Johnny O’Clock

Johnny O’Clock

Year: 1947

Runtime: 95 mins

Language: English

Director: Robert Rossen

CrimeDramaThrillers and murder mysteriesNoir and dark crime dramasSuspenseful crime thrillers

When an employee at an illegal gambling den dies, her sister Nancy investigates and meets Johnny O’Clock, a partner in the casino. Though initially aloof, Johnny slowly returns Nancy’s affection and plans to flee with her, but internal power struggles endanger their escape. As he tries to leave the operation, his criminal past catches up.

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Timeline & Setting – Johnny O’Clock (1947)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Johnny O’Clock (1947). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Location

Upmarket casino, South America

The film centers on an upscale casino that serves as the backdrop for romance, deceit, and danger. Its glittering interiors hide greed, manipulation, and shifting loyalties among partners, staff, and patrons. The action moves from the casino to pursuit and gunplay, ending with a flight to South America and a tense final confrontation.

🎲 High-stakes 🕵️ Glamour and crime 💰 Wealth and power

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 17:24

Main Characters – Johnny O’Clock (1947)

Meet the key characters of Johnny O’Clock (1947), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Johnny O'Clock (Dick Powell)

Johnny is a junior partner in an upscale casino, slick and pragmatic, navigating a web of romantic and criminal entanglements. He is torn between the older romance with Nelle and a new bond with Nancy, while trying to stay one step ahead of danger. Ultimately he chooses to surrender to avoid further harm, though he remains morally conflicted.

🎰 Gambler 💘 Romantic entanglement 💼 Professional

Harriet Hobson

A hat-check girl at the casino who becomes a pawn in the romantic and criminal schemes surrounding the Marchettis. Her actions and relationships pull others into danger, culminating in a tragic death by gas that triggers the investigation.

🎭 Drama 💔 Tragedy

Nancy Hobson

Harriet's sister who arrives to uncover the truth and is drawn to Johnny. Her presence shifts loyalties and she helps push Johnny toward surrender, while pursuing love and certainty in a world of deceit.

💖 Love interest 🎭 Drama

Inspector Koch

A police inspector who unravels Harriet's poisoning and weighs the competing claims of Johnny and Guido. He embodies the law in a world of crime, pressing for truth even as passions complicate the case. His role drives the detective aspect and the moral questions at the story's core.

🕵️ Detective ⚖️ Justice

Nelle Marchettis

Guido Marchettis' wife who is in love with Johnny and manipulates the situation by gifting him the watch. Her actions reveal a motive centered on controlling Johnny and preserving her marriage and position.

💘 Love & Power 🎭 Drama

Guido Marchettis

The casino's owner and a foil to Johnny, he embodies the power and wealth that drive the plot. His conflict with Johnny ends in a violent confrontation and a fatal exchange of fire.

💼 Boss 💰 Crime Empire

Chuck Blayden

A crooked cop who schemes to replace Johnny and pursue his own ambitions within the casino's web of crime. His manipulation ends abruptly in a lethal confrontation.

💀 Corrupt Cop

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 17:24

Major Themes – Johnny O’Clock (1947)

Explore the central themes of Johnny O’Clock (1947), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

💘 Love & Loyalty

A crowded casino becomes a stage for competing affections. Johnny is torn between Nelle’s lingering attachment and a new bond with Nancy, while Harriet’s feelings pull others into a dangerous orbit. Loyalties shift as love collides with self preservation, steering the characters toward ruin or redemption. The emotional stakes drive every critical decision.

🕵️ Crime & Consequences

Criminal schemes, poisoning and murder push the plot toward a police investigation. Inspector Koch probes Harriet's fate and weighs whether Johnny or Guido is the killer, exposing the threadbare codes of loyalty in a crime ring run by the casino. The pursuit exposes moral ambiguity and tests whether truth can outpace self interest. The ending hinges on accountability and a surrender born from fear and love.

🎭 Deception

Characters conceal true motives behind glamorous façades and calculated moves. The watch, the notes and shifting alliances keep everyone guessing who can be trusted. Deception blurs lines between love, crime and loyalty, pushing the narrative toward a fateful resolve. Only when truth collides with personal survival do consequences become clear.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 17:24

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Johnny O’Clock Summary

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Johnny O’Clock Summary

Johnny O’Clock Timeline

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Johnny O’Clock Timeline

More About Johnny O’Clock

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Explore More About Movie Johnny O’Clock

Johnny O’Clock (1947) Plot Summary & Movie Recap

Johnny O’Clock (1947) Scene-by-Scene Movie Timeline

Johnny O’Clock (1947) Spoiler-Free Summary & Key Flow