The Gun Runners is a 1958 American film noir crime film directed by Donald Siegel. It is the third adaptation of Ernest Hemingway's 1937 novel To Have and Have Not (after 1944's To Have and Have Not and 1950's The Breaking Point), and stars Audie Murphy as a down-on-his-luck charter boat captain who begins smuggling guns for Cuban revolutionaries.
Don Siegel, writing about the film in his memoirs, reflected, "ThereâÂÂs an old adage; never make a sea picture with a C budget."
Sam Martin (Audie Murphy) runs a charter boat with his alcoholic first mate, Harvey (Everett Sloane). He is forced by financial necessity to run guns for the Cuban Revolution but his employer seeks to maximize his profit.
According to Don Siegel, star Audie Murphy had asked him to direct the film and United Artists agreed following the success of Baby Face Nelson. However, Siegel was worried about the low budget.
This was the first feature from the fledgling Seven Arts Productions. Director Don Siegel was unhappy with having to use Audie Murphy in the lead role. However, Siegel wrote Murphy "was always polite and quiet with me, never any trouble."
The film was shot in Newport Beach, California,
Ron. of Variety called it a "well-done adventure yarn with average b.o. prospects".