Nowadays when word leaks out that a studio wants to remake a classic movies, people go nuts. Critics immediately pounce with stories about why mess with greatness. Fans of the original film post nasty messages on the Internet about Hollywood being full of unoriginal idiots. Decades ago studios remade their hits every few years without so much public spite. To Have and Have Not was a big hit for Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall in 1944. Even with such an iconic cast, Warners revamped the Ernest Hemingway short story into The Breaking Point in 1950 with John Garfield and Patricia Neal. The studio had no problem adapting the story a third time with Audie Murphy and Eddie Albert for The Gun Runners in 1958.
The Gun Runners differs from To Have and Have Not since it’s no longer about Martinique. The new destination is Cuba just before the communist revolution. This is a torn from today’s headlines production. Captain Harry Morgan (Audie Murphy) owes major cash around Key West. He’s got a happy home with wife (Patricia Owens), but money issues are working against them. An angel appears in the form of Eddie Albert (Green Acres). He just wants a little trip down to Cuba. Turns out he’s a gun runner hoping to make a quick profit moving weapons to the revolutionaries. While the captain needs the cash, can he really get tangled up in such an operation?
Audie Murphy got his big break in showbiz when he became the most decorated solider during World War II. He eventually would play himself in To Hell and Back. The good news is Murphy doesn’t come close to playing the role as an impersonation of either Bogart or Garfield. He can’t shake his all-American nice guy attitude. Director Don Siegel uses this attitude to the film’s advantage. When Murphy goes along with the plan, it’s pure desperation. Eddie Albert is charming and menacing as the gun runner. He gives that warm smile before slipping to cold blooded sneer before snuffing a cop. He struts around the screen shirtless with an imposing attitude. Albert makes an amazing heavy when he pulls out a pistol. He owns the film.
The video is 1.33:1 full frame. The black and white transfer looks as sharp. You’ll be able to fully absorb the bare chest of Eddie Albert. The audio is Dolby Digital mono. The levels are fine for the water action.
Trailer (2:10) has the English audio track yet the title cards are in Spanish. Eddie Albert comes off as a badass.
While this is the third time Hemingway’s story has been made into a film, The Gun Runners updates the action for 1958. Audie Murphy doesn’t bring much darkness to his ship captain caught in a smuggling operation. He’s a good guy’s good guy. Eddie Albert steals the film as the villain who can go from sweet to savage with the click of a trigger. This is a Manufacture-On-Demand DVD-R.
MGM Limited Edition Collection presents The Gun Runners. Directed by: Don Siegel. Starring: Eddie Albert, Audie Murphy, Patricia Owens and Everett Sloane. Written by: Daniel Mainwaring and Paul Monash. Running time: 82 minutes. Rating: Unrated. Released on DVD: April 18, 2011. Available at Amazon.com.
