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Alan Ladd: The True Quiet Man

In the 1942 film "This Gun For Hire," he was only a supporting actor. But his portrayal of a cold, ruthless killer with a core of gentle sadness had an impact on audiences everywhere. Teamed with diminutive Veronica Lake, he became an immediately saleable commodity, and in the process helped launch the age of film noir. By 1954, Photoplay Magazine voted him the world's most popular male film star; his fellow award-winner was Marilyn Monroe. But Alan Ladd's fabulous success already contained within it the mechanism to self-destruct.

Top Cast

  • Alan Ladd

    Alan Ladd

    Self (archive footage)

  • Sue Carol

    Sue Carol

    Self (archive footage)

  • Anthony Caruso

    Anthony Caruso

    Self

  • Jeff Corey

    Jeff Corey

    Self

  • Edward Dmytryk

    Edward Dmytryk

    Self

  • Edith Fellows

    Edith Fellows

    Self

  • Mona Freeman

    Mona Freeman

    Self

  • Samuel Goldwyn Jr.

    Samuel Goldwyn Jr.

    Self

  • Peter Hansen

    Peter Hansen

    Self

Overview

In the 1942 film "This Gun For Hire," he was only a supporting actor. But his portrayal of a cold, ruthless killer with a core of gentle sadness had an impact on audiences everywhere. Teamed with diminutive Veronica Lake, he became an immediately saleable commodity, and in the process helped launch the age of film noir. By 1954, Photoplay Magazine voted him the world's most popular male film star; his fellow award-winner was Marilyn Monroe. But Alan Ladd's fabulous success already contained within it the mechanism to self-destruct.

Rating

8.0 / 10
2 Reviews
0 Popular

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