Hard Guy  (1941)

Theatrical Release Information:
Hard Guy

Hard Guy (British title: Professional Bride) stars singer Mary Healy (later of "Peter Lind Hayes and?" fame) as Julie, a nightclub cigarette girl with a mission. Julie is determined to ascertain the identity of the man who murdered her sister, hence her current employment at the tawdry nightery owned by mobster Vic (Jack LaRue). Since the aforementioned Vic has a habit of knocking around his female employees whenever they get out of line, the unmasking of the murderer isn't much of a surprise. Before this happens, however, Julie falls in love with gangly Oklahoma-born detective Steve (Kane Richmond), whose inbred skill with a six-gun comes in handy during the inevitable shootout finale. Hard Guy was directed by Elmer Clifton, who'd been helming six-day quickies for so long that one wonders how he would have handled a seven-day shooting schedule. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide