Renowned crime novelist Dashiell Hammett’s tale of big-city political corruption The Glass Key was originally filmed in 1935, starring George Raft. This version was devised as a follow-up vehicle for its charismatic lead Alan Ladd, who had recently impressed in This Gun for Hire; and with Hammett’s stock in Hollywood high in the wake of the success of The Maltese Falcon. The iconic Veronica Lake who had co-starred with Ladd in This Gun for Hire, and who partnered with him in four films in the 1940s, was cast after Paulette Goddard had to drop out due to other commitments.

The 1942 The Glass Key, while not as high profile as other Hollywood Hammett adaptations, is an influential film noir. Akira Kurosawa and the Coen Brothers cited it as the basis of their classic films Yojimbo and Miller’s Crossing respectively, and Howard Hawks borrowed from it in The Big Sleep.

“Parading a murder mystery amidst a background of politics, gambling czars, romance and lusty action … mixed well, the result is an entertaining whodunit with sufficient political and racketeer angles to make it good entertainment” Variety