This Gun For Hire (1942) — one of the finest of the early film noirs available — and the first to show off the mutual talents of Veronica Lake and Alan Ladd — is a film noir to the core.  This classic film noir features a troubled protagonist, a strange mix of genres, and a mean streak that has you questioning its cruelty from the off.  This Gun for Hire might be the title, in fact, but I would on occasion simply like to refer to it as Psychopaths of 1942 — because that is what it is like at times.

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Film Noir Elements: Veronica Lake, Alan Ladd, the hat, the gun . . . . and the cat

Alan Ladd and Veronica Lake in This Gun for Hire (1942)

“One moment, instead of her heart, the Ace of Spades is there.”

Superlative Film Noir