This Gun For Hire

Starring: Alan Ladd; Veronica Lake & Robert Preston Director: Frank Tuttle

DVD Features:

Description by OLDIES.com:

One of Hollywood's classic hard-boiled thrillers and a favorite of suspense film lovers. The picture marked the first hit pairing of tough guy Alan Ladd, in the role that made him an instant star, and sultry blonde bombshell Veronica Lake.

Adapted from a novel by Graham Greene, it's the hard-edged story of love, power and betrayal set in the seamy underworld of the 1940's. Raven (Alan Ladd) is a cold-blooded professional killer who's been double-crossed by his client. Ellen (Veronica Lake) is a beautiful nightclub singer who's spying on her corrupt boss. Lt. Michael Crane (Robert Preston) is a dedicated cop who wants Ellen's love and Raven's capture. The tension mounts and before the case is wrapped up, someone will pay with his life.

Product Description:

In this classic film noir, tough-guy thriller, Alan Ladd plays Philip Raven, a double-crossed gunman who is out for revenge, with Veronica Lake as Ellen Graham, his platinum blond bombshell companion. A hired gun, Raven is kind to everyone but his targets, and when he kills an extortionist and receives stolen money in compensation, he becomes the target of a Senate investigation that leads him to set his gunsight on Ellen.

Plot Synopsis:

Professional hit man Philip Raven is out for revenge when he is double-crossed by his latest client, Willard Gates. Assisting Raven is a beautiful blonde investigating Gates' plan to sell chemical weapons to the Japanese.

Plot Keywords:

Action | Blackmail | Crime | Drama | Drama (General) | Essential Cinema | Film Noir | Hit Men | Recommended | Suspense | Thriller | Vengeance

Exerpts:

"How do you feel when you are doing a job like this?" -- Willard Gates (Laird Cregar) to hitman Philip Raven (Alan Ladd)
"I feel fine." -- Raven

Production Notes:

• "This Gun for Hire" was the first screen pairing of Alan Ladd and Veronica Lake.
• Film was remade in 1957 as "Short Cut to Hell" (directed by James Cagney) and in 1991 as the made-for-TV movie "This Gun for Hire" (starring Robert Wagner).
• Additional cast: Pamela Blake (as Annie), Roger Imhoff (Senator), Victor Killian (Brewster's secretary), Bernadene Hayes (Baker's secretary), James Farley (Night watchman), and Virita Campbell (Cripple girl).

Cast and Crew: