THIS GUN FOR HIRE is a fascinating, grim look at a hired killer (ALAN LADD), a corrupt boss (LAIRD CREGAR), a gutsy femme fatale blonde (VERONICA LAKE), and the detective (ROBERT PRESTON)who has a hard time getting his hands on the much wanted criminals and their cunning ways.
Paramount wisely cast ALAN LADD in his first starring role as Raven, put him opposite the very attractive and petite VERONICA LAKE, and added LAIRD CREGAR and ROBERT PRESTON for box-office insurance. The film is loaded with wartime references, propaganda, murder, blackmail, and all the usual ingredients that make good film noir. It's played very effectively by the entire cast and runs a brisk 80 minutes that moves quickly and assuredly under Frank Tuttle's direction.
Ladd makes an interesting character out of his cold blooded killer, stroking a cat as easily as killing it when he has to. His deadpan expression is not a hindrance in this case, his tight-lipped demeanor perfectly acceptable since he's playing such a heartless criminal.
Lake is equally effective as the woman who finds herself drawn inexplicably to his character, even helping him avoid detection at one crucial point in the plot. But I thought her nightclub act for Cregar was a bit hokey when it came to the magic.
Cregar does his usual outstanding job in a well scripted villainous role, stealing almost every scene he's in.
Summing up: For once, Graham Greene has no reason to complain about the way Hollywood treated one of his novels.
Paramount wisely cast ALAN LADD in his first starring role as Raven, put him opposite the very attractive and petite VERONICA LAKE, and added LAIRD CREGAR and ROBERT PRESTON for box-office insurance. The film is loaded with wartime references, propaganda, murder, blackmail, and all the usual ingredients that make good film noir. It's played very effectively by the entire cast and runs a brisk 80 minutes that moves quickly and assuredly under Frank Tuttle's direction.
Ladd makes an interesting character out of his cold blooded killer, stroking a cat as easily as killing it when he has to. His deadpan expression is not a hindrance in this case, his tight-lipped demeanor perfectly acceptable since he's playing such a heartless criminal.
Lake is equally effective as the woman who finds herself drawn inexplicably to his character, even helping him avoid detection at one crucial point in the plot. But I thought her nightclub act for Cregar was a bit hokey when it came to the magic.
Cregar does his usual outstanding job in a well scripted villainous role, stealing almost every scene he's in.
Summing up: For once, Graham Greene has no reason to complain about the way Hollywood treated one of his novels.