The Glass Key(1942 film)

The Glass Keyis a 1942 Americanfilm noirbased on the 1931novel of the same namebyDashiell Hammett.The picture was directed byStuart HeislerstarringBrian Donlevy,Veronica LakeandAlan Ladd(who plays the actual lead despite being billed third). A successfulearlier film versionstarringGeorge Raftin Ladd's role had been released in 1935.The 1942 version's supporting cast featuresWilliam Bendix,Bonita Granville,Richard DenningandJoseph Calleia.

The Glass Key
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Stuart Heisler
Screenplay by	Jonathan Latimer
Based on	The Glass Key byDashiell Hammett
Produced by	Fred Kohlmar Buddy G. DeSylva(uncredited)
Starring	Brian Donlevy Veronica Lake Alan Ladd William Bendix
Cinematography	Theodor Sparkuhl
Edited by	Archie Marshek
Music by	Victor Young
Production company	Paramount Pictures
Distributed by	Paramount Pictures
Release dates	October 14, 1942(1942-10-14)(NYC) October 23, 1942(1942-10-23)(US)
Running time	85 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Box office	700,704 admissions (France, 1949)

Brian Donlevy,Alan LaddandVeronica LakeinThe Glass Key

Plot

After falling for Janet Henry, the daughter of reform candidate for governor Ralph Henry, shady political boss Paul Madvig is determined to help Henry get elected. Paul's right-hand man, Ed Beaumont, distrusts both Janet and her father, and suspects that they are stringing Paul along only to dump him after the election. Janet becomes engaged to Paul, but is put off by his crudity. She is attracted to the more sophisticated Ed, who fends off her advances out of loyalty to Paul. The deluded Paul boasts that Henry has practically given him the key to his house, but Ed warns him that it is liable to be a glass key, one that can break at any moment.

When Paul tells one of his supporters, the gangster Nick Varna, that he is cleaning up the city and that Varna will no longer receive protection from the police, Ed grows even more concerned. Complicating matters further, Ralph's ne'er-do-well son, Taylor, owes Nick for gambling debts, while Paul's young sister, Opal, is in love with Taylor. Paul has told her to stay away from Taylor, but she defies him. Opal becomes fearful about what Paul might do to Taylor.

Ed later finds Taylor's lifeless body in the street. Paul is the prime suspect, much to Nick's delight. When Nick hears that Ed and Paul have split over Taylor's death, he tries to recruit Ed. Ed turns him down, so Nick has him brutally beaten repeatedly by his sadistic henchman Jeff, to force him into revealing details of Paul's corruption to the editor of the newspaper Nick controls. Ed contrives an escape and is hospitalized. When he recovers, he learns that Nick has found a "witness" to Taylor Henry's killing, Henry Sloss. Paul has Sloss brought to his office, but he is gunned down before he can talk. As a result, Paul is indicted for the murder and jailed.

Ed finds a somewhat drunk Jeff in a bar and tries to pump the thug for information. Just as Jeff starts to talk, Nick shows up and brusquely orders him to shut up. When Ed disarms Nick, a fed-up Jeff strangles his boss. Afterwards, Ed has the waiter call the police to arrest Jeff. Having finally guessed who killed Taylor, Ed persuades District Attorney Farr to arrest Janet. As Ed had hoped, Ralph confesses he struggled with Taylor, causing him to fall and strike his head. Paul overhears Janet tell Ed that she loves him and that she knows he loves her. Paul gives the couple his blessing, but takes back his expensive engagement ring.

Cast

• Brian Donlevyas Paul Madvig
• Veronica Lakeas Janet Henry
• Alan Laddas Ed Beaumont
• Bonita Granvilleas Opal "Snip" Madvig
• Richard Denningas Taylor Henry
• Joseph Calleiaas Nick Varna
• William Bendixas Jeff
• Frances Giffordas Nurse
• Donald MacBrideas District Attorney Farr
• Margaret Hayesas Eloise Matthews
• Moroni Olsenas Ralph Henry
• Eddie Marr as Rusty
• Arthur Loftas Clyde Matthews
• George Meader as Claude Tuttle

Uncredited

• Norma Vardenas dinner guest
• Bess Flowersas dinner guest
• Dane Clarkas Henry Sloss
• Vernon Dentas bartender serving beers at table
• Tom Faddenas waiter
• Lillian Randolphas singer at basement club

Cast notes:

• This was the second of four films teaming Veronica Lake and Alan Ladd, the others being:This Gun for Hire(1942);The Blue Dahlia(1946); andSaigon(1948). The two also appeared as themselves in the all-star filmsStar Spangled Rhythm(1942),Duffy's Tavern(1945), andVariety Girl(1947), but did not share any scenes together.
• Alan Ladd portrays the lead character, but received third billing because his career as a leading man had begun so recently compared to Donlevy and Lake.

Production

1942 newspaper ad

Dashiell Hammett'sThe Glass Keyhad beenfilmed by Paramount in 1935as a vehicle forGeorge Raft.They still retained the film rights in 1941, whenAlan Laddimpressed Paramount executives while shootingThis Gun for Hire.Even before the film was released, head of productionBuddy de Sylvaannounced the studio would star Ladd in his own film as a follow-up. Hammett's reputation had become extremely strong again in Hollywood following the success of the 1941 smash hit version of his novelThe Maltese FalconstarringHumphrey BogartandMary Astor,and Paramount decided on a new version ofThe Glass Key;De Sylva said the studio wanted a "sure-fire narrative to help him [Ladd] on his way".

Production was announced in October 1941. Two months later Paramount said that Ladd would makeRed Harvest,from another Hammett novel, instead ofThe Glass Key,withJonathan Latimerto write the script andFred Kohlmarto produce.Brian Donlevywas assigned to co-star.

However, these plans changed again—Red Harvestwas postponed (it was never made) andThe Glass Keywas re-activated, with Donlevy and Ladd to star.Stuart Heislerwas assigned to direct.

Paulette Goddardwas originally cast as the female lead but had to drop out due to another commitment. She was replaced at first withPatricia Morison,but after seeing Lake and Ladd together inThis Gun for Hireit was decided to replace Morison with Veronica Lake.Lake was going to be makingI Married a Witchbut that project was postponed whenJoel McCreaturned down the lead role;the picture was eventually filmed withFredric Marchand Lake.

Bonita Granville, Richard Denning and Joseph Calleia were assigned supporting roles.Old time movie starsMaurice Costello,Jack MulhallandPat O'Malleyplayed minor roles.UnbilledDane Clark(as "Sloss" ),Laraine Day(as a nurse),Lillian RandolphandVernon Dentalso briefly appear in the film.

Reception

Theatrical release window card

Critical response

On the film’s release,Varietymagazine gave the film a favorable review: "Parading a murder mystery amidst background of politics, gambling czars, romance and lusty action, this revised version of Dashiell Hammett's novel—originally made in 1935—is a good picture of its type...Mixed well, the result is an entertaining whodunit with sufficient political and racketeer angles to make it good entertainment for general audiences. Donlevy makes the most of his role of the political leader who fought his way up from the other side of the tracks."

In a retrospective review, critic Dennis Schwartz wrote, "The film is mostly done for entertainment purposes, as it lightly skips over the corrupt political process as merely background for the unlikely love story developing between the engaging Lake and the deadpan Ladd. The film had many undeveloped film noir themes used by other films.Howard Hawks'sThe Big Sleepborrowed freely fromThe Glass Key."

In his retrospective review forAllMovie,criticHal Ericksonwrote: "Dashiel Hammett'sThe Glass Key,a tale of big-city political corruption, wasfirst filmed in 1935,withEdward Arnoldas a duplicitous political boss andGeorge Raftas his loyal lieutenant. This 1942 remake improves on the original, especially in replacing the stolid Raft with the charismatic Alan Ladd...Far less complex than the Dashiel Hammett original (and far less damning of the American political system),The Glass Keyfurther increased the box-office pull of Paramount's new team of Alan Ladd and Veronica Lake. "

In 2020,Diaboliquecalled it a "superb film noir, achingly gorgeous to look at, and less weighed down by patriotism thanThis Gun for Hire.Lake is clearly inexperienced but is so beautiful and enigmatic you overlook her flaws, and she once again teams marvelously with Ladd – two blonde shorties, full of mutual smirking/contempt/admiration. The core of the film is a platonic love story between Ladd and Brian Donlevy – but these actors don’t have chemistry; Ladd and Lake do. "

Radio adaptation

The Glass Keywas presented onHollywood PlayersNovember 26, 1946.Gene Kellyplayed Ned Beaumont in the adaptation.

External links

• The Glass Keyat theAFI Catalog of Feature Films
• The Glass KeyatIMDb
• The Glass KeyatAllMovie
• The Glass Keyat theTCM Movie Database
• The Glass KeyatRotten Tomatoes
• The Glass Keyinformation site and DVD review at DVD Beaver (includes images)
• The Glass Keyfilm traileronYouTube
• ReviewatVariety

Streaming audio

• The Glass KeyonScreen Guild Theater:July 22, 1946