This Gun for Hiredirected by Frank Tuttle | |
| Category: |
"Suspense" |
|---|---|
| Year of Release: | 1942 |
| Date Added: | 07/18/2008 |
| Date Watched: | 04/22/2005 |
| Description: | Raven (Alan Ladd) is a hit man who is hired by Gates (Laird Cregar) to recover a secret formula from a blackmailer (whom Raven kills). When Gates pays him off in marked bills and Raven is almost caught, he vows revenge. Crane (Robert Preston) is the police officer assigned to the case. Meanwhile, Ellen Graham (Veronica Lake), a night-club singer and magician, is asked to get close to Gates and find out why he’s been meeting with agents of the Japanese. She gets hired for Gates’ nightclub and takes the train to L.A. She ends up sitting next to Raven. When the train arrives, police are searching for Raven. He grabs Ellen and holds her hostage, but the cops are distracted, Ellen gets away and Raven gets away. Ellen has dinner at Gates house. He gets suspicious and has his servant grab her. Crane shows up, and the servant throws Ellen in a closet. Raven sees through the window. After Crane leaves, Raven overpowers the servant and rescues Ellen. They take off and hole up in a railroad yard. When Ellen and Raven compare information, they realize that Gates is working for Alvin Brewster, head of the chemical company, and that they’re selling industrial secrets to the Japanese. Ellen gives Raven a really corny patriotic speech and he agrees to help her in exchange for her help in getting away. She wears his coat and hat and heads off across the yard. Raven dashes out the other way. He corners Gates and Brewster in Brewster’s office and forces him to sign a confession just before Brewster dies of a heart attack. Gates tries to escape, and Raven shoots him. The police burst in and Raven is shot. He dies, but not before confirming with Ellen that he did good by her. |
| My Rating: | 7 |
Reviewed by Roger on 2008-07-31 12:22:30
