The Hired Gun (1957 film)  The Hired Gun is a 1957 American CinemaScope Western film directed by Ray Nazarro and starring Rory Calhoun and Anne Francis. Ellen Beldon is about to be hanged in Texas for the cold-blooded murder of her husband. Her ranch foreman, Judd Farrow, busts her out of jail and escorts Ellen to a safe hideout in New Mexico. Her father-in-law, Mace Beldon, determined to avenge the killing of his son, hires gunman Gil McCord for $5,000 to track down Ellen and do away with her. Ellen explains to Gil what really happened, that her husband was murdered by another son, Kel Beldon, who wants to be sole heir to their father's money and land. Kel comes after Ellen, but is killed in a shootout with Gil. According to MGM records the movie earned $395,000 in the US and Canada and $450,000 elsewhere, making a profit to the studio of $169,000.