Voice-over narration provided by actress Anne Francis as the character "Ellen Beldon," opens the film, explaining that she is to be the first woman to be executed by hanging in the state of Texas. The Hired Gun was the first film produced by Rory Calhoun and Victor M. Orsatti's production company, Calhoun-Orsatti Enterprises, Inc. The film also contained the statement "Rorvic Productions," a combination of the producers' first names.