The Glass Key

My favorite Ladd/Lake vehicle, good book adaptation
There are many reasons to check out this film. First, it is the second and best on-screen teaming of Alan Ladd and Veronica Lake (they were first paired in This Gun For Hire with Ladd playing the bad guy) Second, it is based on a novel of Dashiell Hammett whose exterior narration style transfers very well to screen. Third, it's just a good 40s whodunit.

The book is toned down but for the most part its satire of politics is allowed to remain intact. Most of what gets eliminated are subplots and partying which, though interesting, do not add to the story much. The movie is much leaner but less complex than the book but it is still faithful to the overall spirit.

Alan Ladd plays a tough guy/toadie to a local politician, Madvig, who has his fingers in a few too many pies. Madvig falls in love with Veronica Lake and burns a few political bridges to win her hand. Lake is the daughter of a senator, one of Madvig's political rivals. All seems to be going well until Lake's no good brother...

"No wonder people beat you up!"
Although Dashiell Hammett's novel The Glass Key had already been made into a movie in 1935 starring George Raft, Paramount decided to cash in on the popularity of Alan Ladd and Veronica Lake, whose on-screen chemistry in the classic "This Gun for Hire" made it a box office hit. While this is not the best Ladd/Lake movie, it's still a very entertaining noir mystery with an unexpected twist at the end.

Alan Ladd plays Ed Beaumont, the right-hand man of crooked political boss Paul Madvig (Brian Donlevy). Madvig is madly in love with Janet Henry (Veronica Lake), who has agreed to marry him if he backs her father, aging politician Ralph Henry (Moroni Olson), as a candidate for mayor. But when Janet meets Beaumont, the mutual attraction is immediate, and she begins flirting with him behind Madvig's back. Meanwhile, Madvig strongly objects to his teenage sister Opal (Bonita Granville) carrying on a romance with Janet's playboy brother, Taylor (Richard Denning).

When...

Fairly good adaption of an excellent book.
I was impressed how this movie stuck very close to the story and dark overtone of the book itself. I highly recommend the book, you will get a sense of Hammett's brilliance as a writer. The movie itself stands fairly well by itself. Alan Ladd plays the dark hero (Ed Beaumont, Ned in the book) and henchman of political magnate Paul Madvig. Madvig is currently busy on promoting his newest senator candidate into power. Madvig's sister however is secretly seeing the candidate's gambling, conniving son behind his back. After an ultimatum by Madvig to his sister, the senator's son is found shortly thereafter dead in the street. Thus the mystery begins. Veronica Lake (who is stunningly beautiful) plays the senator's daughter who Madvig is in love with. Won't go into more detail, but will say that it is well worth your time to both watch the movie and read the book. Crime noir at it's best.

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