The Glass Key (1942)

86% of critics liked it
(7 reviews)
76% of users liked it
(670 ratings)

Dashiel Hammett's The Glass Key, a tale of big-city political corruption, was first filmed in 1935, with Edward Arnold as a duplicitous political boss and George Raft as his loyal lieutenant. This 1942 remake improves on the original, especially in replacing the stolid Raft with the charismatic Alan… More Dashiel Hammett's The Glass Key, a tale of big-city political corruption, was first filmed in 1935, with Edward Arnold as a duplicitous political boss and George Raft as his loyal lieutenant. This 1942 remake improves on the original, especially in replacing the stolid Raft with the charismatic Alan Ladd. Brian Donlevy essays the role of the boss, who is determined to back reform candidate Moroni Olsen, despite Ladd's gut feeling that this move is a mistake. Ladd knows that Donlevy is doing a political about-face merely to get in solid with Olsen's pretty daughter Veronica Lake. It is Ladd who is left to clean up the mess when crime lord Joseph Calleila murders Olsen's wastrel son Richard Denning and pins the rap on Donlevy. As Ladd struggles to clear Donlevy's name, he falls in love with Lake--when he's not being pummeled about by Calleila's psychopathic henchman William Bendix. Far less complex than the Dashiel Hammett original (and far less damning of the American political system), The Glass Key further increased the box-office pull of Paramount's new team of Alan Ladd and Veronica Lake. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Play Trailer

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 25 min.
Directed By: Stuart Heisler
Written By: Jonathan Latimer
Genres: Mystery & Suspense

In Theaters: Oct 14, 1942 Wide
Studio: MCA Universal Home Video

Critic Reviews

Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
Solid remake of the 1935 film of the same name.
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
First-rate noir thriller.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

jay n

Not as good as This Gun for Hire but a solid crime drama with the Lake/Ladd pairing as potent as ever.
xGary X

A political wheeler dealer with ties to organized crime falls for the daughter of a reformist politician but when her brother is murdered, the blame seems to fall squarely upon him. The Glass Key doesn't really fit wholly into the pigeon hole of Film Noir, but its no nonsense,… More
A political wheeler dealer with ties to organized crime falls for the daughter of a reformist politician but when her brother is murdered, the blame seems to fall squarely upon him. The Glass Key doesn't really fit wholly into the pigeon hole of Film Noir, but its no nonsense, tough guy approach and sharp dialogue will certainly appeal to its fans. The centrepiece of the film is the relationship between Brian Donlevy and Alan Ladd as his trusted sidekick and their great chemistry was obviously a big influence on the Coen brothers when they made Miller's Crossing. Veronica Lake also shines as the gorgeous debutante and although it lacks the cynicism of my favourite Noirs, it has a really nice "feel" to it. The biggest flaw is in the plot which was clearly simplified for the screen leaving the mystery aspect a little lacking, but the execution is great.
Stephen M

Brian Donlevy's crooked, McGinty-ish politician angers a criminal associate (Joseph Calleia, effortlessly sinister) by pledging his support for a reform candidate whose beautiful daughter he has taken a fancy to. Murder, political chicanery and a smouldering love-hate… More
Brian Donlevy's crooked, McGinty-ish politician angers a criminal associate (Joseph Calleia, effortlessly sinister) by pledging his support for a reform candidate whose beautiful daughter he has taken a fancy to. Murder, political chicanery and a smouldering love-hate relationship between the would-be governor's daughter (Veronica Lake) and Donlevy's right-hand man (Alan Ladd) ensue. The Glass Key falls a little short of being one of the true classics of film noir. Tonally, I found it rather peculiar and the ending was one of the corniest I've seen for a long time. In general, the movie is several shades lighter than pure noir, although there are a couple of extraordinarily perverse moments that really do hit the spot, not least the sadomasochistic beating Ladd receives from one of Calleia's goons. In one of the other darker scenes, Ladd prevents a hostile newspaper editor from running a defamatory story about Donlevy by canoodling with the guy's trophy wife until he commits suicide. It's fair to say that Ladd was not ideally suited to this sort of material, but the film contrasts the benignity of his features with the ruthlessness of his character's actions to excellent effect.
Stella D

this was really damn good and an inspiration for both yojimbo and miller's crossing. i could definitely rate it higher except that i always have difficulty buying alan ladd as a tough guy...when he tries to look hard it's funny
Anthony V

Inspired both Yojimbo and Miller's Crossing.

Cast

            Brian Donlevy as Paul Madvig

            Veronica Lake as Janet Henry

            Alan Ladd as Ed Beaumont

            Bonita Granville as Opal Madvig

            William Bendix as Jeff

            Richard Denning as Taylor Henry

            Joseph Calleia as Nick Vama

            Frances Gifford as Nurse

            Donald MacBride as Farr

            Maggie Hayes as Eloise Matthews

            Moroni Olsen as Ralph Henry

            Eddie Marr as Rusty

            Arthur Loft as Clyde Matthews

            George Meader as Claude Tuttle

            William Benedict as Sturdy

            Conrad Binyon as Stubby

            Frank Bruno as Reporter

            Dane Clark as Henry Sloss

            Edmund Cobb as Reporter

            George Cowl as 2nd Butler in Henry Home

            Vernon Dent as Bartender

            Frank Elliott as 1st Butler in Henry Home

            Tom Fadden as Waiter

            Jack Gardner as Reporter

            Frank S. Hagney as Groggins

            Arthur Stuart Hull
            
            Al Hill as Bum

            Joseph King as Fisher

            Jack Luden as Reporter

            Joe McGuinn as Lynch

            James Millican as Politician

            Jack Mulhall as Lynch

            Broderick O'Farrell
            
            Pat O'Malley as Politician

            Edward Peil Sr. as Politician

            Lillian Randolph as Entertainer at Basement Club

            Francis Sayles as Seedy Man

            Charles Sullivan as Taxi driver

            George Turner as Doctor

            Norma Varden as Dowager

            William Wagner as Butler

            Fred Walburn as Kid

            Stanley Price
            
            Tom Dugan as Jeep

            J.C. Fowler as Guests at Henry Dinner

            Tom O'Grady
            
See full cast