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The Gun Runners

Seven Arts Productions

United Artists

United States of America

English

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Audie Murphy

Eddie Albert

Patricia Owens

Richard Jaeckel

Paul Birch

Jack Elam

Lee Strasberg

Everett Sloane

John Qualen

John A. Alonzo

Steve Carruthers

Roy Engel

Edward Colmans

Stephen Peck

Carlos Romero

Gita Hall

Jack Daly

Tony Dantes

Tom Greenway

Ted Jacques

Lita Leon

Peggy Maley

Joel Marston

Joey Ray

Freddie Roberto

Larry Taylor

Larry Thor

Herb Vigran

Billy Wayne

Don Siegel

Daniel Mainwaring

Ernest Hemingway

Paul Monash

Hal Mohr

Darrell Silvera

Clarence Greene

Leith Stevens

Howard Richmond

Chester W. Schaeffer

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

The Gun Runners (1968) ORIGINAL TRAILER

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The Gun Runners

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Cast

Audie Murphy

Eddie Albert

Patricia Owens

Richard Jaeckel

Paul Birch

Jack Elam

Lee Strasberg

Everett Sloane

John Qualen

John A. Alonzo

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