The Glass Key

1942
Approved
1h 25m

IMDb RATING

7.0/10

7.6K

YOUR RATING

Alan Ladd, Veronica Lake, William Bendix, and Brian Donlevy in The Glass Key (1942)

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Film Noir Crime Drama Thriller

A crooked politician finds himself being accused of murder by a gangster from whom he refused help during a re-election campaign.A crooked politician finds himself being accused of murder by a gangster from whom he refused help during a re-election campaign.A crooked politician finds himself being accused of murder by a gangster from whom he refused help during a re-election campaign.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.0/10

7.6K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Trivia
The always aloof Alan Ladd, a former laborer, preferred the friendship of film crews rather than other actors or studio execs. Yet he was able to form lasting friendships with a few of his co-stars, especially William Bendix who accidentally cold-cocked Ladd during a particularly vicious fight scene in this film. Ladd was so taken aback by the sincerity of Bendix's apologies that they formed an immediate and unlikely friendship. They even purchased homes across the street from one another at one point. According to Bendix's wife Tess, the bond was strained in later years after Ladd's wife and manager, Sue Carol, made an offhand remark about Bendix's lack of military service. Stuck in the middle, it would be a decade before the wounds healed between the two. By then, Ladd was career down and self-destructive, leaning heavily on Bendix, who was thriving out of town frequently in the 1960s with stage work. Bendix's heartbreak was evident in the wake of Ladd's premature death (and probable suicide) in January of 1964. Bendix's health failed quickly and he too died (of bronchial pneumonia) a week or so before Christmas that same year.

Goofs
At c.30 minutes, Paul and Ed are served a full glass of beer each. Following an argument, Ed knocks Paul to the floor, after which Ed breaks an empty glass on the table to threaten Paul. However, neither of them drank any of the beer.

Quotes
Rusty: My first wife was the second cook at a third-rate joint on 4th Street.

Connections
Edited into Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid (1982)

Soundtracks
I Remember You
(uncredited)
from The Fleet's In (1942)
Music by Victor Schertzinger
Played as background music when Opal meets Taylor

User reviews92

Review

Featured review

7/10

Sordid, Realistic and Timeless Film-Noir

During the campaign for reelection, the crooked politician Paul Madvig (Brian Donlevy) decides to clean his past, refusing the support of the gangster Nick Varna (Joseph Calleia) and associating to the respectable reformist politician Ralph Henry (Moroni Olsen). When Ralph's son Taylor Henry (Richard Denning), who is a gambler and lover of Paul's sister Opal (Bonita Granville), is murdered, Paul's right arm Ed Beaumont (Alan Ladd) finds his body on the street. Nick uses the financial situation of The Observer to force the publisher Clyde Matthews (Arthur Loft) to use the newspaper to raise the suspect that Paul Madvig might have killed Taylor. Meanwhile, Paul proposes Ralph's daughter Janet Henry (Veronica Lake) and Ed is intrigued since he knows that she hates Paul.

"The Glass Key" is a sordid, realistic and timeless film-noir with a story that is not dated. All the characters with no exception are filthy: the dirty politicians; the manipulative newspaper publisher; the corrupt district attorney; the trifling women. The motivation of the loyalty of Ed Beaumont to Paul Madvig is blurred and never clear. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "A Chave de Vidro" ("The Glass Key")