My Gun Is Quick (1957)

Directors:

Phil Victor
George White

Writers:

Mickey Spillane (novel)
Richard Collins (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

August 1957 (USA)

Genre:

Mystery

Tagline:

The High Society Dame Who Played It Lowdown And Dirty! - The Secretary Who "Worked" After Hours! - The Stripper Who Knew How To Tease! - The Blonde Who Left Her Bedroom Door Open! (original poster)

Plot:

A private detective helps a prostitute being assaulted, and notices that she is wearing a very unique ring...

Plot Keywords:

Private Detective | Gang | Prostitute | American | Jewelry

Cast

Robert Bray	...	Mike Hammer
Whitney Blake	...	Nancy Williams
Patricia Donahue	...	Dione, Blonde Bar-Girl (as Pat Donague)
Donald Randolph	...	Colonel Holloway
Pamela Duncan	...	Velda, Hammer's Secretary
Booth Colman	...	Det. Pat Chambers (as Booth Coleman)
Jan Chaney	...	'Red', Cafe Girl
Genie Coree	...	Maria Teresa Garcia (as Gina Core)
Richard Garland	...	Louis, Henchman
Charles Boaz	...	Gangster
Peter Mamakos	...	LaRoche - Smuggler Chief
Claire Carleton	...	Proprietess
Phil Arnold	...	'Shorty', Cafe Proprietor
John Dennis	...	Al
Terence de Marney	...	Jean, the French Janitor (as Terrence De Marney)
Jackie Paul	...	Stripper
Fred Essler	...	Ludwig Teller
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
George Cisar	...	Customs Inspector (uncredited)
Jack Holland	...	Hotel Desk Clerk (uncredited)
Ray Kellogg	...	Gunman on Boat (uncredited)
Frank Mills	...	Spectator at Murder Scene (uncredited)
Jeffrey Sayre	...	Extra at Customs (uncredited)

Directed by
Phil Victor
George White

Writing credits
Mickey Spillane		(novel)
Richard Collins		(screenplay) and
Richard Powell		(screenplay)
Richard Powell		(screen story)

Produced by
Victor Saville	....	producer (as George A. White)
Phil Victor	....	producer

Original Music by
Marlin Skiles

Cinematography by
Harry Neumann

Film Editing by
Frank Sullivan

Production Design by
Boris Leven

Art Direction by
Boris Leven		(uncredited)

Set Decoration by
Ross Dowd

Makeup Department
Emile LaVigne	....	makeup artist
Alice Monte	....	hair stylist

Production Management
Frank Parmenter	....	production supervisor

Sound Department
Ralph Butler	....	sound
Del Harris	....	sound effects editor

Camera and Electrical Department
Charles Hannawalt	....	key grip (as Charles Hanawalt)

Casting Department
Ruth Burch	....	casting supervisor

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Bert Henrikson	....	costumer: men
Adele Parmenter	....	costumer: women
Joan Joseff	....	costume jeweller (uncredited)

Music Department
Jill Campbell	....	music editor
Marlin Skiles	....	conductor
Alexander Courage	....	composer: additional music (uncredited)
John Williams	....	composer: additional music (uncredited)

Other crew
Mollie Kent	....	script supervisor
Victor Saville	....	presenter

Production Companies

• Parklane Pictures Inc.

Distributors

• United Artists (1957) (USA) (theatrical)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

90 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15 | USA:Approved

Filming Locations:

Hotel Astoria, Olive St. and 3rd St., Bunker Hill, Downtown, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Parklane Pictures Inc.

Quotes:

Mike Hammer:Off my back, chick - I'm tired!

Simple, direct and gritty...

This is a very gritty low-budget Mickey Spillane film. Yet, despite having a no-name cast and every reason to believe it would stink, the film was very good and deserves to be seen. Robert Bray (who?!) plays Hammer--and plays him directly--without being handsome or bigger than life. This Mike Hammer was very human and very believable.

The film begins with an exhausted Mike coming into a greasy spoon for a bite. There he meets a young lady who had dreams of making it big in Hollywood but who is forced to survive through prostitution. Despite this hard life, Mike feels sorry for her and after a brief talk, gives her money to take a train back home to her family in the Midwest. Later, he learns that she's dead--the supposed victim of a hit and run. Hammer knows better--and spends the rest of the film tracking down her killers. Oddly, this case turns out to be related to an old jewel robbery. How can they be connected and how can Mike avoid getting his brains beaten out....yet again.

As I said above, this film is pretty good despite the budget. The story is excellent and the entire production works well because it seems pretty realistic and tough. A very good but relatively forgotten example of film noir that's worth seeing.