The Glass Key cover art

The Glass Key Details

1942 Certificate PG
  • Rated:
  • 70
  • from 258 members

A classic murder mystery, based on the the Dashiell Hammet novel and said to be the inspiration for Kurosawa's Yojimbo. When a corrupt politician is accused of murder, his assistant hunts the real killer, avoiding amorous advances from his boss' fiancee and attacks from gangsters along the way. Read more

Starring Alan Ladd, Veronica Lake, Veronica lake, Brian Donlevy
Director Stuart Heisler
Genres Thriller

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The Glass Key cover art

The Glass Key

A classic murder mystery, based on the the Dashiell Hammet novel and said to be the inspiration for Kurosawa's Yojimbo. When a corrupt politician is accused of murder, his assistant hunts the real killer, avoiding amorous advances from his boss' fiancee and attacks from gangsters along the way.

Starring Alan Ladd, Veronica Lake, Veronica lake, Brian Donlevy
Director Stuart Heisler
Studio UNIVERSAL PICTURES UK
Run time DVD: 1 hr 22 mins
Certificate Certificate PG
Genres Thriller
Language DVD: English
Released DVD: 12 Feb 2007
Production year: 1942
Format DVD

  • Critics' reviews of The Glass Key

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  • Not quite so resonant an early example of noir as The Maltese Falcon, partly because the novel's ending has been... read more on Time Out

    • Time Out
    • Posted 04 Nov 2008

  • Most helpful member's review of The Glass Key

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  • 4 out of 4 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 4 stars

    An action-packed gathering of really good actors

    An early scene featuring Alan Ladd in profile seemed to show him as really wooden. But he soon warmed up. Which is just as well, given the lively performances of Brian Donlevy, William Bendix and others, with no holds barred in the action. Even Veronica Lake showed a bit of personality. And it was a cracking good story adapted from Dashiell Hammett's novel.

      • A customer from Preston
      • Posted 05 Dec 2008 unknown

  • Most recent members' review of The Glass Key

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  • Rated - 1 star [Highly rated reviewer]

    A bit of a yawn

    This film is the victim of many false starts and when it does get going it launches into a scene with unfamiliar characters and unfamiliar plotting so you think you've missed something. Poor editing one suspects. Overlong and dull. This era and genre produced some great films. This isn't one of them.

      • HDX from Barry, Wales
      • Posted 07 Jul 2009 21:57

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Rating breakdown

258 Member ratings
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13
  • 90
8
  • 80
62
  • 70
70
  • 60
56
  • 50
17
  • 40
17
  • 30
11
  • 20
3
  • 10
1

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      • A classic murder mystery, based on the the Dashiell Hammet novel and said to be the inspiration for Kurosawa's Yojimbo. When a corrupt politician is accused of murder, his assistant hunts the real ...