So first off, I would just like to say that William Bendix (the henchman) was absolutely hilarious; this character was a lot more interesting fleshed out onscreen than he was in the book, but it was all so overdone; I suppose that’s one of my main notes on movies of that era…I remember learning in an old acting class in high school about Sarah Bernhardt and silent movies. The facial expressions, although the norm in movies back then, are so overblown that I couldn’t help but laugh almost any time a character in The Glass Key reacted…even the part where “Ed” kicks the guy, his leg just flings out of nowhere, almost like a miniature precursor to the Ministry of Silly Walks sketch. (It was amusing, though, I’ll give it that.) Also, the trailer at the end of the credits was somewhat ridiculous; I guess it’s always been the same in that studios cater to what they think people will want to see. (…”And the girl who could handle them both!“) Honestly, the book wasn’t focused on a love story; not so much. It wasn’t a “Battle of the sexes!” as the trailer said it was…I mean, come on now. It was about a murder and the cool sly detective work it took to uncover it…little of which was really seen in the movie (although I can see how it would have been difficult to adapt because the characters in the book don’t tend to have amazingly insightful lines that often). I guess I just would have liked to see a little more mystery, not silly character and plot adaptations that didn’t seem to do much in a positive light.
In any case, the part where William Bendix (henchman, yet again) practically lifts himself off of the floor and into the other guy’s arms although he’s supposed to be unconscious is worth the price of admission (or would have bee, I guess). Also, Paul’s bit about the diamond at the end was funny, although not anywhere near the ending of the book…but I guess that happy ending is just what studios believe people always want to see…