This Gun for Hire (1991)

A killer for hire named Raven kills his target. However, he believes that he was just killing an ordinary person, but before he knows it, there's a massive manhunt for him. It seems that ... See full summary »

Director:

Lou Antonio

Writers:

Graham Greene (novel), Nevin Schreiner (teleplay)

Stars:

Robert Wagner, Nancy Everhard, Fredric Lehne

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Robert Wagner	...	'Raven'
Nancy Everhard	...	Anne
Fredric Lehne	...	Mather
John Harkins	...	Boynton
John McConnell	...	Lt. Leoville (as John 'Spud' McConnell)
Joe Warfield	...	Mr. Souverain
Kristina Loggia	...	Cynthia
Patrik Baldauff	...	Spicer
Lenore Banks	...	Mrs. Acky
James Borders	...	Bridge Cop
Dean Cochran	...	Larry
David Dahlgren	...	FBI Agent
Margaret Dubuisson	...	Anchorwoman
Robert Earle	...	Acky
Ron Flagge	...	FBI Agent

Storyline

A killer for hire named Raven kills his target. However, he believes that he was just killing an ordinary person, but before he knows it, there's a massive manhunt for him. It seems that the man he killed is a senator. While trying to evade the police, he takes a woman, Anne hostage. Though he eventually lets her go. She develops some kind of fascination for him, which doesn't please her boyfriend, who just happens to be the one who tracking Raven. At the same time Raven tries to find out who set him up and why.

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Plot Keywords:

female nudity | assassin | remake | based on novel | 

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Genres:

Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for violence and sensuality.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

9 January 1991 (USA)

Also Known As:

Affittasi killer

Filming Locations:

New Orleans, Louisiana, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

MCA Television Entertainment (MTE)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

100 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Quotes

Anne: You killed those people!
'Raven': What's the difference? They were dead anyway.

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Connections

Version of Una pistola in vendita (1970)

User Reviews

This Gun for Hire Is an Excellent Mystery Shot in the French Quarter

Robert Wagner plays a hit-man, Raven, who is hired to kill a man whom he thinks is a commonplace-average hit. Unbeknownst to Raven the hit is no ordinary Joe, but a US Senator and Raven has been set up to take the fall. He takes Anne, a stripper played by Nancy Everhard, hostage while attempting to elude the authorities who have initiated a massive manhunt for him. He also attempts to figure out who set him up and why. His attempt to evade the cops and figure out what really went down is one plot which the viewer may assume is the central plot, while what may seem a subplot, Raven's interaction with Anne and what perchance may really matter in life to him, actually becomes the main plot of the film. Raven's complexity (he is not the one dimensional character one would assume), and how this is developed in the film is done very well.

Wagner convincingly portrays Raven as a (40s to mid 60s) middle-aged, cold, hard, hit-man. He does not have the cherubic boyish appearance we associate with him; he is quite convincing in the role. Like Wagner, Nancy Everhard at 33 or 34 may have been at the upper age range for a modern stripper, but like Wagner, she appears younger and pulls it off very well. While watching the movie, one sees Raven and Anne, not Wagner and Everhard. Casting of the supporting cast is excellent, especially the slimy local politicians. The French Quarter is an appropriate locale and is used to advantage.

This was a made for TV film, but is certainly as good as any of its genre released theatrically in the last several decades.