Film Noirchives - THIS GUN FOR HIRE

[@CollamrachTalks]

Eat your heart out Hollywood. Even with all the cosmetic surgery you can't touch the beauty of Veronica Lake

[@DefCon1966]

She truly was a stunning natural beauty and extremely talented and versatle. Acting, singing and magic, probably was a good dancer too. Today's Hollyweird hags can't hold a candle to Veronica's talent.

[@61butthatsaveragehere87]

Eh. She has genetic model luck that 15 % of people always had. Very simple. She was a great actress though

[@Hexon66]

@@DefCon1966 Even Veronica Lake herself admitted she was a mediocre actress.

[@schroedingers_kotze]

@@DefCon1966 Well, she didn't have a very good reputation everywhere back then. Her acting was widely considered to be limited, she herself was alledgedly difficult to work with and supposedly quite simple minded (Raymond Chandler, for example, disrespectfully called her "Moronica" in his letters). Not to mention that there were the usual rumors about how she got her roles. It could all just be rumors and slander, but her career was quickly over. Apart from that, she looked simply stunning.

[@neugey]

These films seem to age effortlessly. It also doesn't hurt that Veronica Lake is mesmerizing.

[@rubydawn1]

veronica is a real timeless beauty

[@ironriderslsm]

Just ordered the movie tape. Looks good, looking forward to seeing it.

[@MrSerpico145]

And here we get to witness Razor's love making voice.

[@StevenTorrey]

Veronica Lake must be one of the most underappreciated artists of Hollywood....

[@XodusFTW]

I'm always surprised that more people don't know about Veronica Lake. As a child I loved her as a witch in the 1942 comedy "I married a Witch" and then slowly watched the rest of her filmography on late night TV when they showed old films in the UK over the years. It was weird how she just suddenly disappeared, and no one spoke or knew about her.

[@ruthiehenshallfan99]

She was a lot of fun in I Married a Witch. So was the movie. "I love you truly. Truly!

[@nathansteinfromarkham7109]

What happened to her?

[@sertorrhenclegane]

@@nathansteinfromarkham7109 Like many actors and actresses of her era, she succumb to diminishing box office returns, alcoholism and a tumultuous personal life. As a result, her career declined and she ended up doing some obscure works before dying at 50.

[@PaulJersey]

Veronica Lake and the 1911 pistol are ageless icons.

[@1PJ7]

You'd make a really good Film History Teacher. Depth of knowledge plus the passion would make any class a Must Go. I know I would.

[@nhmooytis7058]

Me too!

[@WillMauz]

This Gun for Hire really feels like a spiritual father to Leon; The Professional.

[@sandmanhh67]

Veronica Lake..... oh man what a babe

[@dragonsmith9462]

Wow. This is like attending film school, but without suffering the soul-crushing degradation of the social justice ass-rapery these things entail in current year.

[@cygnus7593]

His gun is a Colt Model 1903 Pocket Hammerless.

[@BunBun52]

Came here to say this.

[@lyokon8]

Your knowledge is appreciated.

[@DIEGhostfish]

I wasn't sure what it was but I knew it was too small and smooth to be a full 1911.

[@matthiasthulman4058]

@@DIEGhostfish didn't those have a bad habit of discharging at the drop of a pin? No pun intended... Or am I thinking of something else

[@DIEGhostfish]

@@matthiasthulman4058 Not that I know of.

[@metalwarrior81]

Really love how quickly you've been pumping these episodes out Razör. Some of my favorite franchises take a lot of inspiration from film noir and I always wanted to take a deeper look into the classics that inspired them but never really knew where to begin. But your series is really helping me find some good movies to start with. Thanks a lot man. God fucking speed.

[@Suodemon]

Every single one of these edited looks into Noire or DS9 further illustrates that they are gems. I know they are more time consuming, but have a pacing that sets the tone perfectly. Thank you sir, and God fucking speed

[@dangerdolls]

Nice video, Razor. Oddly enough I just had myself a four film Veronica Lake festival one evening over the holidays, including This Gun for Hire. Loved it!

[@Lopasblin]

I know you are the RAGEaholic, but your calmer, analytical self is by far my favorite. Really loving these series as someone who has never watched an old Noir movie. Keep up the great work Razorfish

[@nhmooytis7058]

Fist not fish😊 🐟

[@DECIMUS771]

Another example of how your superlative reviewing skills, clearly, know no limits. Great stuff.

[@Metatarsus0]

Easily my favorite noir film so far. Something about Ladd's performance as Raven just has me hooked. And the title is perfect, too. This and Double Indemnity have been inspiration and motivation for me to start writing. Thanks for introducing myself and others so informatively to the film noir genre!

[@Avetarx]

Interesting review and smooth narrative voice compliments it greatly, well done!

[@jaqatlantic]

Your Noir series is fantastic, and I have enjoyed--and been educated by--all of them. Please make more! I would just make one comment re Veronica Lake (whom I adore): She did not do her own singing; the voice you hear is that of pro-dubber extraordinaire Martha Mears.

[@terminalred9232]

I ordered half a dozen noir movies after your "murder, my sweet" Video . They haven't even arrived yet and now I gotta add another to the list. I 'm enjoying the hell out of this video series but my wallet sure as hell ain't.

[@Froban]

As someone who's never watched Noir films before, you've certainly made me interested in the genre. Good work!

[@ashleyj2641]

15:05 Wow, that part made me teary eyed and uncomfortable! Great acting!

[@johnsnow1946]

Veronica Lake is way too adorable to be a femme fatale.

[@angryright-winger7994]

Really lovin’ this series so far Razor please keep this one goin!

[@Citizen_J]

Really enjoying this series

[@vianenhive]

I hope you never stop churning these out Razor, excellent stuff.

[@joejustjoe3689]

I love Laird Cregar. He was in a number of terrific films like "I Wake Up Screaming" and "Hangover Square." Great review. Thanks!

[@colestevenson1881]

Love the old noirs. Please do one for Gilda. I know it's not quite noir since there is no PI and great mystery to solve, but it's still one of the best vintage black and whites that can be considered at least noir adjacent.

[@DesolationAngel101]

Veronica Lake was one of a kind all right, a true enigmatic knockout.

[@MiriamVintageClassics]

What an excellent video! Such a great essay on this movie and film noir. I particularly love "This Gun for Hire" and subscribe everything said here. Chapeau!

[@Philippoable]

Love this series. Didn't think I'd even dig noir. Turns out I do. So thanks razor.

[@J.S.MacDirty]

its a Colt 1903 Hammerless .32 acp, not a 1911 www.imfdb.org/wiki/Alan_Ladd

[@Dke721]

I am really loving this series, always makes my day when I see a new episode.

[@FreedomSpirit108]

This movie was simply amazing I was glued to the screen I dont think I even blinked

[@DionysusJPower]

Loving this series dude. Keep 'em coming

[@donnysarian]

Veronica Lake is the type of woman that every man would kill for. So incredibly beautiful and so unique.

[@BlackHoleOfLove]

Finally watched it. It's as good as you say it is. And a closest thing for a good Hitman movie

[@Greekay]

Love this series. Love Ladd and Lake.

[@maxxxstrong4577]

When men were men and women were women.

[@61butthatsaveragehere87]

Yes, 5'6 babyfaced cool pro killer (of innocents) that only loves cats. I miss those men. But to be clear, this is one of the best tough guy performances ever, top 3.

[@natestathes]

And small furry creatures from alpha centurai were small furry creatures from alpha centurai.

[@sampedro9316]

They still are, whether they know it or not.

[@adriandre29]

And when your grandma was getting her cheeks pounded

[@andreasedwards5991]

40s femme fatales, the most beautiful class of women ever, sexy, stylish, classy, smart and charming are somehow more negative to the women imagine then to days vaped up, flash your shit for clicks, usless influencers and podcasters. Yeah there right have gone up but dignity and self respect has gone down

[@crusader176]

Razor this was another Bullseye commentary on Film Noir anxiously await the next one I Like your style Razor while others attempt to comment on social media about various genre's your sarcasm contains true Intelligence and a real grasp of the subject at hand. your use of vulgarity and profanity is creative and attention getting not just shock value antics your use of vocabulary is exceptional enjoying Flim Noir Archives thank you

[@slade52]

God Damn Razor. Now I've got to pick up this gem too! Thanks for another kick ass installment sir!

[@MrGeorgePickering]

KZbin notifications from Razor are apparently working again, at least for me. Hooray!

[@chubbbubb6870]

George Pickering I've experienced that problem as well while I don't think it's malicious rather incompetence it is quite annoying.

[@thegeneralmitch]

@5:40 yup thats Jessica rabbit alright... O_O

[@paranoyd70]

Wow, Veronica Lake was an absolute GEM. Grateful that you mentioned her. Have always liked Alan Ladd. WIll have to check this movie out. Cheers!

[@StylinandRaciallyProfilin]

that's not an M1911. Looks like a Colt 1903 Pocket Hammerless.

[@TheRageaholic]

'1911' is sort of a general term for any slide gun of a similar make, but I take your meaning.

[@StylinandRaciallyProfilin]

The Rageaholic just a fun fact, M1911's are actually rather rare in movies in this time period, because .45 ACP blanks were notoriously unreliable.

[@TheRageaholic]

Wasn't aware of that! Thanks for the trivia, sir.

[@CodyMacArthurFett]

Another fun fact. The Japanese military had their officers buy their own sidearms, and for officers that had to carry one for ceremonial reasons but were never expected to fight (like doctors) they carried a concealed carry type of gun with a relatively weak cartridge like the Nambu Automatic Pistol Type B (the "Baby" Nambu). Except that the 7mm spewing Nambu was not only less reliable and less powerful than the Colt Pocket Hammerless, but also 180 yen versus the 100 yen that the Pocket Hammerless cost. Which means that there were far more second-line officers armed like the hero of this film than there were armed with actual Japanese pistols. Also, this bears repeating, the Colt 1903 once cost just 100 yen. Which at today's exchange rate translates to a Pocket Hammerless costing you just $0.90. If you try searching GunBroker for the same gun you'll find them ranging in cost from $205.00 to $4,900.00 (though most fall around $1,000.00). Talk about inflation, eh?

[@BadlanderOutsider]

.32ACP master race wins again.

[@wyndsrfr16]

Just saw this for the first time tonight. Top flight is right. Excellently scripted, shot and acted. This is the best film and these are the most compelling characters I've seen so far from either Ladd or Lake. This might crack my top 5 noirs...

[@MaryAnneRosato]

As Lake was a tortured soul so was Ladd. Supposedly his wife/manager Sue Carol physically abused him. Especially at that time and considering Ladd's tough guy persona, this wasn't something that a man would humiliate himself by admitting. Ladd basically drank himself to death. Toward the end of his life an interviewer asked him, "If you could go back and change anything about your life, what would you change?" Ladd replied, "Everything." Very sad.

[@TheVideoLexicographer]

This is great stuff.

[@LEMMYKISGOD]

I do luv me some Veronica Lake

[@Supreme-Emperor-Mittens]

*AND THEN SHE WOKE UP* *AND FOUND HERSELF* *IN HARVEY WEINSTEIN'S HOTEL BED* lol

[@p.a.scippa5648]

Thank you , waiting for more .

[@vintageincolor]

Your commentary is sharp, quick, witty, tight, and hilarious

[@RavenHouseMystery]

Excellent job on this video. This Gun For Hire is one of my all-time favorite films and you've given us one of the best analysis ever. Thank you so much.

[@CoolGuyAtlas]

Deadly Premonition is such an amazing game. It has so many great elements and even though it seems like a "so bad its good" game its actually a really quirky great game as you continue to play it. It makes you keep playing and then the ending shocks you. Just seeing clips of the game reminds me of how much I enjoyed the game.

[@sbarronavarro1386]

I loooove old films

[@preshrunk_cyberpunk5479]

That Veronica Lake though

[@igrgic1]

8:26 Scarlet does know a magic trick.. its called "Hide a Johnson in her snatch to get the role"

[@ebayerr]

Ann Heche always reminded me of Veronica Lake.

[@Lieutenant_Dude]

Any woman who tries to beat a cat like that deserves a swift slapping across the eyes.

[@birdsdaword]

My favorite movie. Love Alan Ladd.

[@mitch89014]

First seen this great noir when I was 11 years old on late night tv, never forgot it; purchased the VHS; when it came out, the DVD, when that came out, and of course the Blu Ray when that was finally released; to say it is one of my favorites is a understatement, Ladd was in league at the time with Bogey and Cagney but what they did not have was the incredible Lake; Excellent review, thank you

[@8176morgan]

Wow! It multiplied its budget 24 times over. I guess it made a big bundle of money for the studio at that rate. I saw it a few years ago. A really great movie.

[@nathansteinfromarkham7109]

So far the best Noir movie I've watched.

[@UptownNYC]

"No way in high holy hell...." proceeds to connect FF7 train jump scene to This Gun For Hire. You deserve a Pulitzer just for that connection alone. LOL seriously, great stuff here. The videogame references were highly appreciated by this one! Thanks for uploading this gem. Loved every sec.

[@STLMTB]

Please keep doing these Razorfist, they are awesome!

[@noone6812]

Never had a use for older movies/genres, but these videos have made me rethink that.

[@justinmaas5834]

"What is it with you and that stupid cat?" One of the finest lines in the film.

[@davydevilution7297]

Likin' this excellent 'Film Noir' series, Razor !!

[@miker6452]

Remarkable documentary. Very thoroughly researched. It's clear these movies were important to you for you to take the time and put in the careful effort into making such a comprehensive vid. Very well done, looking forward to viewing your other Film Noirchives vids.

[@JMM745]

Forgive my redundancy, but although I do belive the protagonist's pistol was designed by John Moses Browning, it is actually a either "1903" Colt "pocket hammerless" pistol in .32 acp or the 1908 model chambered in .380 acp. The Colt 1911 was, of course a .45 Automatic Colt Pistol (acp). Excellent review my good man. I love the wordplay in 'noirchive'!

[@constantin5509]

Superb movie. Surprisingly bleak even for today's standards. I liked it more than the other Ladd/Lake team-up, The Blue Dahlia.

[@pong86r]

i randomly picked this movie up from the library a couple years back after reading "The Fade Out" by Brubaker, Phillips, and Breitweiser. Was so great, wound up with a bunch of other titles in that genre. There's some great tension and acting in those movies

[@lizdoyle7158]

alan ladd say the famous lines you talkin to me in this movie to veronica lake first before the same lines are used again by robert de niro in movie taxi driver

[@johnfadden6690]

Great video. This is a genre of films I have zero knowledge of and I think that's about to change.

[@heroesytumbas]

Great video. Looking forward for Night and the city and hopefully some Jean Pierre Melville.

[@Self-replicating_whatnot]

Oh wow. Couldn't care less for movies myself, but now i understand why some people pine for classics so much.

[@debrarodriguez3193]

I am all over it. On KZbin, the original audiobook and the radio perfomance with Alan Ladd is free. The movie is $3.99 on KZbin and Amazon prime. Alan Ladd was 5'6" BTW. Loved Veronica Lake in "I Married a Witch."

[@equinsuocha5396]

I Love this series you are doing razor. As always keep up the great work sir. God speed

[@ken2391]

Really well done review and comments! 👍👍👍

[@thegunslinger8806]

I've been pondering this little detail actually Razor, do you use the black and white filter in your videos because it helps the viewer focus on you instead of the ridiculous amount of awesome shit you own or because it alludes to your love of film noir?

[@jaspermcminnis5538]

My guess is film noir.

[@arnepianocanada]

In fact, Jackie pulled funding *in fury* from a theater that mounted "After the Fall", Arthur Miller's MM-based play following her death. Jackie would hardly have done so for someone cavorting extendedly with JFK.

[@abrahemsamander3967]

Finally saw this for the first time, it’s wonderful. Anyone else find the ending strangely wholesome? In a bitter sweet way?

[@Ouopa.]

Raven dies happy, Veronica Lake probably gets her happy marriagge . Yeah its a happy movie

[@kevinrhea7332]

I recently caught this one and concur that it’s one of the best in the genre, I think PANIC IN THE STREETS in particular deserves a video, your profile of Kazan in your Red Hollywood rant was excellent and eye opening and I think this film as well as the one you covered get overlooked, ever think of doing 70’s neo noir? like THE DRIVER? That’d be swell

[@Medraut00]

there is a lot of elements of the Wounded King, Grail legend, Sir Preceval elements about this movie.

[@Edouard_Mass]

Just finished This Gun for Hire and loved it great recommendation as always Razor. Btw raven doesn’t use a 1911 in the movie, he’s using a colt 1903 pocket hammerless.

[@societyrejecthardtothecore5863]

I like mellow razor fist

[@CallanElliott]

SocietyReject HardToTheCore Feels like the voice he'd use to narrate a Noir Film, dare I say...

[@MusouKing4816]

I wonder if le samouraï took some inspiration from this film

[@TheRageaholic]

It did. To the point where it's almost an outright remake in places. Le Samouraï was a kind of French tribute to Film Noir, so that's to be expected.

[@MusouKing4816]

The Rageaholic would you ever do a video on it?

[@BadlanderOutsider]

Also check out Le Cercle Rouge; another fantastic film by Melville.

[@ricardocantoral7672]

Such a shame Laird Cregar died so young. I saw him in this film, Heaven can Wait, I Wake Up Screaming, The Lodger, Hanover Square, and The Black Swan. He was the great psychotic heavy of noir.

[@phluphie]

Razor, came to your channel for the DS9 but it's the Film Noirchives that really has me hooked. Great stuff. Looking forward to the next one.

[@CheddarGetter]

'But Raz0r! Why won't you just talk about Vidya gaymes?!' Who gives a shit?! All the content on this channel is gold!* Been loving DS9 and the Noirchives. Was actually able to turn my parents on to this channel. My mom in particular watches religiously. We're holding our water til the last note waiting on a new Music Mythos, or some variant. *except opinions relating to modern Star Wars (I'm kidding, I don't give a shit if ppl don't like things I like)

[@christianholbrook2686]

I love the voice Razor. Keep it up.

[@vino140]

Excellent vlog.

[@robertoledesma2127]

EXELENTE, PUES ES LA PIONERA DEL TRILLER Y DE LOS FILMES EN ZONAS NATURALES, GRAN PAREJA LADD-LAKE !!!

[@bobrobert1123]

Razor i hate to nitpick but I belive you will find thats a colt 1903 pocket hammerless in .32 acp and not a 1911. Note the internal hammer and small frame. Both John browning designs so they look similar. Its the same gun bogie uses in casablanca btw and it has quite the gangster pedigree.

[@wariodude128]

Sounds to me like This Gun For Hire is an Unbuilt Trope when it comes to film noir. Which means that the movie looks like a deconstruction of the genre, except that it came out some years before the genre was even a thing. So there was no film noir genre to deconstruct. Thank you, TV Tropes.

[@TheRageaholic]

Well, yes and no. It's kind of complicated, because 'This Gun for Hire' comes a year after The Maltese Falcon. Which is quintessential Film Noir. So it's sort of in this weird mid-period, where the genre existed, but it didn't have a name and it wasn't technically part of a wider zeitgeist yet.

[@wariodude128]

Ah, I see. Even so, the conventions of the genre were not quite set in stone since film noir as a genre didn't exist yet. Sure, The Maltese Falcon came out first. However, I like to think of that movie as the Ur-Example and This Gun For Hire as the Trope Maker. When the genre didn't have a name yet, they basically did whatever they wanted because there wasn't any conventions of the genre saying they couldn't do that.

[@BadlanderOutsider]

In addition, while the film genre was still being solidified and codified, the crime pulp genre is was drawing on had pretty much existed in the pulps for years; so you take something that's an interesting twist on the genre from a literary perspective and turn it into the film at a time when earlier and later works were also being adapted into the coalescing film noir genre out of sequence from when they were written. As a result you have years of development and evolution in the literary sense being turned into cinema for a genre that has yet to establish purely what it was.

[@peterberle]

loving this series!!!!!

[@roberthill3207]

Oh my god you used your indoor voice nice. Love your videos.

[@wileyjdraws7594]

One of my favorites

[@ShortbusMooner]

Ahhh! I remember this movie. My mom loves it.. *:)*

[@Rezec75]

it is so unusual to hear Razor in such calm tone.