The Gun Runners

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The Gun Runners
Gun Runners poster.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Donald Siegel
Screenplay byDaniel Mainwaring
Paul Monash
Based on To Have and Have Not (novel) by Ernest Hemingway
Produced byHerbert E. Stewart
Clarence Greene
Starring Audie Murphy
Cinematography Hal Mohr
Edited by Chester W. Shaeffer
Music by Leith Stevens
Production
company
Distributed by United Artists
Release date
  • September 1958 (1958-09)(United States)
Running time
83 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

The Gun Runners is a 1958 American film noir crime film directed by Donald Siegel. It's the third adaptation of Ernest Hemingway's 1937 novel To Have and Have Not , and stars Audie Murphy. [1] Everett Sloane plays the part of the alcoholic sidekick originally played by Walter Brennan in the film's first adaptation, although Sloane's interpretation is less overtly comic. Eddie Albert delivers a bravura performance as a charismatic villain; other cast members include Jack Elam and Richard Jaeckel. Gita Hall, "Miss Stockholm of 1953", made her Hollywood film debut as Albert's girlfriend Eva.

Contents

The earlier remake, titled The Breaking Point (1950), was directed by Michael Curtiz and starred John Garfield.

Don Siegel, writing about the film in his memoirs, reflected, "There’s an old adage; never make a sea picture with a C budget." [2]

Plot

Sam Martin (Audie Murphy) runs a charter boat with his alcoholic first mate, Harvey (Everett Sloane). He is forced by financial necessity to run guns for the Cuban Revolution but his employer seeks to maximise his profit.

Cast

Production

According to Don Siegel, star Audie Murphy had asked him to direct the film and United Artists agreed following the success of Baby Face Nelson. However, Siegel was worried about the low budget. [4]

This was the first feature from the fledgling Seven Arts Productions. [5] Director Don Siegel was unhappy with having to use Audie Murphy in the lead role. [6] However Siegel wrote Murphy "was always polite and quiet with me, never any trouble." [7]

The film was shot in Newport Beach, California,

Reception

Ron. of Variety called it a "well-done adventure yarn with average b.o. prospects". [5]

See also

Notes

References

  1. The Gun Runners at Audie Murphy Memorial Site
  2. Siegel p 207
  3. Lentz, Harris (May 30, 2019). Obituaries in the Performing Arts, 2018. McFarland. pp. 299–300. ISBN   9781476636559 via Google Books.
  4. Siegel p 207
  5. 1 2 Ron. (September 17, 1958). "Film reviews: The Gun Runners". Variety . p. 7. Retrieved May 29, 2023.
  6. Glenn Erickson, 'The Gun Runners', Turner Classic Movies accessed 3 October 2023
  7. Siegel p 209