco apartment. Search this one out folks, it's well worth it.

"I don't guess that guy Marco will ever get that track open in this town."

"I sure hope they do. Mr. Marco gives us fellas ten bucks a month for haulin' those signs around."

"Lookit, that crazy cockroach! C'mon insect, win for Benji and I'll put you back in the kitchen."

"Well, you're not exactly Romeo !"

"You're not exactly Juliet."

"You might say you like it."

"Any time I don't like it, you'll hear me, loud and clear."

"Well hello Uncle Johnny ! I'll bet the investigators are coming or you wouldn't come near this rat trap."

"His face is well cut but once for a moment there it...became hard. I think he'd beat a woman if she made him angry...I wonder."

"But boss, all he eats is baby lamb chops."

"heh heh heh, yeah yeah, 80¢ a pound."

"Why, Mister Eager, what would Cyrano say ?'

"I can smile and while I smile, cut your heart out with a bloody axe. That's from Shakespeare."

"Sure the suckers all give me sour looks, the minute they stop, I'm worried see, because then I know I'm not on my toes...and that's where I'm stayin'."

"Now I know why you keep me around Johnny."

"You do huh, well tell me, Id sure like to know."

"You keep me around because even Johnny Eager has to have one friend."

"You don't know much about dogs do you Johnny?"

"Nope, never had a dog."

"You poor darling."

"Hmmmm?"

"You never had a dog when you were a boy, that's dreadful."

"No I have not blown my topper. You have played me for a sucker, Julio don't like that !"

"Eager will not mind if I borrow his shirt eh? Mine is so full of catsup, I smell like a hamburger sandwich."

"How'd she take it ?"

"Pretty rough, she's shakin' lika a dice box."

"My instinct was right, you couldn't stop being a criminal any more than a weasel could stop sucking chicken blood."

"See what I mean about a sucker ? Comes a time when he's not keeping his eyes on the ball."

"You sit here, keep your eyes glued to that door, watch for Julio. I'll be back in a minute."

"Bang! Bang!"

"Bang! Bang! Bang!

"This guy coulda climbed the highest mountain in the world, if he'd just started up the right one."