<![CDATA[Let down by second half]]>Archived from the IMDb Discussion Forums — This Gun for Hire

langstomjopp — 15 years ago(June 21, 2010 06:37 AM)

The first half was brilliant I was loving the film so much then the plot became less interesting/didn't develop so well. There were also some silly things like the gas mask (what a huge mistake to cover up the hero's face for so long in a silly mask!), some really cheesy lines in the railyard shack, the fat guy who doesn't make a good enemy, and the old guy in the chair who we couldnt care less about, how easy it was for the hero to get to the old guy (only one bodyguard for such a rich guy?)
They should have cut down the overly long part in the railyard and made the finale longer. More focus on the relationships/double crossing at the end rather than the shallow mastermind character.
And what a waste not to have a crucial scene with Veronica performing her magic. That was really 2 sideshows for entertaining the audience - didn't do anything for the plot.

]]>https://filmglance.com/discuss/topic/175788/let-down-by-second-halfRSS for NodeTue, 12 May 2026 16:00:40 GMTSun, 26 Apr 2026 19:53:50 GMT60<![CDATA[Reply to Let down by second half on Sun, 26 Apr 2026 19:54:32 GMT]]>cultfilmfreaksdotcom — 9 years ago(November 27, 2016 10:56 PM)

I agree that the end was just a long drawn-out chase, but that fat guy, to me, made the movie. He was the bad guy but the soft side. The heavy was, as is usual, the bad guy's henchman, Marc Lawrence.
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]]>https://filmglance.com/discuss/post/1476871https://filmglance.com/discuss/post/1476871Sun, 26 Apr 2026 19:54:32 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Let down by second half on Sun, 26 Apr 2026 19:54:24 GMT]]>liscarkat-2 — 11 years ago(October 06, 2014 12:38 PM)

Jim Hutton?

]]>https://filmglance.com/discuss/post/1476870https://filmglance.com/discuss/post/1476870Sun, 26 Apr 2026 19:54:24 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Let down by second half on Sun, 26 Apr 2026 19:54:16 GMT]]>MsELLERYqueen2 — 13 years ago(December 01, 2012 07:32 PM)

Yes, the second half wasn't as well done as the first part, I think.
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Jim Hutton: talented gorgeous hot hunk; adorable as ElleryQueen; SEXIEST ACTOR EVER

]]>https://filmglance.com/discuss/post/1476869https://filmglance.com/discuss/post/1476869Sun, 26 Apr 2026 19:54:16 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Let down by second half on Sun, 26 Apr 2026 19:54:06 GMT]]>cpbvk — 14 years ago(December 19, 2011 10:41 PM)

I also think you're being a bit hyper-critical. This isn't Laird Creager's best performance (I'd vote for "I Wake Up Screaming"), but I consider him one of the great Hollywood villains. I must say, though, that your idea about Veronica Lake using prestidigitation to get out of a fix or two would have been a very nice touch.

]]>https://filmglance.com/discuss/post/1476868https://filmglance.com/discuss/post/1476868Sun, 26 Apr 2026 19:54:06 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Let down by second half on Sun, 26 Apr 2026 19:53:58 GMT]]>markquinn1989 — 15 years ago(November 08, 2010 08:43 PM)

I think you're being a bit too critical of the film. Having just seen it, I thought it was a really enjoyable film altogether.
I can understand many peoples' objections to how the plot developed (especially the selling of the chemical formula to the Japanese in the war) but in terms of why Ladd went instead for the confession, that was for Veronica not necessarily the war effort.
The 'overly long' (as you call it) scene in the railyard I thought was crucial to understanding the characters and the relationship they managed to form during that brief time together.
I can see your point about the magic (the only other use for it is when she leaves the trail for the police) but I think that was just thrown in for some light entertainment to heighten the mood a bit.
The villains weren't particularly great but strong enough as the film was more focused on Ladd & Lake (a great pair in my opinion).
I thought the film was great because much like a lot of the films from this era, it gives you a greater level of escapism than most movies today!!!!

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