Johnny One-Eye (1950)

In the murky underbelly of New York's criminal world, big-shot racketeer Martin Martin stands on the precipice of transitioning into the city's political arena. But his past clings to him like a shadow when the District Attorney's office makes a near-successful attempt to arrest him for a five-year-old murder. A dark deed committed alongside his former associate Dane Cory, who has now betrayed Martin to save his own skin. Caught in a web of treachery, Martin arranges a meeting that spirals into chaos when Cute Freddie, Cory's right-hand man, shoots him. A fatal retaliation leaves Freddie dead and Martin wounded, forcing him into hiding. Meanwhile, Cory slinks into the shadows of Greenwich Village, taking refuge in the apartment of his showgirl girlfriend, Lily White, her young daughter, Elsie, and their dog, Skipper. Martin, weakened but determined, traces Cory to the apartment. His dire circumstances force him to take shelter in a nearby desolate building where he encounters Elsie and Skipper, who've been unceremoniously kicked out by Cory. A bond forms between Martin, the innocent Elsie, and the one-eyed Skipper, now christened Johnny One-Eye. A visit to the vet not only fails to save Johnny's eye but leads to the removal of the bullet lodged in Martin, buying him more time. Eluding capture while nursing his wound, Martin learns about Cory's hideout from Elsie, setting the stage for a deadly confrontation. Cory, alerted to Martin's whereabouts by Elsie, triggers a violent standoff that puts Elsie in harm's way. To protect her, Martin sacrifices himself, taking a lethal blow from Cory, but not before he dispatches his betrayer. As his life fades, Martin's last words to a policeman are a heartfelt plea for Elsie's happiness: "Buy Elsie another dog, and make sure he has two good eyes."

Johnny One-Eye is a crime movie featuring Donald Woods and directed by Robert Florey.

Johnny One-Eye is currently streaming for free (ad-supported) on Tubi TV.