The Glass Key

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

Play Trailer

Unrated, 1 hr. 25 min.
Directed By
Stuart Heisler
Written By
Jonathan Latimer
Genres
Mystery & Suspense
In Theaters
Oct 14, 1942 Wide
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

  • 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

  • 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

See full cast

Trailers & Clips

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