A gun for hire is backstabbed by the people who hired him. So he, Raven, goes to get them. And the classical film of crime, love, trains, nightclubs, tough guys, lovely women is born. Alan Ladd, Veronica Lake and Robert Preston in a Black and White film from 1942, full of action, cats and people who need to learn how to shoot. I mean, come on, they kept missing Raven so many times!

A very good film, and with very slightly better direction and a bit more depth to the bit parts it would have been up there with Casablanca among the great black and white films of the early '40s. As it is, it seems to have become almost forgotten. I'd never seen it before, and those who'd told me about it didn't seem wildly enthusiastic. Seeing it was therefore a very pleasant surprise. It zips along at a great pace; the story is intricate and exciting, yet easy to follow, and keeps you guessing, although you know it's all going to work out ok in the end. Basically, it's telling you that everyone, even hitmen with traumatized childhoods, just have to pull together in the war effort. Ladd and Lake are terrific, sharply defined and individual characters, with strongly unusual personalities --- especially Lake. Don't believe those negative reviews: they're in denial. This is an entertaining film.

A very good film, and with very slightly better direction and a bit more depth to the bit parts it would have been up there with Casablanca among the great black and white films of the early '40s. As it is, it seems to have become almost forgotten. I'd never seen it before, and those who'd told me about it didn't seem wildly enthusiastic. Seeing it was therefore a very pleasant surprise. It zips along at a great pace; the story is intricate and exciting, yet easy to follow, and keeps you guessing, although you know it's all going to work out ok in the end. Basically, it's telling you that everyone, even hitmen with traumatized childhoods, just have to pull together in the war effort. Ladd and Lake are terrific, sharply defined and individual characters, with strongly unusual personalities --- especially Lake. Don't believe those negative reviews: they're in denial. This is an entertaining film.

American film noir is generally considered to have started post WWII (1946 to be exact). That's when the cycle kicks in and ending somewhere in the mid-1950s. There were a few noir films that pre-date the era, and my vote for the first is the terrific "This Gun For Hire." Three additional films, "Laura," "Farewell My Lovely," and "Double Indemnity" (all 1944) also come to mind. "The Maltese Falcon," as good as it is, still belongs in the 1930s Thin Man era.
"Gun" is pure 1940s and directed in a swift, light way. Alan Ladd's Raven is brooding and complex while Laird Cregar gives a wonderful spin to the character Gates. In spite of the dark tone, we can still laugh at his outrageous pretense to "detest violence" while significantly contributing to it. He and henchman Marc Lawrence make a great "comedy team" in their few scenes together. The humor never interferes with the film's basically dark aspect, and that balance contributes to "Gun"'s greatness. Frank Tuttle is a little remembered director of that studio era, but his talent is very obvious here. Alan Ladd owns the character and his chemistry with the cute Veronica Lake is perfect. "This Gun For Hire" is one of the all-time classic American films.

While this film is justly famous for introducing us to Alan Ladd & giving us another reason to love Veronica Lake, do not overlook it's impact as a classic film noir!! The tale of vengeance, crime, & corruption is one that really drives the point home in several areas without sacrificing any of the other plot points. Alan Ladd gives one of his most powerful performances, second only to SHANE, perhaps. His cold-blooded killer who has a soft spot in his heart for stray cats is both chilling & compelling at the same time. The b&w photography is stark & ominous, a quality that most color films could benefit from. Don't miss this one!!!