Product Details

• Actors: Alan Ladd, Veronica Lake, Brian Donlevy, Bonita Granville, Richard Denning
• Directors: Stuart Heisler
• Writers: Dashiell Hammett, Jonathan Latimer
• Producers: Buddy G. DeSylva, Fred Kohlmar
• Format: Black & White, HiFi Sound, NTSC
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Universal Studios
• VHS Release Date: March 1, 1992
• Run Time: 85 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (34 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 1558800573
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #133,702 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

40 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars My favorite Ladd/Lake vehicle, good book adaptation, February 23, 2002

By 

Gwen Kramer "gwenhwyvar" (Sunny and not-so-sunny California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Glass Key [VHS] (VHS Tape)

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 is found dead in a gutter and all fingers point at Madvig. The only person who seems to care about proving him innocent is Ladd. Even Madvig seems determined to get himself convicted. Ladd becomes obsessed with finding out the truth and goes through beaurocratic red tape, underworld sleaze, a torture session and his own feelings for Lake to find out who the real killer was.

Alan Ladd does a great job in the strong-silent role. He is stoic without being cartoonishly so. (The injury makeup is so convincing that you want to flinch for him) Veronica Lake is also good but really isn't given much to do besides show up onscreen in a series of ever more outlandish hats. (I love 40s fashion!) She isn't given any really good scenes until the last third of the movie. The supporting cast is universally good, it includes former Nancy Drew actress Bonita Granville as Madvig's kid sister. (changed from daughter in the book to make up for the relative youth of the actor)

This is a good bit of film history and a very good mystery (you think you have it figured out when it suddenly takes another twist) It is also a chance to see one of the great 40s screen teams in action. A must for classic film noir fans, don't miss it

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "No wonder people beat you up!", April 3, 2005

By 

Dave (Tennessee United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Glass Key [VHS] (VHS Tape)

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 Taylor's murdered body is found, Madvig becomes the prime suspect, and he gets Ed to try and find out who the real killer is. Nick Varna (Joseph Calleia), a powerful gangster with political ambitions of his own, begins a smear campaign against Madvig. Ed begins to investigate the sinister Varna, but he ends up getting a savage beating from Varna's bodyguard Jeff (William Bendix, who gives one of his finest performances). Later one of Varna's mob is shot to death and the police arrest Madvig on circumstantial evidence. Will Ed be able to clear his boss while finding out the real killer of Taylor? Watch and find out!

Although the beautiful Veronica Lake has far too little screen time, her scenes with Alan Ladd are terrific. His tough guy image was used to perfection in this complicated yet gripping mystery. The entire cast is wonderful, especially Brian Donlevy and William Bendix who plays his part to perfection. I don't know why Universal Studios hasn't released this classic and "Blue Dahlia" on dvd, but I suspect they will be released in the near future as the popularity of film noir is continually increasing.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fairly good adaption of an excellent book., April 11, 2001

By 

Mark S. Winger (Wood Dale, IL United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Glass Key [VHS] (VHS Tape)

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.