The Glass Key

The films

There are at least three film versions of the Hammett novel, with the 1942 Alan Ladd film being the most popular. A version, also called The Glass Key, was released in 1935 with George Raft, Edward Arnold and Claire Dodd and directed by Frank Tuttle. Miller's Crossing (1990) is an unofficial version of the story.

Related Topics:
1942 - George Raft - Edward Arnold - Claire Dodd - Frank Tuttle - Miller's Crossing

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Reviews of the 1942 film today are mixed. One internet review at Crazy4Cinema.com comments "The story is intelligently written and an interesting look at local politics, but as a mystery or romance ? there?s never any doubt Ladd and Lake will end up together ? it?s less than satisfying." Ozus' World movie review states "The film is mostly done for entertainment purposes, as it lightly skips over the corrupt political process as merely background for the unlikely love story developing between the engaging Lake and the deadpan Ladd. The film had many undeveloped film noir themes used by other films. Howard Hawks's much superior The Big Sleep borrowed freely from The Glass Key."

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