The Gun Runners
| The Gun Runners | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Don Siegel (as Donald Siegel) |
| Screenplay by | Daniel Mainwaring Paul Monash |
| Based on | To Have and Have Not (novel) by Ernest Hemingway |
| Produced by | Herbert 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 |
|
Running time | 83 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
The Gun Runners is a 1958 American film noir crime film directed by Don 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.
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
[edit]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
[edit]- Audie Murphy as Sam Martin
- Eddie Albert as Hanagan
- Patricia Owens as Lucy Martin
- Everett Sloane as Harvey
- Richard Jaeckel as Buzurki
- Paul Birch as Sy Philips
- Jack Elam as Arnold
- John Qualen as Pop
- Edward Colmans as Juan
- Stephen Peck as Pepito (as Steven Peck)
- Carlos Romero as Carlos Contreras (as Carl Rogers)
- Gita Hall as Eva
- Robert Phillips as Outlaw (uncredited)[3]
Production
[edit]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
[edit]Ron. of Variety called it a "well-done adventure yarn with average b.o. prospects".[5]
See also
[edit]Notes
[edit]- Siegel, Don (1993). A Siegel film : an autobiography. Faber and Faber.
References
[edit]- ^ The Gun Runners at Audie Murphy Memorial Site
- ^ Siegel p 207
- ^ Lentz, Harris (May 30, 2019). Obituaries in the Performing Arts, 2018. McFarland. pp. 299–300. ISBN 9781476636559 – via Google Books.
- ^ Siegel p 207
- ^ a b Ron. (September 17, 1958). "Film reviews: The Gun Runners". Variety. p. 7. Retrieved May 29, 2023.
- ^ Glenn Erickson, 'The Gun Runners', Turner Classic Movies accessed 3 October 2023
- ^ Siegel p 209
External links
[edit]- The Gun Runners at IMDb
- The Gun Runners at the TCM Movie Database
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- 1958 films
- Film noir
- 1958 crime drama films
- American crime drama films
- Remakes of American films
- Films based on American novels
- Films based on works by Ernest Hemingway
- Films directed by Don Siegel
- Films scored by Leith Stevens
- American seafaring films
- United Artists films
- Films set in Florida
- Films set in Cuba
- Films about the Cuban Revolution
- 1950s English-language films
- 1950s American films
- English-language crime drama films
- 1950s crime drama film stubs
- 1950s American film stubs