IMDb > The Glass Key (1942)
The Glass Key
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotes
Overview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditstv schedule
Awards & Reviews
user commentsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guiderecommendationsmessage board
Plot & Quotes
plot summarysynopsisplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotes
Fun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQ
Other Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsNewsDesk
Promotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo gallery
External Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clips

The Glass Key (1942) More at IMDbPro »


Overview

User Rating:
7.3/10   1,246 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 33% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Stuart Heisler
Writers:
Dashiell Hammett (novel)
Jonathan Latimer (screenplay)
Contact:
View company contact information for The Glass Key on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
23 October 1942 (USA) more
NewsDesk:
Ted's Top 10 Thought They Were Original!
 (From Icons of Fright. 4 July 2008, 9:14 AM, PDT)

User Comments:
Sock-Me-Again Ladd and Big-Slob Bendix more (37 total)

Cast

  (Complete credited cast)

Brian Donlevy ... Paul Madvig

Veronica Lake ... Janet Henry

Alan Ladd ... Ed Beaumont
Bonita Granville ... Opal 'Snip' Madvig
Richard Denning ... Taylor Henry
Joseph Calleia ... Nick Varna
William Bendix ... Jeff (Varna's henchman)
Frances Gifford ... Nurse
Donald MacBride ... DIst. Atty. Farr
Margaret Hayes ... Eloise Matthews
Moroni Olsen ... Ralph Henry
Eddie Marr ... Rusty (Varna's henchman)
Arthur Loft ... Clyde Matthews
George Meader ... Claude Tuttle
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Tom Dugan ... Jeep (scenes deleted)
Edward Peil Sr. ... Politician (scenes deleted)
more
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Runtime:
85 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Aspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)
Certification:
Australia:M | Finland:K-16 | USA:Approved (PCA #8207) | USA:Passed (National Board of Review) | Sweden:15

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Several actors and their character names listed in studio records and casting call lists did not appear in the movie. These were Edward Peil Sr. (Politician), 'Al Hill' (Bum) and Tom Dugan (Jeep). more
Goofs:
Continuity: In Farr's office, when Ed is slowly tucking the anonymous letter in his inside pocket, Farr tells him he expects a visit from Nick. The camera is on Ed who abruptly takes his hand out of his inside pocket and turns to Farr, but then the camera cuts to show both him and Farr and he's still tucking the letter in his inside pocket. more
Quotes:
Nick Varna: I'm too big to take the boot from you now.
Paul Madvig: You may be too big to take it laying down, Nick, but you're gonna take it. You are taking it.
more
Movie Connections:
Featured in The Best of Film Noir (1999) (V) more
Soundtrack:
I Don't Want to Walk Without You more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
23 out of 24 people found the following comment useful.
Sock-Me-Again Ladd and Big-Slob Bendix, 18 February 2004
Author: ted-129 from San Francisco

"Reform" party politicians making unholy alliances in the final days of an election, media manipulators itching to smear a candidate in the morning news, ingrate gambling richboys who screw up everything for everybody. A "dated" film?

If anyone's ahead of the game it's Ladd. Smart, tough--he'll take the blows but not the fall. A shark-eyed quiet little guy with a deep voice. A small mouth with barely an upper lip. A smile not quite a smile--head to head with doll-like Veronica Lake who smiles even more when she doesn't mean it. They are a stare-down match for each other. And that bemused look on their faces tells you they're not just game players.

Then there's scene-stealer William Bendix. When a redneck isn't gettin' any action, he might settle for a good knock-down. Getting good & drunk is foreplay. Bendix romances Ladd. How many times does he call Ladd sweetheart? Bendix can hardly wait to get on with the hard stuff. (Don't forget to check out the contemporary hair.) Watch and wince while Ladd plays co-dependent.

For toppers: Ladd's dinner-crashing moment (via skylight)--inspired. Maybe worth the whole film just to see.

Then there are lines like, "My first wife was a second cook in a third-rate joint on Fourth Street," Lake's jab at the Christian Science Monitor, or "If you're going to be a nitwit, don't go around with a megaphone." Also not to miss: Lillian Randolph at the piano of a hide-out bar singing to Bendix. Looking like he's about to cry---till Ladd walks in.

Densely detailed, paced one step ahead--not for the sleepy.

Was the above comment useful to you?
more (37 total)

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for The Glass Key (1942)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
DVD release: Febr. 5, 2007 famalberts
Note for Stooges fans LCShackley
blues singer? chezztone
Who owns the DVD rights? tdefores
more

Recommendations

If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
- - - - -
Big Fish Gone with the Wind Touch of Evil The Glass Key The Godfather
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
Show more recommendations

Related Links

Full cast and crew Company credits External reviews
News articles IMDb Drama section IMDb USA section
Add this title to MyMovies

You may report errors and omissions on this page to the IMDb database managers. They will be examined and if approved will be included in a future update. Clicking the 'Update' button will take you through a step-by-step process.