Movie Type: Post-Noir (Modern Noir), Crime Thriller
Themes: Out For Revenge, Hired Killers, Dishonor Among Thieves
Main Cast: Robert Ivers, Georgann Johnson, William Bishop, Jacques Aubuchon, Peter Baldwin
Release Year: 1957
Country: US
Run Time: 87 minutes
Plot
As a favor to an old friend, producer Alex Gordon, James Cagney turned director for the first and only time in his career with Short Cut to Hell. The film is a remake of the 1942 Veronica Lake-Alan Ladd starrer This Gun For Hire. Robert Ivers plays Kyle, a hired killer who is double-crossed by his employer Bahrwell (Jacques Aubuchon). Seeking revenge, Kyle is reluctantly teamed with Glory Hamilton (Georgann Johnson), who has been targeted for elimination by Bahrwell and his henchman Nichols (Murvyn Vye). Unfortunately, Glory is the girlfriend of detective Stan (William Bishop), forcing Kyle to go on the lam before he can settle accounts with the film's principal villain. Kyle is finally able to get even with Bahrwell, and in the process reveals his long-dormant "good" side. Though the film itself is nothing special, Cagney's direction is sharp and efficient; it's too bad that Short Cut to Hell was his only effort behind the cameras. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Yvette Vickers - Daisy; Murvyn Vye - Nichols; Milton Frome - Los Angeles Police Captain; Roscoe Ates - Ext. Road Driver; Joe Bassett - Patrolman; Jacqueline Beer - Waitress; Douglas Evans - Mr. Henry; Joe Forte - Ticket Seller; Richard Hale - A.T.; John Halloran - Guard; Gail Land - Girl; Hugh Lawrence - Patrolman; Danny Lewis - Piano Player; Dennis McMullen - Los Angeles Policeman; William Newell - Hotel Manager; William Pullen - Used-Car-Lot Manager; Michael Ross - Inspector Ross; Sarah Selby - Adam's Secretary; Douglas Spencer - Conductor; Russell Trent - Trainman
Credit
Roland Anderson - Art Director, Hal Pereira - Art Director, Edith Head - Costume Designer, James Cagney - Director, Tom McAdoo - Editor, Irvin Talbot - Composer (Music Score), Irvin Talbot - Musical Direction/Supervision, Wally Westmore - Makeup, Haskell Boggs - Cinematographer, A.C. Lyles - Producer, Sam Comer - Set Designer, Frank R. McKelvey - Set Designer, John P. Fulton - Special Effects, W.R. Burnett - Screenwriter, Ted Berkman - Screenwriter, Raphael Blau - Screenwriter, W.R. Burnett - Book Author, Graham Greene - Book Author
