Interesting point! Another intriguing element is the homoerotic relationship between Johnny O’Clock and his live-in manservant Charlie, played by John Kellogg. Charlie is clearly put out by Johnny’s increasing attention to Evelyn Keyes’ Nancy Hobson, and the entire climactic fight in which Johnny rips off Charlie’s shirt is the queeniest thing this side of Edward Everett Horton.

It would be easy to read Powell’s character and performance as cagily bisexual, akin to Glenn Ford in Gilda.