MOVIE OF THE DAY: THIS GUN FOR HIRE

Excellent write up. It's been a long time for me as well, but I think i'm hitting up my video store for this today.

I just finished watching the film for the first time since my pre-teens. Cool flick. I always unfairly dismissed Alan Ladd as a poor man's Mitchum, with only SHANE for me rating, but with this and BLUE DAHLIA I've become a fan.

(He's almost as cold and singleminded as Lee Marvin in POINT BLANK. The look in his eyes as he's about to shoot Lake in the back of the head..man, oh man)

The one thing I'll disagree with you in your review is in regards to Veronica Lake's performance. You said "But Lake seems to have about one look, and never mastered performance beyond knowing her dialogue. From this film she can be flirty, but when pressed to deal with violence and danger, she rarely raises her pulse." I think that's the secret of her charm, and a big part of her sexiness - the sense of inflappibility and a quiet toughness rising above daintiness.

Anyway, I hope THE GLASS KEY is worth a look too because I bumped it to the top of my Facets account.

I think it probably is also a part of her charm, but it comes across as a byproduct. THE GLASS KEY plays like the first draft of MILLER'S CROSSING.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fat Elvis 

I always unfairly dismissed Alan Ladd as a poor man's Mitchum, with only SHANE for me rating, but with this and BLUE DAHLIA I've become a fan.

Shane is the obvious one, but it made me a fan for life. Ladd vs Palance, he's so badass there (even knowing Ladd was one of those short dudes who had to secretly stand on a box). The guy had real demons, and his acting had this tragic, haunted quality that was unique. Plus of course there was that great voice.

Elvis- since I remember you being a Bronson fan too, I recommend a viewing of 13 West Street- features an aging Ladd as proto Paul Kersey, taking on a gang of young thugs. Bonus: Rod Steiger as the spoilsport cop who tries to get Ladd to stay away from the hoodlums/ruffians/ne'er-do-wells. The granddaddy of the "modern" non western vigilante flick.