• Source: The Glass Key (1935 film)

The Glass Key is a 1935 American crime drama film directed by Frank Tuttle starring George Raft, Edward Arnold, Claire Dodd, Guinn "Big Boy" Williams and Ray Milland. Ann Sheridan has a brief speaking role as Raft's character's nurse in their first film together. Produced and distributed by Paramount Pictures, it was based upon the 1931 suspense novel The Glass Key by Dashiell Hammett,
The film was remade in 1942, with Alan Ladd in Raft's role, Brian Donlevy and Veronica Lake in the roles previously played by Arnold and Dodd, and William Bendix in Guinn Williams' part.




Plot


Paul Madvig (Edward Arnold) controls crime and politics in the city, helped by the brains and brawn of Ed Beaumont (George Raft). As he throws his support behind Janet Henry's (Claire Dodd) father, in a political campaign, Paul also plans to marry her.
Janet's brother Taylor (Ray Milland) is a gambler heavily in debt to O'Rory (Robert Gleckler), a gangster whose club Paul intends to put out of business. Taylor, who has been romancing Paul's younger sister Opal (Rosalind Keith), is found dead. The temperamental Paul falls under suspicion.
Ed pretends to betray Paul while offering to work for O'Rory's organization. He is beaten by Jeff (Guinn Williams), a brutal thug who works for O'Rory, and has to flee for his life.
Paul is going to face murder charges, but Janet's father knows who is really behind her brother's death. It's up to Ed to get him to reveal the truth.




Cast


George Raft as Ed Beaumont
Edward Arnold as Paul Madvig
Claire Dodd as Janet Henry
Rosalind Keith as Opal Madvig
Charles Richman as Senator John T. Henry
Robert Gleckler as Shad O'Rory
Guinn Williams as Jeff
Ray Milland as Taylor Henry
Tammany Young as Clarkie
Emma Dunn as Mom Madvig
Charles C. Wilson as District Attorney Edward J. Farr
Mack Gray as Duke
Ann Sheridan as Nurse
George Reed as Midnight (uncredited)




Production


In September 1930, Paramount paid $25,000 for the film rights to the novel when it was in galleys. The following year Paramount announced Gary Cooper would star in a version called Graft but it was not made.
In August 1934, Paramount announced Frank Tuttle would direct George Raft in an adaptation of The Glass Key.
Elissa Landi was once announced for the female lead before being replaced by Claire Dodd. Filming started on 25 February 1935.
Ann Sheridan was billed as "Nurse" at the bottom of the cast list at the end of the film for her brief speaking role with Raft.




Reception


Writing for The Spectator, Graham Greene described the film as "unimaginatively gangster" and grouped it with the contemporary comedy No More Ladies to describe both as "second rate" and "transient". Nevertheless, the film became one of Raft's biggest box-office hits of the 1930s.




References






External links


The Glass Key at the TCM Movie Database
The Glass Key at IMDb
The Glass Key at AllMovie
The Glass Key at BFI
The Glass Key at the AFI Catalog of Feature Films
The Glass Key is available for free viewing and download at the Internet Archive
Review of film at Variety

Kata Kunci Pencarian:

• Frank Tuttle
• Herbert Weißbach
• Karl Etlinger
• Theodore Lorch
• Herbert Hübner
• Arthur Loft
• George Ernest
• Selmer Jackson
• Ann Sheridan
• Loretta Young
• The Glass Key (1935 film)
• The Glass Key (1942 film)
• The Glass Key (disambiguation)
• The Glass Key
• 1935 in film
• Frank Tuttle
• Lillian Hellman
• The Thin Man Goes Home
• Song of the Thin Man
• List of plays adapted into feature films