This Gun for Hire (1942)

Director:

Frank Tuttle

Writers:

Graham Greene (novel)
Albert Maltz (writer) ...

Release Date:

13 May 1942 (USA)

Genre:

Film-Noir | Crime | Thriller

Tagline:

Lover without a heart...killer without a conscience!

Plot:

Hit man Philip Raven, who's kind to children and cats, kills a blackmailer and is paid off by traitor Willard Gates in "hot" money...

Plot Keywords:

Cat | Train | Police | Golden Gate Bridge | Dream

Cast

Veronica Lake	...	Ellen Graham
Robert Preston	...	Det. Michael Crane
Laird Cregar	...	Willard Gates
Alan Ladd	...	Philip Raven
Tully Marshall	...	Alvin Brewster
Marc Lawrence	...	Tommy
Olin Howland	...	Blair Fletcher (as Olin Howlin)
Roger Imhof	...	Senator Burnett
Pamela Blake	...	Annie
Frank Ferguson	...	Albert Baker
Victor Kilian	...	Drew
Patricia Farr	...	Ruby
Harry Shannon	...	Steve Finnerty
Charles C. Wilson	...	Police Captain
Mikhail Rasumny	...	Slukey

Runtime:

80 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Certification:

UK:A (original rating) | UK:PG (re-rating) (2006) | Australia:M | Finland:S | Norway:16 (1942)

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Paramount Pictures

Trivia:

The movie's poster was as #17 of "The 25 Best Movie Posters Ever" by Premiere.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: In the scene early in the movie where Raven shoots through the door to kill the female witness, the slide on his 1903 model Colt pocket automatic doesn't cycle and no empty cartridge is ejected, indicating that the pistol was loaded with a low-powered blank.

Quotes:

Ellen Graham: Why don't you go to the police?
Philip Raven: I'm my own police.

Movie Connections:

Featured in The Best of Film Noir (1999) (V)

Soundtrack:

I've Got You

He's dynamite with a gun or a girl

This Gun for Hire is a crime thriller with shades of film noir thrown in. The film stars Alan Ladd as a cold-blooded killer. His portrayal of Raven is the definition of anti hero. He kills without any remorse. In fact, he usually has to think of a good reason not to kill people. This is demonstrated at the beginning of the movie when he's spotted leaving a murder by a crippled little girl. He reaches for his gun then decides better of it. That same thinking, later in the film, saves Ellen Graham (played by Victoria Lake sporting beautiful long blonde hair - mimicked by Kim Basinger in L.A. Confidential). Lake has two musical numbers. She does them while performing magic tricks! They're cheesy, but I watched them in slow motion so I could catch the slight of hand. The songs are supposed to make her into an unattainable sex goddess (like "Put the Blame on Mame" did for Rita Hayworth in Gilda.) It doesn't.

The supporting cast is excellent. The heavy (literally and figuratively) Laird Cregar has a lot of fun trying to seduce Lake and at the same time running scared of Ladd. Marc Lawrence as his chauffeur/thug is particularly slimy. He likes to torment his boss by explaining the dirty details of his work. His part reminded me of his uncredited role years later in Diamonds Are Forever.

A good double feature would be this and L.A. Confidential (TGFH is seen on TV in the film.) Remember the lines between Basinger and Crowe?

LYNN BRACKEN: You're the first man in five years who didn't tell me I look like Veronica Lake inside of a minute. BUD WHITE: You look better than Veronica Lake.