THIS GUN FOR HIRE

US, 1942, 81 minutes, Black and white.
Alan Ladd, Veronica Lake, Robert Preston, Laird Cregar, Tully Marshall, Mikhail Rasumny, Marc Lawrence.
Directed by Frank Tuttle.

This Gun For Hire introduced Alan Ladd (though he had appeared in very small roles in such films as Citizen Kane, Joan of Paris). It also teamed him for a successful duo with Veronica Lake. The film is adapted from Graham Greene's A Gun for Sale, translated to America and war propaganda of the early 140s. Paramount did the same with Greene's Ministry of Fear, directed by Fritz Lang in the following year. The film is an interesting brief portrait of a psychopathic killer, effectively played by Ladd. It prefigures the type of film that was much more popular from the '60s on. There have been many film versions of Graham Greene's work from the '40s and Brighton Rock, The Third Man, The Fallen Idol through the '50s with The Heart of the Matter and The End of The Affair, into the 160s with The Comedians, the '70s with Travels With My Aunt and The Human Factor.

1. The success of the film in its day? A semi-classic status? The anticipation of the mid-40s film noir? The stars and their impact? The blend of thriller and war propaganda? The popularity of Graham Greene and his entertainments? The adaptation of Greene's characterisation and plot to the United States?

2. The brisk '40s style, black and white photography, San Francisco and Los Angeles location, the blend of location and studio work? The musical score, the Frank Loesser songs?

3. The film as a portrait of the psychopathic killer: the introduction to Raven, Alan Ladd's presence, appearance, manner? Alone in the apartment, the aggression towards the cleaning girl, the kindness towards the cat? The coolness with which he killed his assignment? Shooting the girl through the door? The payment and his pressure on Gates? His curiosity about the authority for the killing? The buying of the dress for the girl? Discovering the police, hiding in the phone box? The escape, the train ride and the encounter with Ella? His talking with her, unburdening himself, formulating his aggression on Gates? The decision to kill Ella and her escape? The intensity of his tracking Gates - the mistaken identity and the fainting chemist? Finding Gates' house, rescuing Ella, the attack on the chauffeur? Hiding out with Ella and telling his story about his background, the cruelty that he had experienced? The bond between the two? The escape and the hiding in the gasworks? Letting Ella go and escaping through her disguise? The confrontation of Gates and Brewster with the gas mask? The deaths of the villains? His own death and the touch of a smile? A portrait of an enigmatic violent psychopath?

4. The focus on the killer, murders, consciencelessness and cold-blood? The contrast with Gates and his fear of violence, not wanting to hear about it? Brewster and his ruthlessness in use of violence? The chauffeur and his enjoying it? The police and their having to use it?

5. The background of espionage in the United States during the war? The propaganda appeals?

6. Brewster as the tycoon, his ruthlessness, traitor? The interview with Gates? His misleading the police? The final confrontation - and the hatred of his valet? Gates and his fastidiousness, eating, his fears, wanting to catch Raven at the train? Lies? His lavish home, the betrayal of Ella? His patronising the clubs and the girls - the audition for Ella? His fear? His death?

7. Ella as heroine? Veronica rake's style? Her songs and the magic tricks with hocus pocus? Love for Michael? Being employed by the senator to track Gates? The train ride and her listening to Raven? Her almost being killed under the overpass? Her being captured at Gates' house? Ella's being rescued by Raven, the escape and her leaving the cards for the police tracking, the hiding in the gasworks, listening to Raven's story and the bond of affection between them? A credible heroine? A credible American spy? Michael and the conventional picture of the police force? Police action? The final shoot-out? A grim world - European espionage translated to the American west coast? The anticipation of the film noir? The exploration of values: violence, loyalty, conscience?