History Film / ThisGunForHire

* SexyWhateverOutfit: In one of the musical numbers, Ellen at first appears to be DressedLikeADominatrix holding an [[WhipItGood oversized riding crop]]. Then it's revealed that the implement is a fishing pole: she's a sexy ''angler'', complete with shiny, shiny hip waders.

Ladd is Philip Raven, a UsefulNotes/SanFrancisco hitman with a soft spot for cats, who kills a blackmailer named Baker. Raven retrieves a stolen chemical formula from Baker and brings it to his employer, Willard Gates (Creator/LairdCregar). Gates then double-crosses Raven by reporting the money he gave Raven for the job as stolen from the bankroll of his company, Nitro Chemical. Raven goes on the run from the police, led by visiting LAPD detective Michael Crane (Preston).

''This Gun for Hire'' is a 1942 FilmNoir directed by Creator/FrankTuttle, starring Creator/RobertPreston, Creator/VeronicaLake, and Creator/AlanLadd.

Ladd is Philip Raven, a UsefulNotes/SanFrancisco hitman with a soft spot for cats, who kills a blackmailer named Baker. Raven retrieves a stolen chemical formula from Baker and brings it to his employer, Willard Gates (Creator/LairdCreegar). Gates then double-crosses Raven by reporting the money he gave Raven for the job as stolen from the bankroll of his company, Nitro Chemical. Raven goes on the run from the police, led by visiting LAPD detective Michael Crane (Preston).

* TheFilmOfTheBook: Adapted from a 1936 novel by Creator/{{Graham Greene|Author}}.

Ladd is Raven, a UsefulNotes/SanFrancisco hitman with a soft spot for cats, who kills a blackmailer named Baker. Raven retrieves a stolen chemical formula from Baker and brings it to his employer, Willard Gates (Creator/LairdCreegar). Gates then double-crosses Raven by reporting the money he gave Raven for the job as stolen from the bankroll of his company, Nitro Chemical. Raven goes on the run from the police, led by visiting LAPD detective Michael Crane (Preston).

''This Gun for Hire'' [[StarMakingRole made a star out of Alan Ladd]], who had been working as a bit player and in small parts for years (he's one of the reporters in ''Film/CitizenKane''). He and Lake were a successful screen couple due in part to their chemistry and also because they were both short--five foot zero Lake matched up better with 5'6" Ladd than other actresses did. Lake and Ladd would go on to make four films noir together. It also received an overseas remake in UsefulNotes/{{France}} known as ''Film/LeSamourai'' directed by Creator/JeanPierreMelville and starring Creator/AlainDelon as Jef Costello, the film's version of Raven.

* AntiHero: Raven is a mixture of [[UnscruplousHero Unscruplous]] and [[NominalHero Nominal Hero]] - a hitman who has no qualms about killing innocent bystanders merely for being witnesses. He also [[CopKiller kills a police officer to get out of a bind]]. However, he does have a soft spot for cats and has a soft spot for Ellen.

Ladd is Raven, a San Francisco hitman with a soft spot for cats, who kills a blackmailer named Baker. Raven retrieves a stolen chemical formula from Baker and brings it to his employer, Willard Gates (Creator/LairdCreegar). Gates then double-crosses Raven by reporting the money he gave Raven for the job as stolen from the bankroll of his company, Nitro Chemical. Raven goes on the run from the police, led by visiting LAPD detective Michael Crane (Preston).

''This Gun for Hire'' [[StarMakingRole made a star out of Alan Ladd]], who had been working as a bit player and in small parts for years (he's one of the reporters in ''Film/CitizenKane''). He and Lake were a successful screen couple due in part to their chemistry and also because they were both short--five foot zero Lake matched up better with 5'6" Ladd than other actresses did. Lake and Ladd would go on to make four films noir together. It also received an overseas remake in France known as ''Film/LeSamourai'' directed by Creator/JeanPierreMelville and starring Creator/AlainDelon as Jef Costello, the film's version of Raven.

* AntiHero: The protagonist is a hitman who has no qualms about killing innocent bystanders merely for being witnesses. He also kills a police officer to get out of a bind.

''This Gun for Hire'' [[StarMakingRole made a star out of Alan Ladd]], who had been working as a bit player and in small parts for years (he's one of the reporters in ''Film/CitizenKane''). He and Lake were a successful screen couple due in part to their chemistry and also because they were both short--five foot zero Lake matched up better with 5'6" Ladd than other actresses did. Lake and Ladd would go on to make four films noir together.

* TheFilmOfTheBook: Adapted from a 1936 novel by Creator/GrahamGreene.

''This Gun for Hire'' is a 1942 FilmNoir directed by Frank Tuttle, starring Robert Preston, Creator/VeronicaLake, and Creator/AlanLadd.

Ladd is Raven, a San Francisco hitman with a soft spot for cats, who kills a blackmailer named Baker. Raven retrieves a stolen chemical formula from Baker and brings it to his employer, Willard Gates (Laird Creegar). Gates then double-crosses Raven by reporting the money he gave Raven for the job as stolen from the bankroll of his company, Nitro Chemical. Raven goes on the run from the police, led by visiting LAPD detective Michael Crane (Preston).