Alan Ladd: The True Quiet Man

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.

Directed by Gene Feldman

Top cast

Alan Ladd

Self (archive footage)

Sue Carol

Self (archive footage)

Anthony Caruso

Self

Jeff Corey

Self

Edward Dmytryk

Self

Edith Fellows

Self

Mona Freeman

Self

Samuel Goldwyn Jr.

Self

Peter Hansen

Self

David Ladd

Self

A.C. Lyles

Self

Patricia Medina

Self

Don Murray

Self

Lizabeth Scott

Self

J

John Veitch

Self

Details