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The Gun Runners

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6.0/10 • 18

1958-08-011h 23m

ActionCrimeThrillerDrama

Hemingway-hot adventure !

Remake of "To Have and Have Not" based on Hemingway short story. Plot reset to early days of Cuban revolution. A charter boat skipper gets entangled in gunrunning scheme to get money to pay off debts. Sort of a sea-going film noir with bad girl, smarmy villain, and the "innocent" drawn into wrong side of law by circumstances.

Directors
Don Siegel
Editors
Chester W. Schaeffer

Top Billed Cast

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  1. Audie Murphy

    Audie Murphy

    Sam Martin

  2. Eddie Albert

    Eddie Albert

    Hanagan

  3. Patricia Owens

    Patricia Owens

    Lucy Martin

  4. Richard Jaeckel

    Richard Jaeckel

    Blond Henchman on Boat

  5. Paul Birch

    Paul Birch

    Sy Phillips

  6. Jack Elam

    Jack Elam

    Arnold

  7. Lee Strasberg

    Lee Strasberg

    Rhett

  8. Everett Sloane

    Everett Sloane

    Harvey

  9. John Qualen

    John Qualen

    Pop

Reviews1

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John Chard Avatar

John Chard

May 16, 2020

6/10

A man can't turn bad if it ain't in him to be bad. And it ain't in you, Sam. The Gun Runners is directed by Don Siegel and adapted to screenplay by Daniel Mainwaring and Paul Monash from the Ernest Hemmingway novel, "To Have and Have Not". It stars Audie Murphy, Eddie Albert, Patricia Owens, Everett Sloane, Richard Jaeckel, Paul Birch and Jack Elam. Music is by Leith Stevens and cinematography by Hal Mohr. It's The Cuban Revolution and boat owner Sam Martin (Murphy) finds himself unwittingly mixed up in gun running... The Hemmingway novel had already been adapted with considerable success twice previously (To Have and Have Not (1944)/The Breaking Point (1950)), so why another variant on the source was commissioned is a bit of a mystery. As it happens, it's no dead loss without pulling up any trees. Thematic heart comes by way of Sam Martin's moral compass, which is jarred when he learns he is quite simply in over his head. With an adoring wife at home (Owens) and his alcoholic best friend in tow (Sloane as usual good value), the human interest factor is above average. Albert gives quality villainy, with henchmen by his side, and the pic stands out for the moments of violence that take one by surprise. There's some poor back projection work, but this is offset by some lovely location photography, with Mohr (Phantom of the Opera/The Lost Moment) also bringing some nifty monochrome shadings to key character interactions. Yet ultimately the plus point is with Murphy, who really pushes himself for Siegel, his performance deserved a better film, but as it is he lifts it above average and makes it a must see for his fans. 6/10

Media

  • The Gun Runners poster
  • The Gun Runners poster
  • The Gun Runners poster
  • The Gun Runners poster
  • The Gun Runners poster
  • The Gun Runners poster

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Status
Released
Original Language
English
Budget
--
Revenue
--
Keywords
fishermangun runner