The Glass Key
Studio: Paramount Pictures
Starring: Brian Donlevy, Veronica Lake, Alan Ladd
Director: Stuart Heisler
Writer: Jonathan Latimer
Producer: Fred Kohlmar
The Glass Key is a 1942 American film noir based on the 1931 novel of the same name by Dashiell Hammett. The picture was directed by Stuart Heisler starring Brian Donlevy, Veronica Lake and Alan Ladd (who plays the actual lead despite being billed third). A successful earlier film version starring George Raft in Ladd's role had been released in 1935.
Trivia
- Based on The Glass Key (novel by Dashiell Hammett).
- Even before the film was released, head of production Buddy de Sylva announced the studio would star Ladd in his own film as a follow-up.
- Two months later Paramount said that Ladd would make Red Harvest, from another Hammett novel, instead of The Glass Key, with Jonathan Latimer to write the script and Fred Kohlmar to produce.
- Paulette Goddard was originally cast as the female lead but had to drop out due to another commitment.
Previous Showings
5 Runs • 3 Festivals
1,611 tickets sold
Original Billings: 2 runs (July 11, 1935 - December 11, 1942)
Original Run: July 11, 1935 (Thursday - Saturday)
All runs on record (5):
- July 11, 1935 (Thursday - Saturday)George Raft, Claire Dodd
- December 11, 1942 (Thursday - Saturday)Brian Donlevy, Veronica Lake, Alan Ladd
- March 21, 2003 · 441 ticketsFilmNoirw/ Pitfall
- April 25 - 27, 2007 · 707 ticketsFilm Noir, Val Lewton, 1930s musicals and more!w/ D.O.A.
- September 26 - 27, 2024 · 463 ticketsFilm Noir plus Val Lewtonw/ The Body Snatcher