Story of movie The Glass Key 1935 Film : The Glass Key, released in 1935, is the first of two film adaptations of the suspense novel The Glass Key by Dashiell Hammett. The film stars George Raft, featuring Edward Arnold and Claire Dodd, and directed by Frank Tuttle.
| The Glass Key | |
|---|---|
Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Frank Tuttle |
| Produced by | E. Lloyd Sheldon |
| Written by | Kathryn Scola Kubec Glasmon (screenplay) Harry Ruskin (additional dialogue) |
| Based on | The Glass Key 1931 novel by Dashiell Hammett |
| Starring | George Raft Edward Arnold Claire Dodd |
| Cinematography | Henry Sharp |
| Edited by | Hugh Bennett |
Production company | Paramount Pictures |
| Distributed by | Paramount Pictures |
Release date |
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Running time | 80 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
The film was remade in 1942, with Alan Ladd in Raft's role, and Brian Donlevy and Veronica Lake in the roles previously played by Arnold and Dodd.
Screenplay
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 (Claire Dodd) Henry's 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 knows who is really behind her brother's death. It's up to Ed to get her to reveal the truth.
- George Raft as Ed Beaumont
- Edward Arnold as Paul Madvig
- Claire Dodd as Janet Henry
- Rosalind Keith as Opal Madvig (as Rosalind Culli)
- 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
Elissa Landi was once announced for the female lead.
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.
