Review of This Gun for Hire

Robert Wagner plays a hit-man, Raven, who is hired to kill a man whom he thinks is a commonplace-average hit. Unbeknownst to Raven the hit is no ordinary Joe, but a US Senator and Raven has been set up to take the fall. He takes Anne, a stripper played by Nancy Everhard, hostage while attempting to elude the authorities who have initiated a massive manhunt for him. He also attempts to figure out who set him up and why. His attempt to evade the cops and figure out what really went down is one plot which the viewer may assume is the central plot, while what may seem a subplot, Raven's interaction with Anne and what perchance may really matter in life to him, actually becomes the main plot of the film. Raven's complexity (he is not the one dimensional character one would assume), and how this is developed in the film is done very well.

Wagner convincingly portrays Raven as a (40s to mid 60s) middle-aged, cold, hard, hit-man. He does not have the cherubic boyish appearance we associate with him; he is quite convincing in the role. Like Wagner, Nancy Everhard at 33 or 34 may have been at the upper age range for a modern stripper, but like Wagner, she appears younger and pulls it off very well. While watching the movie, one sees Raven and Anne, not Wagner and Everhard. Casting of the supporting cast is excellent, especially the slimy local politicians. The French Quarter is an appropriate locale and is used to advantage.

This was a made for TV film, but is certainly as good as any of its genre released theatrically in the last several decades.