THE GLASS KEY

US, 1942, 85 minutes, Black and White.
Brian Donlevy, Veronica Lake, Alan Ladd, Richard Denning, Bonita Granville, Frances Gifford, William Bendix. Directed by Stuart Heisler.

The Glass Key has the look of the 40's, fast, tough, crisp black and white photography, a mixture of romance, romantic poses and strong U.S. images. The film, based on a Dashiell Hammett story, is about politics and gangsters in the old American tradition. This kind of story is always interesting and raises discussion, especially about differences from and similarities to present situations.

The film is one of Alan Ladd's earliest films and he comes across fairly well. Veronica Lake's poses and articulation do not stand the test of time so well. Of more than passing interest.

1. Did this film seem dated? Why?

2. Despite the styles of the 40's, did the film retain audience interest? Why?

3. What was the significance of the title? How was its meaning illustrated in the film?

4. Were your sympathies for or against Paul Madvig and Ed Beaumont at the beginning of the film? Did they change during the film? Where were your sympathies at the end? Why?

5. Was the film a murder mystery or a political thriller?

6. What traits make the film a film of its time? E.g., tough style, crisp sequences and clipped acting and speech by the men and languid or sorrowful postures by the women. Do these jar now?

7. What kind of man was Paul Madvig - a good politician? was he a dirty politician, amoral? Did he have many brains? Was he shrewd or not? Why did he value Ed's friendship and follow his advice?

8. What did you think of the various behind-the-scenes machinations for political victory? Do you like this sort of behaviour and manoeuvring? Why?

9. What kind of man was Ed Beaumont? Did you like him? Was he a tough poser? Why was he so loyal to Paul? Did he believe in Paul? (Did you think they had broken their friendship when they fought in the bar?) Why did he fall in love with Janet? Why did he put Paul's case before his love for Janet?

10. Did you like Janet? Did you like Veronica Lake's style - hair, fashions eye-acting, voice? why? Was she a convincing character? was she a snob? Why did she despise Paul? What attracted her to Ed? Why did she send the anonymous notes? Did you think her guilty of murder at any time? Why?

11. What impression of politics did you get from the sub-plots about night clubs 'protection', bashings, the use of newspapers for political ends, blackmail, suicides? Did this seem real to you in the film? Why?

12. Was the revelation of what happened convincing? Was the happy ending well done? Why? How could it have been improved?