This Gun for Hire (1942) in Color — Starring Veronica Lake & Robert Preston

This Gun for Hire (1942) – Buy This Film Noir Classic in Color

Experience the dark thrills of This Gun for Hire (1942) in vivid colorized HD. Directed by Frank Tuttle, this landmark film noir stars Alan Ladd in his star-making role as Philip Raven, a cold-blooded hired killer who becomes entangled in a web of treason and betrayal when the men who hired him try to silence him permanently. Co-starring Veronica Lake in the screen pairing that would make them one of Hollywood’s most iconic duos, this razor-sharp thriller combines hard-boiled suspense with wartime espionage in a film that helped define the noir genre. Now available as a premium digital download for just €15.00 — DRM-free and yours to keep forever.

Plot Summary

Philip Raven (Alan Ladd) is a professional assassin — a man shaped by a brutal childhood of abuse and abandonment into a remorseless killer who trusts no one and nothing. When a sinister middleman named Willard Gates (Laird Cregar) hires Raven to murder a blackmailing chemist, the job is executed with clinical precision. But when Gates pays Raven in marked bills — bills that were reported stolen — Raven realizes he has been set up. The police are immediately on his trail, and Raven becomes a hunted fugitive, not because of the murder itself, but because the marked money connects him to a much larger conspiracy.

Ellen Graham (Veronica Lake) is a beautiful nightclub singer who is secretly working as an undercover agent for a Senate committee investigating a chemical corporation suspected of selling poison gas formulas to the Japanese. Ellen’s investigation has led her to the same Willard Gates who betrayed Raven, and when a series of coincidences throws Ellen and Raven together on a train, their fates become inextricably linked. Raven takes Ellen hostage during his escape from the police, but gradually discovers that they share a common enemy.

The relationship between Raven and Ellen is the dark heart of the film. Ellen represents everything Raven has been denied — warmth, human connection, the possibility of trust — and her genuine compassion slowly penetrates his emotional armour. For the first time in his life, Raven encounters someone who treats him as a human being rather than a weapon to be used and discarded. Meanwhile, Ellen discovers that beneath Raven’s lethal exterior lies a damaged man whose capacity for violence is rooted in unimaginable childhood suffering rather than innate evil.

As Raven tracks Gates to the chemical corporation headquarters, the full scope of the conspiracy is revealed: wealthy industrialists led by Alvin Brewster (Tully Marshall) are selling American military secrets to the Japanese enemy, committing treason for profit while American soldiers die. The climactic confrontation in the chemical plant forces Raven to choose between self-preservation and justice, and his final actions blur the line between cold-blooded killer and unlikely patriot. The film’s devastating conclusion confirms that some men are too damaged to be saved, even when they prove capable of redemption.

Cast & Crew

Director: Frank Tuttle
Stars: Alan Ladd, Veronica Lake, Robert Preston, Laird Cregar, Tully Marshall, Marc Lawrence

Alan Ladd’s breakthrough performance as Philip Raven created a new type of Hollywood anti-hero — quiet, lethal, and profoundly sympathetic despite his violence. Veronica Lake’s cool beauty and intelligence provide the perfect complement to Ladd’s dangerous stillness, and their chemistry launched one of noir’s greatest screen partnerships. Laird Cregar is magnificently sinister as the treacherous Gates.

Why Buy This Classic in Color?

The shadowy noir atmosphere, the rain-slicked streets, the smoky nightclubs, and the tense confrontations in darkened buildings are all powerfully enhanced through expert colorization. The interplay of light and shadow that defines film noir gains remarkable depth in colour, while the wartime setting and industrial locations acquire gritty visual authenticity. Now also available in colour. Own this definitive noir classic for €15.00 — an essential addition to your film noir collection.

Historical Significance

This Gun for Hire is one of the foundational films of the noir genre and the picture that made Alan Ladd an overnight star. Adapted from Graham Greene’s novel A Gun for Sale, the film established the Ladd-Lake screen partnership that would fuel several major noir productions. Its portrait of a sympathetic killer driven by childhood trauma was groundbreaking for American cinema and influenced every subsequent film noir anti-hero from Bogart’s characters to modern interpretations of the archetype. Through colorization, this essential noir masterpiece has been preserved for modern audiences who appreciate the dark poetry of Hollywood’s most distinctive and enduring genre.

Technical Details

• Format: MP4 digital download
• Resolution: HD 720p
• Colorized: Yes – professionally colorized from the original black-and-white
• Audio: Original mono soundtrack
• Runtime: Approximately 81 minutes
• DRM-free: Yes – no restrictions on playback
• Instant download: Available immediately after purchase
• Price: €15.00

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Movie-Specific Questions

Q: Is this really Alan Ladd’s breakout role?
A: Absolutely. While Ladd had appeared in small parts before, This Gun for Hire made him an immediate star. His quiet intensity and dangerous charisma redefined what a leading man could be in Hollywood, creating a new archetype of the sympathetic anti-hero that endures to this day.

Q: How does the Ladd-Lake chemistry compare to other noir pairings?
A: The Ladd-Lake partnership is widely regarded as one of noir’s finest. Their screen chemistry is unusual — not conventionally romantic but built on mutual recognition and understanding — and it creates an emotional tension that is unique in the genre. They would reunite for several more classic noirs.

Q: Does the wartime espionage element feel dated?
A: The Japanese espionage subplot is very much of its era, but the core noir elements — the hired killer, the femme fatale who isn’t really fatale, the conspiracy of wealthy men willing to commit treason for profit — remain timeless and compelling.

Digital Download Questions

Q: What format is the download?
A: The film is delivered as a high-quality MP4 file in 720p HD resolution, compatible with all major devices and media players.

Q: Is there DRM on this download?
A: No. The download is completely DRM-free, meaning you can watch it on any device without restrictions or expiration dates.

Q: How quickly can I watch after purchasing?
A: Your download link is available immediately after payment. You can start watching within minutes of completing your purchase.

Related Colorized Classics

• The Glass Key (1942)
• The Blue Dahlia (1946)
• Double Indemnity (1944)
• The Maltese Falcon (1941)
• Out of the Past (1947)