This Gun for Hire
Original Theatrical Poster
Main Cast
Character
Actor
Ellen Graham
Veronica Lake
Philip Raven
Alan Ladd
Police Lt. Michael Crane
Robert Preston
Willard Gates
Laird Cregar
Alvin Brewster
Tully Marshall
Tommy
Marc Lawrence
This Gun for Hire Alan Ladd , and Robert Preston . The story is set in contemporary wartime San Francisco and Los Angeles. Hitman Philip Raven (Alan Ladd ) kills a blackmailer but is double-crossed by his employer Willard Gates (Laird Cregar). Escaping from police, Raven meets Ellen Graham (Veronica Lake) who turns out to be a bride of Police Lt. Michael Crane (Robert Preston ).
The following weapons were used in the film This Gun for Hire :
Pistols Colt Model 1903 Pocket Hammerless Philip Raven's (Alan Ladd ) main weapon throughout the movie is a blued Colt Model 1903 Pocket Hammerless with Colt wood grips (closeups allow to identify the pistol as Thrid ot Fourth Variant). Raven also disarms Willard Gates' driver Tommy (Marc Lawrence ) of a nickel or crome plated Model 1903 with black rubber grips and uses it in several scenes.
Note: see additional images on talk page .
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Colt 1903 Hammerless with Colt Wood Grips - .32 ACP Error creating thumbnail: File missing Colt Model 1903 Pocket Hammerless Pistol Nickel with pearl grips - .32 ACP. Unlike this sample, the screen nickel plated pistol has black grips of hard rubber. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Raven readies his pistol. Error creating thumbnail: File missing The wooden grips with Colt logo can be seen. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Raven kills Albert Baker. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A perfect closeup of the pistol. The marking on the slide can be seen. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Raven holds his pistol in the scene in Willard Gates' house. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Raven checks the magazine of his pistol when he and Ellen Graham (Veronica Lake) hide in a house near railroad. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Raven checks the magazine of Tommy's pistol. Seven holes in the magazine allow to identify the pistol as .32 Model 1903 unlike the .380 Model 1908 that has six holes in the magazine. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Raven holds nickel plated Colt. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Raven, dressed in driver uniform, threatens Alvin Brewster (Tully Marshall), president of Nitro Chemical Corporation. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Raven fires at Willard Gates. In next moment Raven's pistol switches to an unidentified revovler (see below) and then back to the pistol. Revolvers Colt Detective Special LAPD Lt. Michael Crane (Robert Preston ) carries a Colt Detective Special revolver.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Colt Detective Special 1st Gen with Square Butt - .38 Special Error creating thumbnail: File missing Plainclothes Lt. Crane holds his snub nose revolver during the police operation on the railway station. Next to him uniformed Lt. Clark (Dick Rush) holds a long-barreled Smith & Wesson. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Error creating thumbnail: File missing Another view of Lt. Crane's revolver. The wide grip can be seen. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Lt. Crane's revolver is seen better. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Error creating thumbnail: File missing Crane holds his revolver in the scene in Nitro Chemical Corporation building. Error creating thumbnail: File missing He prepares to go down the wall in a construction cradle. Smith & Wesson Military & Police Smith & Wesson Military & Police revolvers are used by police personnel.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Smith & Wesson Model M&P Revolver with 5" Barrel - .38 Special Error creating thumbnail: File missing LAPD Det. Steve Finnerty (Harry Shannon) holds a Smith & Wesson when police search for Raven on a gasworks. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Error creating thumbnail: File missing LAPD Lt. Clark (Dick Rush) holds a revolver during the police operation on the railway station. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Error creating thumbnail: File missing Det. Finnerty holds a revolver in same scene. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Police Captain (Charles C. Wilson) holds a revolver (at the left). Error creating thumbnail: File missing Finnerty's revolver is seen at the right. Another plainclothes detective holds same looking revolver at the background. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Officer Glennon (Elliott Sullivan) makes an attempt to arrest Raven. Error creating thumbnail: File missing The barrel of Glennon's pistol is seen at the right. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A security guard (at the right) and a police officer (at the left) hold revolvers in the scene in Nitro Chemical Corporation building Unidentified revolver In the scene when Raven shoots Willard Gates, his pistol switches to a nondescript revolver.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Raven holds a revolver instead of previously seen Colt Model 1903 pistol. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Raven spots Lt. Crane who goes down the wall of the building in a construction cradle. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Raven fires... Error creating thumbnail: File missing ...but he is shot himself. Rifles Winchester Model 1892 Saddle Ring Carbine Winchester Model 1892 Saddle Ring Carbines are used by police personnel.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Winchester 1892 Saddle Ring Carbine Error creating thumbnail: File missing A police officer at the left holds a Winchester M1892 carbine. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A Winchester M1892 is seen in center. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Police Sergeant Chuck (actor is supposedly Chuck Hamilton) holds a Winchester M1892 carbine (in earlier scenes this character holds a Winchester Model 1912 and a Federal Gas Riot Gun ). The saddle ring can be seen. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Chuck fires at escaping Raven. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Chuck and another police officer with Winchesters. Shotguns Winchester Model 1912 Winchester Model 1912 pump action shotguns are used by police personnel.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Winchester Model 1912 Riot Gun - 12 gauge Error creating thumbnail: File missing Police Sergeant Chuck (actor is supposedly Chuck Hamilton) holds a Winchester Model 1912 (in center). Error creating thumbnail: File missing Another view of same gun. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A police officer at the background left holds a Winchester Model 1912. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A close view of the barrel and pump. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A police officer at the far left holds a Winchester Model 1912. Other Weapons Federal Gas Riot Gun Several police officers carry Federal Gas Riot Gun launchers (at least three are seen).
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Federal L-5 Gas Riot Gun - 37mm Error creating thumbnail: File missing Abovementioned Police Sergeant Chuck (second from the right) holds a gas grenade launcher. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A launcher is seen at the right. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Sergeant Chuck with a launcher (at the right). Error creating thumbnail: File missing Two police officers with launchers. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A police officer in center holds a launcher. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Sergeant Chuck (at the left) and another police officer (at the right) hold launchers after they fires gas grenades at Ellen Graham, dressed in Raven's clothes and hiding under a railway wagon. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A good view of the launcher on a promotional image. Shooting Pen A shooting pen is used by Alvin Brewster (Tully Marshall), president of Nitro Chemical Corporation, in his attempt to kill Raven.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Error creating thumbnail: File missing Error creating thumbnail: File missing Brewster readies the shooting pen. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Error creating thumbnail: File missing The device fires but Raven evades the shot. Error creating thumbnail: File missing The shooting pen in hands of Brewster's manservant Drew (Victor Kilian). 
