Crime | Drama | Film-Noir | USA | B&W | 86min | Dir: James Cagney
w/ William Bishop, Robert Ivers, Yvette Vickers, Georgann Johnson, Murvyn Vye
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.
Short Cut To Hell is a remake of the 1942 Veronica Lake / Alan Ladd film "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).
Cagney's direction is sharp and efficient; it's too bad that Short Cut to Hell was his only effort behind the cameras.