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They Gave Him a Gun

They Gave Him a Gun
Theatrical release poster
Directed by W. S. Van Dyke
Written by Cyril Hume
Richard Maibaum
Maurice Rapf
Based on They Gave Him a Gun
1936 novel 
by William J. Cowen
Starring Spencer Tracy
Gladys George
Franchot Tone
Music by Sigmund Romberg
Cinematography Harold Rosson
Edited by Ben Lewis
Distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Release dates
  • May 7, 1937 (1937-05-07)
Running time 94 minutes
Country United States
Language English
Budget $606,000[1]
Box office $1,313,000[1]

They Gave Him a Gun is a 1937 American Franchot Tone. The picture bears a resemblance to later films noir in its dark theme regarding the struggles and failures of a man trying to take a criminal shortcut to the American dream. The screenplay was written by Cyril Hume,Richard Maibaum, and Maurice Rapf, based on the 1936 book of the same name by William J. Cowen.[2][3]

Contents

  • Plot 1
  • Cast 2
  • Box office 3
  • References 4
  • External links 5

Plot

The movie begins in Spencer Tracy), a carnival barker. However, when Fred doesn't return from the battlefield, the two think he’s been killed (when he was merely captured) and so they make wedding plans. Then when Fred returns he decides to support Jimmy and Rose marrying, even though it breaks his heart. After the war Fred meets up with Jimmy again and discovers that Jimmy is a racketeer who uses his battle skills to commit murder. So he tells Rose, who had no idea. She then reports her husband to the police so he will go to prison and be reformed. But Jimmy breaks out of prison and tries to take Rose on the lam with him. At this point Fred intervenes. Jimmy, feeling undeserving, commits suicide by police.

Cast

Box office

According to MGM records the film earned $718,000 in the US and Canada and $595,000 elsewhere resulting in a profit of $253,000.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c The Eddie Mannix Ledger, Los Angeles: Margaret Herrick Library, Center for Motion Picture Study .
  2. ^ Borde, Raymond; Chaumeton, Etienne (2002). A Panorama of American Film Noir (1941-1953). City Lights Books. p. 220.  
  3. ^ Goble, Alan, ed. (1999). The Complete Index to Literary Sources in Film. Walter de Gruyter. p. 980.  

External links

Films directed by W. S. Van Dyke


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