Ladd, Lake, and Donlevy star in “The Glass Key”

The Glass Key (1942) is an American film noir directed by Stuart Heisler and starring Brian Donlevy, Veronica Lake, and Alan Ladd. The supporting cast includes William Bendix, Bonita Granville, Richard Denning, and Joseph Calleia.

The Glass Key centers on Ed Beaumont (Alan Ladd), the trusted right-hand man of political boss Paul Madvig (Brian Donlevy). When a local gangster, Shad O’Rory, is found murdered, suspicion immediately falls on Madvig, especially since he had recently been publicly feuding with Shad over the affections of Janet Henry (Veronica Lake), the daughter of a powerful senator whom Madvig intends to marry. Ed, despite his personal feelings for Janet, is fiercely loyal to Madvig and sets out to clear his name. He dives deep into the seedy underworld, navigating corrupt politicians, rival gangsters, and the cynical social circles of the elite, all while facing threats and beatings designed to deter him.

As Ed investigates, he uncovers a tangled web of deceit, betrayal, and hidden motives. 

 

Stuart Heiser (1896 – 1979) was an American film and television director. Heisler started out as a film editor from 1921 to 1936. He then worked as a director for the remainder of his career. He directed films starring Bing Crosby, Fred Astaire, Gary Cooper, and Loretta Young. He directed Susan Hayward in Smash-Up, the Story of a Woman, considered her breakout performance. She earned her first Best Actress Academy Award nomination for her performance. Other films directed by Heiser include Along Came Jones (1945), Blue Skies (1946), Tulsa (1949), Dallas (1950), The Star (1952), and I Died a Thousand Times (1955).

Brian Donlevy (1901–1972) was an American actor noted for playing tough guys in movies. He mostly worked as a supporting actor, but sometimes played the lead, as in the Preston Sturges classic The Great McGinty (1940). Donlevy worked in the theater but soon found regular work in silent films. He transitioned to sound pictures and starred in “A” and “B” pictures at most of the major studios. He supported the biggest stars of Hollywood’s Golden Age, including Robert Taylor, Barbara Stanwyck, Gary Cooper, Marlene Dietrich, and Bing Crosby.

Veronica Lake (1922 - 1973) was an American film, stage, and television actress. She was a popular star of film noirs, often paired with Alan Ladd in the 1940s. She was also famous for her peek-a-boo hairstyle. Her home studio, Paramount, dubbed her the peek-a-boo girl. Women and girls all over the world copied her hair-over-one-eye hairstyle. Lake became an overnight sensation with her role in I Wanted Wings (1940). During the height of her career, Lake was making $4,500 a week. Some of her popular films include Sullivan’s Travels (1941), This Gun for Hire (1942), The Glass Key (1942), So Proudly We Hail! (1943), and The Blue Dahlia (1946). Lake’s career declined due to her struggle with alcoholism. She died from cirrhosis of the liver in 1973. She was 50 years old.

Alan Ladd (1913 – 1964) was an American actor and film producer. Before Ladd made in big in movies, he had a successful career on the radio. After numerous bit parts at just about every Hollywood studio, Paramount signed him to a long-term contract and crafted roles that propelled him to superstardom. Ladd established himself in films noir like This Gun for Hire (1942), The Glass Key (1942), and The Blue Dahlia (1946). Other important films include Two Years Before the Mast (1946) and The Great Gatsby (1949). Ladd also established himself in the western genre, starring in Whispering Smith (1948) and one of the most famous westerns of all time, George Stevens’s Shane (1953). George Stevens offered the role of Jett Rink in Giant (1956), but Ladd turned it down because it wasn’t the lead. Ladd’s last film was in a supporting role in The Carpetbaggers (1964).

 

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Brian Donlevy, Veronica Lake, and Alan Ladd

The Glass Key trivia

• William Bendix accidentally knocked Alan Ladd in a fight scene.
• This was a remake of the version first filmed in 1935, starring George Raft in the Ladd role.
• Paulette Goddard was originally cast in the role of Janet Henry, but had to drop out due to a prior commitment. It was announced that Patricia Morison would replace her, but after the producers saw the chemistry between Lake and Ladd in This Gun for Hire (1942), Lake was cast as Janet.
• This was the second of the four Ladd/Lake pairings.

 

Discussion questions

1. What do you think of the second pairing of Veronica Lake and Alan Ladd?
2. Some film noir plots are hard to follow, or in some cases, are second to the relationships between the male and female characters. Was the plot of this film hard to follow?
3. What did you think of the supporting cast? Did anyone's performance stand out to you?
4. Did anything surprise you?
5. Was the ending satisfying, believable?