Tyrone Power, Dorothy Lamour & Lloyd Nolan in Henry Hathaway's "Johnny Apollo" (1940)

Bob Cain, Jr.'s (Tyrone Power) stockbroker father, Robert "Pop" Cain Sr. (Edward Arnold), is sentenced to prison. The two were close, but Bob falls out with Pop over this situation. Bob quits college but unable to find a job due to his father's notoriety.

Gangster Mickey Dwyer (Lloyd Nolan), sentenced on the same day as Pop, is granted parole. Bob, disgusted with his father's lawyer, goes to see Dwyer's attorney, an old former judge named Emmett T. Brennan (Charley Grapewin). Waiting outside Brennan's apartment, Bob, calling himself Johnny, meets the gangster's girlfriend, Lucky Dubarry (Dorothy Lamour). They chat and she is immediately attracted to him. Brennan arrives. Lucky pretends she knows Bob, and he, not wanting to disclose his identify at all, when asked by Brennan tells them both his full name is Johnny Apollo (taking the surname from the neon sign marquee visible through the window on the dance-club across the street). Lucky leaves, and Bob inquires of Brennan how to get Pop paroled. With money, he is told.

Dwyer arrives and asks about Johnny. Brennan 'vouches' for him. Dwyer, not wanting to be anywhere near police, asks Bob to go bail out one of his crew, offering a hundred dollars to Bob. Bob accepts the task.

Soon, Dwyer offers Apollo employment. Apollo decides to work for the gangster to raise the dough he needs. They commit various criminal acts, and after accumulating much money, Bob visits his father in prison. They reconcile, and Bob talks of a forthcoming parole, so Pop is happy. But after he leaves, his father discovers from a guard that his son, 'Johnny Apollo', is now a criminal, and a disgusted Pop Cain wants nothing to do with him.

Brennan attempts to make a deal for Dwyer, offering the District Attorney (Russell Hicks) evidence on all of his crew, if all pending charges against Dwyer are dropped. The D.A. does not accept, but makes a counteroffer. He will drop all pending charges against Apollo, in exchange for evidence on Dwyer. Brennan accepts, knowing Apollo is essentially a good man, and that Lucky is in love with him. He hands over damning evidence on Dwyer.

In retaliation, Dwyer murders Brennan. Bob, unaware and not believing Dwyer could murder the judge, with whom he was good friends, alibis Dwyer. Both he and Dwyer are sent to prison, using Brennan's evidence, the D.A. ignoring the deal he had with Brennan, due to Bob's recalcitrant attitude. A jailbreak is set in motion, but Lucky is able to sneak word of it to Pop, who prevents his son from getting involved. An angry Dwyer shoots Pop and knocks out Bob, but is then killed by guards.

Bob is blamed and faces a longer sentence, perhaps even execution. Pop recovers, however, and alibis his son. Bob serves his term, and on release finds his father waiting for him, along with Lucky.

A 1940 American Black & White film-noir crime film directed by Henry Hathaway, produced by Harry Joe Brown, screenplay by Philip Dunne and Rowland Brown, story by Samuel G. Engel and Hal Long, cinematography by Arthur S. Miller, starring Tyrone Power, Dorothy Lamour, Edward Arnold, Lloyd Nolan, Charley Grapewin, Lionel Atwill, Marc Lawrence, Jonathan Hale, Harry Rosenthal, Russell Hicks, Fuzzy Knight, Charles Lane, Selmer Jackson, Charles Trowbridge, John Hamilton, William Pawley, Eric Wilton, Gary Breckner, Harry Tyler, George Irving, Eddie Marr,, Stanley Andrews, and Wally Albright. Screen debut appearance of Anthony Caruso. Unbilled actor Tom Dugan plays a convict named Tom Dugan.

Dorothy Lamour was borrowed from Paramount in exchange for Don Ameche.

In the scene with Johnny and his father talking in the bedroom, the photo over Johnny's shoulder of his mother, is a picture of Tyrone Power's mother.

Re-released in 1949 on a double feature program with "Show Them No Mercy!" (1935).

"Lux Radio Theater" broadcast a 60 minute radio adaptation of the movie on February 17, 1941 with Dorothy Lamour and Edward Arnold reprising their film roles.

The movie was adapted for Australian radio in 1942 with Ron Randell.

"The Screen Guild Theater" broadcast a 30 minute radio adaptation of the movie on May 26, 1947 with Tyrone Power, Lloyd Nolan and Dorothy Lamour reprising their film roles.

Miss Lamour dances in nightclub scenes, and sings (no voice-overs).

Soundtrack music:
"This Is the Beginning of the End" - Written by Mack Gordon, Performed by Dorothy Lamour with Harry Rosenthal at piano
"Dancing for Nickels and Dimes" - Music by Lionel Newman, Lyrics by Frank Loesser, Performed by Dorothy Lamour
"Your Kiss" - Music by Alfred Newman, Lyrics by Frank Loesser, Performed by Dorothy Lamour with Harry Rosenthal at piano
"Melancholy" (1911) (Also known as "Melancholy Baby") - Music by Ernie Burnett, Played by an off screen piano
"Baby Face" - Music by Harry Akst, Played by an off screen piano

A sentimental, entertaining gangster film. Great looking, and directed exceptionally with many plot elements and twists, giving birth pangs of early film-noir.