Review of This Gun for Hire (1942) by Ryan J — 22 Jul 2009

The sociopathy and vulnerability of the main character is quite revealing for the time (at least for American film), but it comes too little too late in one of Greene's poorer to-screen adaptations. It's flimsy, transparent and convenient in the plotting department, and cops out on any genuine catharsis. The more compelling stuff here is the psychology, and it's at least as shallow as its political slant.

The few moments Ladd is given real depth to play out, the movie comes alive, and it pretty much completely dies again whenever Lake has to speak (no comment on the rest of her body of work).

Other than that, it breezes through and mostly engages you, it just doesn't flesh out as well as you wish it would.