A crooked politician (Brian Donlevy) finds himself being accused of murder by a gangster (Joseph Calleia) from whom he refused help during a re-election campaign.The staff at Variety magazine gave the film a favorable review, writing, "Parading a murder mystery amidst background of politics, gambling czars, romance and lusty action, this revised version of Dashiell Hammett's novel — originally made in 1935 — is a good picture of its type...Mixed well, the result is an entertaining whodunit with sufficient political and racketeer angles to make it good entertainment for general audiences. Donlevy makes the most of his role of the political leader who fought his way up from the other side of the tracks." You know, it is hard to top George Raft (who was in the original), and I am not sure if Alan Ladd is successful in that regard. But what this remake does have going for it is Veronica Lake, who may be the greatest femme fatale of the era. She seems to get forgotten these days, but between this and "I Married a Witch", she was a strong presence.

Talk about plot twists, this picture has got it all and then some.Crooked politician endorsing a reform candidate and he loves the latter's daughter. (Veronica Lake) His partner (Alan Ladd) also loves the girl. The reformer (Moroni Olsen) has a son with a gambling problem. (Richard Denning). Before long, the son is found dead and suspicion shifts to our politician (Brian Donlevy) since the dead son was fond of his sister, a very mature Bonita Granville. Talk about Peyton Place, this picture may have it beat.In addition, we have William Bendix as an enforcer to always evil Joseph Calleia, looking to frame Donlevy for the murder.Wait until you see how Ladd smokes out the real killer by accusing someone else in the end.Bendix is excellent in his role and steals every scene that he is in.

The Glass Key is a rather convoluted, tepid film made on the heels of successful teaming of Veronica Lake and Allan Ladd in This Gun for Hire. While both films are amply dark and sadistic noirs, Key is the more muted and unimaginative, blunting its ambiguity with the lead on the road to reform in the first reel. One time crooked pol Paul Madvig (Brian Donlevey) is making things hot for the criminal element in the town. Once in the mob's pocket he now busts up the gambling joints he used to protect.Falling for a reformer's daughter Janet Henry ( Lake) he throws in with him. Janet though has taken a shine to his right hand man Ed Beaumont (Ladd) which severs his relationship with Paul. When reformer Henry's n'er do well son who is dating and exploiting Paul's sister is murdered the mob hopes to implicate Paul, whether he did it or not. Confusing it is, suspenseful it's not.Lake and Ladd once again match up well but their situation pales in comparison to Hire and implausible moments abound. There are dark enough moments to qualify it as such as William Bendix's cruel thug who enjoys his work displaying an almost homo erotic delight in pummeling Beaumont while Beaumont in turn finds pleasure in watching a hood being strangled in front of his eyes. But with Donlevy's Madvig compromised early and Lake's Janet lacking the killer instinct of fatales that would follow her The Glass Key doesn't unlock much.

(possible spoilers)As I nodded in and out of consciousness, one word kept going through my groggy head."Why?" I thought. "Why?"As I started to wrap my mind around the concept, it hit me like a ton of bricks and I was out like a light again.In the recesses of my throbbing skull, there were voices, voices that had the answers. Alan Ladd puts up with a pounding from William Bendix because he knows it will get him in a hospital bed with a good looking nurse? Veronica Lake is using Brian Donlevy because she thinks he's gonna win something, but what? An election? Control of the eighth ward? Some Cliff's Notes for this thing?Oh I like a lot of the material, taken as isolated scenes. Ladd dangling from a window, the search for a shooter in Donlevy's office that never gets explained, the scene where Ladd makes out with the publisher's wife in the living room causing the publisher to blow his brains out upstairs.Well, maybe those aren't the ones I liked. The room is spinning and I'm fading out again. Damn, where's that envelope of magic script writer powder when you really need it?