The Gun Runners

For the documentary film, see Gun Runners.

The Gun Runners is a 1958 American film noir crime film directed by Don Siegel. It's the third adaptation of Ernest Hemingway's 1937 novel To Have and Have Not, and stars Audie Murphy.^[1] Everett Sloane plays the part of the alcoholic sidekick originally played by Walter Brennan in the film's first adaptation, although Sloane's interpretation is less overtly comic. Eddie Albert delivers a bravura performance as a charismatic villain; other cast members include Jack Elam and Richard Jaeckel. Gita Hall, "Miss Stockholm of 1953", made her Hollywood film debut as Albert's girlfriend Eva.

The Gun Runners
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Don Siegel (as Donald Siegel)
Screenplay by	Daniel Mainwaring Paul Monash
Based on	To Have and Have Not (novel) by Ernest Hemingway
Produced by	Herbert E. Stewart Clarence Greene
Starring	Audie Murphy
Cinematography	Hal Mohr
Edited by	Chester W. Shaeffer
Music by	Leith Stevens
Production company	Seven Arts Productions
Distributed by	United Artists
Release date	September 1958 (1958-09) (United States)
Running time	83 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English

The earlier remake, titled The Breaking Point (1950), was directed by Michael Curtiz and starred John Garfield.

Don Siegel, writing about the film in his memoirs, reflected, "There’s an old adage; never make a sea picture with a C budget."^[2]

Plot

Sam Martin (Audie Murphy) runs a charter boat with his alcoholic first mate, Harvey (Everett Sloane). He is forced by financial necessity to run guns for the Cuban Revolution but his employer seeks to maximise his profit.

Cast

• Audie Murphy as Sam Martin
• Eddie Albert as Hanagan
• Patricia Owens as Lucy Martin
• Everett Sloane as Harvey
• Richard Jaeckel as Buzurki
• Paul Birch as Sy Philips
• Jack Elam as Arnold
• John Qualen as Pop
• Edward Colmans as Juan
• Stephen Peck as Pepito (as Steven Peck)
• Carlos Romero as Carlos Contreras (as Carl Rogers)
• Gita Hall as Eva
• Robert Phillips as Outlaw (uncredited)^[3]

Production

According to Don Siegel, star Audie Murphy had asked him to direct the film and United Artists agreed following the success of Baby Face Nelson. However, Siegel was worried about the low budget.^[4]

This was the first feature from the fledgling Seven Arts Productions.^[5] Director Don Siegel was unhappy with having to use Audie Murphy in the lead role.^[6] However Siegel wrote Murphy "was always polite and quiet with me, never any trouble."^[7]

The film was shot in Newport Beach, California,

Reception

Ron. of Variety called it a "well-done adventure yarn with average b.o. prospects".^[5]

See also

• List of American films of 1958

Notes

• Siegel, Don (1993). A Siegel film : an autobiography. Faber and Faber.