THIS GUN FOR HIRE (1942) is top notch film noir

Starring Veronica Lake, Robert Preston, Laird, Cregar and Alan Ladd. Directed by Frank Tuttle. Running time: 80 minutes. Release date: May 13, 1942

Excellent film noir classic about a hitman named Raven (Ladd's break-through film) who after taking out a blackmailer and his girlfriend in San Francisco, realizes he has been set up by his anonymous employer. Now on the run from the police, Raven wants to find out why he was duped and score a little payback. The middle man named Gates (terrific performance by Cregar) who works for the anonymous employer informs police that Raven stole money from the company Gates works, Nitro Chemical. Detective Crane (a young Robert Preston, miles away from Professor Harold Hill of The Music Man) is assigned the case.

Crane's girlfriend, nightclub singer/magician Ellen (a sultry Veronica Lake) winds up meeting Raven on board a train headed to Los Angeles by accident. Raven ends up taking Ellen hostage. He finds out that Ellen also knows Gates, as Gates owns the nightclub where she works. So now Raven starts to play detective to find out what's going on.

With the police in hot pursuit, the pair are trapped at the train yards where Raven shares his hard upbringing that led him to his life as a hitman. She begins to sympathize with him. And as a final gesture, takes his coat and hat to pretend to be him to confuse the police while Raven escapes. He heads to Nitro Chemical to take down the man who set him up.

Man, this is one awesome movie. A perfectly tuned film noir film that just grabs you from the opening credits and doesn't let go. Alan Ladd is terrific as Raven, who is more than just your average gun for hire. His back story explains quite a bit about the life he has led. This is a true star making performance. His first pairing with Lake is really good as their had wonderful chemistry. Lake plies her usual trademark sultry good looks and smoky voice to good effect. And in the quieter moments with Ladd, is quite a revelation. Preston is all gung ho as the detective and Cregar makes a good slimy, sniveling middleman who says he is just following orders. No hard feelings Mr. Raven. Right?..Heck no. You're going down too big man.

This Gun For Hire is excellent entertainment.

THIS GUN FOR HIRE (1942)

This Gun for Hire (1942). Crime drama/film noir. Director: Frank Tuttle. Based on the novel A Gun for Sale by Graham Greene. Cast: Veronica Lake, Robert Preston, Laird Cregar, Alan Ladd and Yvonne De Carlo.

In San Francisco, during World War II, Philip Raven, a hired killer, wakes from his late morning nap, to carry out a job to murder Albert Baker, a chemist in possession of a formula for poison gas, which he is using to blackmail the company.

Raven, completes his job on Baker and his secretary and is paid by Willard Gates, an executive for Nitrochemical and an nightclub owner. Gates, had the money registered and claims that Raven stole the $20,000 from Nitrochemical.

Los Angeles police lieutenant Michael Crane, is assigned to the case. As luck would have it, Gates hires Michael's fiancee, Ellen Graham, to work at his Neptune Club, in Los Angeles. Both men are unaware that Ellen, is working undercover, for Senator Burnett, to find out Gates's involvement with the poison gas.

Raven, realizing that Gates, has double-crossed him, follows him onto the train to Los Angeles. Ellen, shares her seat on the train to Los Angeles with Raven. Looking, in her purse, she finds that he has stolen five dollars.

In the morning, Gates, sees Raven and Ellen, asleep on the same seat and suspects that they are in league together. He contacts the Los Angeles police, who search for Raven.

Raven, takes Ellen hostage and looses the police.

Later, he plans to shoot her in a condemned building. Michael, tries to track Raven, while wondering if his girlfriend has been kidnapped or is a willing accomplice.

I thought the film had wonderful casting, this maybe my favorite Ladd performance. Lake and Ladd have awesome on screen chemistry and you get the feeling that if the circumstances had been different they would be together.. Fun, to to see a young Yvonne De Carlo. Warning* there are some intense scenes.

GUN FOR HIRE MOVIE TRAILER.

Pamela Blake (August 6, 1915 – October 6, 2009). Her film career lasted for fifteen years, with her starring mostly in B-movies.

Her first film role was uncredited, playing a bit part in the 1934 film, Eight Girls on a Boat.

In 1938 she starred in the western, The Utah Trail with Tex Ritter.

In 1939 she starred in five films, a crime drama, a mystery and one a western, where she starred with John Wayne, in the 1939 film, Wyoming Outlaw..

In total, she had roles in fifty four films.

In 1946 she starred in Chick Carter, Detective.

 Her last role was in 1954, in the film, The Adventures of the Texas Kid: Border Ambush.