This Gun for Hire

Plot synopsis:
In wartime San Francisco, chemist and blackmailer Albert Baker (Frank Ferguson) is killed by hit man Philip Raven (Alan Ladd), who recovers a stolen chemical formula. Raven is double-crossed by his employer, Willard Gates (Laird Cregar), who pays him with marked bills and reports them to the Los Angeles Police Department as stolen from his company, Nitro Chemical Corporation of Los Angeles. Raven learns of the set up and decides to get revenge. LAPD detective lieutenant Michael Crane (Robert Preston), who is vacationing in San Francisco to visit his girlfriend, nightclub singer Ellen Graham (Veronica Lake), is immediately assigned the case. He goes after Raven, but the assassin eludes him.
Meanwhile, Gates hires Ellen to work in his LA nightclub. She is taken to a clandestine meeting with Senator Burnett (Roger Imhof), where she learns that Gates and Nitro Chemical are under investigation as suspected traitors, and is recruited to spy on Gates. She and Gates board a train for Los Angeles, followed by Raven. By chance, Raven and Ellen sit next to each other. The next morning, Gates is alarmed when he sees them asleep with Raven's head on her shoulder. He wires ahead to alert the police, but Raven forces Ellen at gunpoint to help him elude them again. He is about to kill her but is interrupted by workmen, allowing Ellen to flee. She tries to contact Crane, but he has left San Francisco to return to LA.
That evening the suspicious Gates invites Ellen to his Hollywood mansion, where his chauffeur Tommy (Marc Lawrence) knocks her unconscious to set up a fake suicide. Crane goes to the mansion looking for Ellen but Gates has already left. While Crane questions Tommy, Raven arrives and hides outside, where he sees Tommy discard Ellen's purse, to keep Crane from spotting it. Raven realizes that Ellen is in danger. After Crane leaves, Raven knocks Tommy down a flight of stairs when the chauffeur denies Ellen is still there. Raven searches the house and rescues her. Tommy recovers and warns Gates at his club, where Crane has caught up with him. Raven and Ellen are confronted as they enter the club, so Raven takes her hostage as he flees. She surreptitiously drops monogrammed playing cards as a trail of "breadcrumbs". The police corner them in a railroad yard but wait for daylight to move in.
Raven reveals to Ellen that he was orphaned at a young age and raised by an abusive aunt. One day, he snapped while she was beating him and killed her, for which he was imprisoned in reform school; there, he was abused by the other children. She tells him that the formula he recovered was for a poison gas that Nitro is selling to the Japanese and begs him to extract a signed confession instead of killing Gates. Ellen helps Raven escape the dragnet, hoping she has appealed to his patriotism. However he breaks his promise to her and kills a policeman to get away.
Raven arrives as Nitro Chemical conducts a gas attack drill and its employees wear gas masks, obscuring their faces. Gates orders Tommy to guard his door. Tommy spots Raven and gives chase, but Raven knocks him out. Raven disguises himself in Tommy's uniform and gas mask to surprise Gates, forcing him to take him to company president Alvin Brewster (Tully Marshall), the mastermind of the treasonous Nitro sale. Raven barricades himself with them when the police and Ellen arrive, and coerces both into signing a confession. Brewster dies of a heart attack while trying to kill Raven, who then kills Gates. Crane is lowered on a scaffold and exchanges gunfire with Raven, wounding him. Raven passes up the opportunity to kill Crane when he sees Ellen helping the detective. Other police fatally shoot Raven, but he lives long enough to assure Ellen that he got the confession and receive her assurance that she did not turn him in.

Tags: mystery, murder

Review:
Rather than a flawed, weak man and a femme fatale, "This Gun For Hire" gives us a coldly amoral killer as the male lead and a tough, streetwise woman as the main "good guy" (her cop boyfriend spends most of the film running around frantically and accomplishing nothing).
Note that I said 'reported robbery.' The second involves his girl friend, entertainer Veronica Lake being recruited by no one less than a United States Senator to get the goods on one of Marshall's top aides, Laird Cregar who they think is doing some fifth column work at the behest of Marshall.
But it's still an entertaining movie, and probably close to required viewing if you enjoy noir and/or Forties movies.Raven (Alan Ladd) is a hired killer, evidently without remorse or nerves, who is paid to knock off a blackmailer.
The movie bills Veronica Lake and Robert Preston above the title, Laird Cregar just below the title, and Alan Ladd last in big type as "Introducing Alan Ladd." Some introduction; according to IMDb, Ladd had already appeared in more than 40 films in unbilled and minor parts.
In very short order, however, he's taken a gun out, helped a stray kitten get into his room and given it some food, slapped hard and full in the face a maid who tried to kick out the cat, showed up at the blackmailer's place where he meets the blackmailer (who was supposed to be alone); the blackmailer has his "secretary" with him so he just kills them both; on the way out a little girl on the stairs asks him to get her ball which has rolled away; she sees his face, he obviously thinks about shooting her, too -- but gets the ball for her and leaves.
Two of the most beautiful actors in film history, Alan Ladd and Veronica Lake got together for the first time in this crime drama that also launched the former's career; a combined fact that in itself is enough to make this a must-see feature.
He could be a fine performer, against the average public opinion, and a film like This Gun for Hire proves his neglected status as one of Film Noir's prime antiheroes.As witty as she's a long-haired blonde, Miss Lake has a sexiness and a childlike casualness about her that only underline her smartness.
Based on a novel (or, as the author called it, an "entertainment") by Graham Greene, Tuttle made a star of Alan Ladd, and created the first of a series of films co-starring Ladd and Veronica Lake (as his cool, opposite number).
Veronica Lake is the stunning female of the piece, she glides through the picture with ease as Ellen, a character with her own issues, but thankfully she's integral outside of any sort of romantic plot, even though she is the only one who gets close enough to Raven to learn anything about what makes him tick.Robert Preston as Michael Crane was to be the pics focus but he becomes a mere side part thanks to Ladd's barnstorming show, and unsurprisingly Laird Cregar is suitably shifty as Gates.
Phillip Raven (Alan Ladd) is a hit-man hired by Willard Gates (Laird Cregar) to execute the blackmailer Albert Baker (Frank Ferguson) and retrieve a letter and some documents for his unknown boss.
Alan Ladd is superb as the cold-blooded killing man for hire and Laird Cregor - who unfortunately was to die at 30 only two years after this film - is equally superb in his role.
Alan Ladd as a youthful hitman who blows away everyone who crosses his path, Laird Gregar brilliant as an oily, overweight, camp villain, Veronica Lake sultry, blonde and devastatingly beautiful, raise this seedy film to an interesting noir that has been regarded by critics as a "classic".
Alan Ladd - Gone, but not forgotten.Adapted from the Graham Greene novel of the same name, TGFH is a tough-edged story about love, power, and betrayal set in the seamy underworld of the 1940's.Alan Ladd, as Philip Raven, plays a cold-blooded, professional killer who's been double-crossed and set-up for termination by his most recent client.
It took Alan Ladd a long 10 years and something like 40 films to make it, but make it he did as a cat-loving contract killer in "This Gun for Hire," also starring Veronica Lake, Laird Cregar and Robert Preston.
Adapted from a Grahame Greene novel, which it resembles only superficially, the movie is intelligently directed by Frank Tuttle, and features some good acting by, among others, Veronica Lake, Robert Preston, Laird Cregar, Marc Lawrence and the aforementioned Mr. Ladd.
"This Gun for Hire" is a decent film-noir, although nothing really sticks out about it except for one thing: Alan Ladd.
Eventually, unfortunately, the film winds down, as we get to know Ladd, and he seems more humanlike, and he meets the character played by Veronica Lake, who I must admit was not the best Dame for the job.
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.
R. Burnett --"This Gun for Hire" has to be about the most unbelievable film noir in Hollywood history.It involves a likable contract killer battling cardboard villains,a beautiful blonde going undercover to support the war effort, and Robert Preston, abandoning his likable bad guy persona to play a rather bland, boring cop.And if the improbable, silly plot about a paid assassin who is double crossed by his loathsome employers, who turn out to be traitors to their country, isn't enough, to top this all off it includes some of the most ham handed acting as you will find in a major studio release during the war years.But the big surprise is, the film works.
It's a persona that worked well for Lake and when she had it clicking, it was hard not to like her.Aside from these two performances, the film's strength is Frank Tuttle's strong direction of his action sequences as the cops chase Raven across LA.
This first time pairing of Ladd and Lake obviously worked at the box office and it's far superior to their third teaming ~ the rather silly 'Blue Dahlia' --that film also heralded the first credited screenplay by Raymond Chandler --Chandler at the time, they say, was on the wagon, but had to get drunk to finish the 'Dahlia' script....and it showed.Most will still enjoy 'This Gun for Hire' but it should have been far Superior.
The film features a breakout role for Alan Ladd, who would go on to star in a number of noir flicks throughout the forties; and it also features a role for the beautiful Veronica Lake.
In this very early 40'ish whodunnit,whydunnit,set in and around the war effort we have a quite intense and stylish thriller at work.With outstanding performances by all the leads,we are taken thru the scenes on an intriquing tour thru early film noir,somewhat.Much more of a spy thriller/urban crime caper than  actual noir,nevertehless,it moves and gravitates the underpinnings of bad guy/good guy movie roles.Even though we don't necessarily know good from bad until about halfway,if that,we are taken on nice ride in and around the laird,and lake and by ladd.
Alan Ladd is on scene from the get-go to establish reason for movie plot and sustained protagonist in need of help and interpretation as to killer profile.His first major film,which establishes him as crafty tough guy that can think and pound his way thru scenes.His character is fierce and demanding,and the story holds up well for his behavior.
This film needs all these characters to work well and would probably fall flat with any one missing.Still,it moves with a grace and style that is foundation for bigger and better movies to follow.But not by that much and not that many will follow suit,as fittingly.Thank goodness for Lake,Laird and Ladd to rescue a decade of glossy and overly pretentious movies,to follow.
Philip Raven (Alan Ladd) is a harden killer hired by Gates to kill Baker who was a blackmailer.
Such is the curiosity of This Gun For Hire, one of the finest examples of the B-movie noirs.Stoic hit-man Philip Raven (Alan Ladd) guns down chemist Albert Baker (Frank Ferguson) and his innocent secretary, and takes what he came for - a chemical formula.
In spite of its flaws and inconsistencies - For me, this tough, and decidedly gritty, little, 1942 Crime/Drama was something of an unexpected surprise, as it turned out to be a whole lot better than I had originally thought it would be.The overall success of this film's story relied significantly on the relative new-comer to the scene, actor Alan Ladd.For a man of such small stature as Ladd (he was only 5' 5"), he certainly managed to deliver quite a towering, multi-leveled portrayal of the Philip Raven character, a friendless, cold-blooded, professional killer with a clear soft-spot for cats and kids.Without a hitch Ladd certainly pulled off his complex part convincingly with a fine flair for understanding his character.As the story goes - Raven (who was one of the most unromantic, unglamorous, hard-boiled protagonists to ever play on screen) is double-crossed and set up for termination by his most recent client.
It's only a matter of time before Raven is put out of action for good.To avenge himself Raven must track down and eliminate, with extreme prejudice, those who want him out of the picture, permanently.Intelligent, well-scripted, and quick-paced, "This Gun For Hire" was adapted for the screen from the Graham Greene novel, "A Gun For Sale".Filmed in stark b&w, this classic slice of early, Hollywood, Film Noir moves along at a nice, brisk clip with its 80 minute running time..
A stark, compelling film noir which grips right from the start as we're introduced to Alan Ladd in his first major movie, one minute being as gentle as you like with his pet cat, the next slapping the face and tearing the dress of his lippy chambermaid.
Improbably cast as a magician cum cabaret singer cum special agent and beautifully dressed by Edith Head, she soon enough runs into Ladd and gradually builds up a testy relationship with him, even as she cosies up to her cop boyfriend, an altogether more anodyne character.It would be pointless to dwell too much on the plot - the source novel is one of the few by Graham Greene I haven't read, but it's all satisfyingly labyrinthine and suspenseful right up to Ladd's demise in a crisply directed shoot-out by the end.Fans of noir like me will love the plot's reference points of the femme fatale, double-crossing crooks and hard-boiled loners.
From the furious opening where Alan Ladd slaps the maid round the face and rips her dress to the slightly sentimental and patriotic ending as Veronica Lake asks the outclassed Robert Preston to 'Hold me', this is one amazingly creative and varied, noir ride.
This film launched the career of Alan Ladd as a great actor playing the role as Philip Raven who had a horrible childhood and developed a criminal mind that just wanted to kill and he became a hired killer.
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.
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.
This Gun For Hire" 1942, classic film noir with Ladd and Lake.
Directed by Frank Tuttle, a respected veteran helmer for Paramount, TGFH was no B movie as it featured rising star Veronica Lake opposite established leading man Robert Preston, plus hefty star character actor, Laird Cregar, but it became a gigantic hit with the introduction of Alan Ladd in his screen debut as a cold blooded gun for hire whose hardness is softened by an incredibly attractive and insanely beautiful Veronica Lake.
Alan Ladd (Raven) is a hired killer who carries out a job but is double crossed by his peppermint-munching businessman boss Laird Cregar (Gates).
When hit man Philip Raven (Alan Ladd) successfully completes a job, his sleazy employer Willard Gates (Laird Cregar) pays him with stolen marked bills.
Raven sets out to get revenge but along the way meets and befriends nightclub singer Ellen Graham (Veronica Lake), who's been recruited by the government to prove Gates is working with foreign agents.
She's also the girlfriend of the police lieutenant (Robert Preston) in charge of hunting down Raven.The movie that made Alan Ladd a star and the first to pair him with Veronica Lake.
Alan Ladd stars as Philip Raven, who was hired by Willard Gates(played by Laird Cregar) to pay off two blackmailers.
She agrees, but cannot tell her fiancée, a police detective named Michael Crane(played by Robert Preston) who is after Raven, who manages to meet up with Ellen on a train, where they team up to not only take down Gates, but his traitorous employer Alvin Brewster(played by Tully Marshall).Involved story is still most entertaining and enjoyable, with a fine cast and efficient direction by Frank Tuttle.
Its stars are pint-sized Alan Ladd and tiny Veronica Lake, who try to match wits with Laird Cregar, a huge guy who looks even bigger in scenes with either one of them.You can immediately tell it's a noir film, as Ladd is seen in his hotel room with no lights on (noir hotels always seem to have power problems), and wears a trench coat in most scenes.
It turns out that the main figures in this plot are Gates and his company president Alvin Brewster.What sets the film apart from many wartime spy thrillers is the quality of the acting, with three performances in particular standing out, from Laird Cregar, Veronica Lake and Alan Ladd.
Unlike, however, the sultry blondes played by other noir actresses such as Gloria Grahame and Lizabeth Scott, Lake's character Ellen Graham is not a seductive femme fatale but rather the detective-hero's girlfriend who plays an important role in bringing the villains to book.Officially, Robert Preston as the detective Michael Crane is the film's male lead, but it is Ladd, in his first major role, who is its real star, making Raven a compelling, charismatic figure for all his villainy.
In the film noir that launched him into stardom, Ladd plays a hired killer seeking revenge against the employer who double-crosses him.
The appeal of this film noir, the first pairing of Veronica Lake and Alan Ladd, largely escapes me.The movie is based on a thrilling Graham Greene novel called "A Gun for Sale," but it's been reset in San Francisco during WWII and is more a sketch of the novel rather than a full-blown adaptation.
"This Gun for Hire" (1942), directed by Frank Tuttle, is the first pairing between Alan Ladd and Veronica Lake, and is also the film that catapulted Ladd into stardom and into the front ranks of actors who could make a movie a hit simply with his name on the poster.However, the screenplay, based on the novel "A Gun for Sale" by Graham Greene, is standard war-time espionage melodrama: Raven (Ladd), a hired hit-man, is betrayed by his anonymous employer, Willard Gates (Laird Cregar), who pays him with marked bills; he goes on the run to kill him, while the police, aided by Ellen Graham (Lake), try to find evidence that Gates and his paymaster, the powerful invalid Alvin Brewster (Tully Marshall), are selling poison gas to the Japanese.In fact, "This Gun for Hire" isn't really that good; an average spy thriller that were numerous around that period.
"This Gun For Hire" is an excellent early film noir with an intriguing storyline and some memorable performances, especially from Alan Ladd and Veronica Lake.
When Gates sees that Raven's on the train, he notifies the police but Raven's successful escape leads to a sequence of events which culminate in Ellen persuading Raven to abandon his quest for deadly revenge and to take a course of action which ultimately brings an end to the NCC's involvement in a plot to sell a secret poison gas formula to one of the US's wartime enemies.Alan Ladd is very impressive as the cold, laconic, psychopathic killer who hates and distrusts everyone and never shows any sign of humour or emotion.
Hard-biting crime drama with a hired gun, Philip Raven(Alan Ladd, in his first starring role) who takes out a blackmailer and his secretary(she was in the wrong place at the wrong time, collateral damage)for a client, Willard Gates(Laird Cregar, HANOVER SQUARE; THE LODGER), working for the head honcho of a chemical plant.
Great noir with Ladd utterly fascinating as the "gun for hire" Raven who, in between methodically knocking off people, has a penchant for pussy cats and shows flashes of kindness towards a disabled child and a gorgeous blonde (Lake).
Miraculously the complex plot works fine, mainly due to the brilliant performances give by Alan Ladd, Veronica Lake and Laird Cregar!.
Very good Film-Noir starring Alan Ladd as Phillip Raven, an assassin who is paid for his last assignment with counterfeit bills by sleazy Willard Gates(Laird Cregar).
These films were often dubbed "Lake-Ladd" films, and today play like slightly poorer versions of the more famous "Bogart-Bacall" noirs."This Gun For Hire" was directed by Frank Tuttle.