"THE GLASS KEY" (1935) ReviewYears ago, I watched the 1942 adaptation of Dashiell Hammett's 1930-31 novel called "The Glass Key". At the time, I had no idea that there had been a previous adaptation. Then I stumbled across one - produced and released by the same movie studio, Paramount Pictures, back in 1935."THE GLASS KEY" told the story of Ed Beaumont, a gambler and the brainy aide of a crooked political boss named Paul Madvig. The latter plans to support the political campaign of the corrupt Senator John T. Henry and marry the latter's daughter Janet. Unfortunately, the senator's son, Taylor Henry, is a gambling addict who is in debt to a gangster named Shad O'Rory, a gangster whose club Paul intends to put out of business. Also, Taylor has been romancing Paul's younger sister, Opal Madvig, much to the political boss' dismay. When Ed finds Taylor's dead body not far from Paul's home, everyone begins to suspect him of murder. Ed begins an investigation to discover Taylor's true killer, much to the displeasure of not only O'Rory, but also the Henry family and Paul.I have read a few reviews of "THE GLASS KEY". Most of the reviews seemed to be of the opinion that it is more of a film noir than the 1942 version. To be honest, I did not make a big deal of trying to determine how much of a noir movie it was. I was too busy trying to maintain my interest in the story. What can I say? The plot seemed pretty damn good. And screenwriters Kathryn Scola and Kubec Glascom, along with dialogue scribe Harry Ruskin did a very solid job of adapting Hammett's novel. Sure, they made a few nips and tucks in the narrative. But overall, I had no real problems with the story.The performances in "THE GLASS KEY" struck me as pretty solid. I thought the most memorable performances came from Edward Arnold as political boss Paul Madvig, Claire Dodd as Janet Henry, Guinn Williams as the O'Rory thug Jeff, and Ray Milland as the privileged and weak senator's son, Paul Henry. All gave very interesting performances. Rosalind Keith, Charles Richman and Robert Glecker also gave solid performances as Opal Madvig, Senator Henry and Shad O'Rory. One would notice that I have not said anything about lead actor George Raft. Before one assumes that I have a low opinion of his performance . . . I do not. I thought he did a pretty solid job, even if there were moments he came off as slightly wooden. He certainly did a pretty good job in carrying the film.So, if I had no problems with the movie's narrative and the acting . . . why did I find it so difficult to maintain my interesting in the film? I have to lay most of the blame on director Frank Tuttle. I found his direction of the film rather dull and lifeless. Boring. It is a miracle that the cast managed to rise above his insipid direction. In fact, I find it a crime that a director could make a movie with a first-rate narrative and an eighty minute running time so dull and slow. Even the famous scene in which Ed Beaumont suffered a beating at the hands of Jeff the Thug came off as slightly dull.Another problem I had with "THE GLASS KEY" proved to be its production values. Just because a movie has been labeled as a film noir does not mean I had to spend most of the film trying to make out the shapes and figures on the screen. There were plenty of moments when I could barely make out the images on the screen, due to Henry Sharp's photography. I found it incredibly dark at times. Sharp's dim photography was not helped by Hans Dreier and A. Earl Hedrick's art direction for this film. I was less than impressed by the film's production designs and art direction. The entire film looked as if it had been produced as an off-Broadway stage play. I have seen Warner Brothers B-movies released three or four years earlier that looked more prestigious. When one combines dark photography with less-than-mediocre production designs, well . . . it does not look good for a movie based upon a first-rate novel by Dashiell Hammett."THE GLASS KEY" had plenty of virtues to offer - solid and excellent acting from a cast led by George Raft, and first-rate adaptation of Hammett's novel. It seems a pity that those virtues seemed wasted by the movie's mediocre production values, a slow pacing and limpid direction by Frank Tuttle. Oh well. It has been years since I saw the 1942 version of Hammett's story. It would be interesting to see how it fares in compare to this film.
"SOME LIKE IT" (1959) Review
It has been called one of the greatest film comedies of all time . . . and possibly the greatest. Billy Wilder's 1959 comedy,"SOME LIKE IT HOT" has been the topic of many books and documentaries on both Hollywood and the director's career. I have seen the movie more times than I can remember. And for the first time, I have decided to publicize my feelings on it.
Directed by Billy Wilder and co-written by him and I.A.L. Diamond, "SOME LIKE IT HOT" is a remake of a 1935 French film called "FANFARE D'AMOUR", which was based upon a story by Robert Thoeren and Michael Logan. "FANFARE D'AMOUR" was first remade in 1951 by director Kurt Hoffmann as "FANFAREN DER LIEBE". However, the French and German versions did not feature gangsters as an integral part of their plots. "SOME LIKE IT HOT" told the story of a pair of struggling jazz musicians who end up witnessing the Saint Valentine Day Massacre - at least a fictionalized account of it. When the Chicago gangsters, led by "Spats" Columbo see them, the two flee Chicago for their lives by taking a job as members of an all-girl band heading for Florida . . . disguised as women. The musicians, Joe and Jerry, become enamored of a "Sugar" Kane Kowalczyk, the band's vocalist and ukulele player. And both struggle for her affection, while maintaining their disguises. In order to win Sugar's affection, Joe assume a second disguise as a millionaire named "Junior", the heir to Shell Oil. As for Joe, he has attracted the attention of a real millionaire named Osgood Fielding III. But when "Spats" Columbo and his men make an unexpected appearance at a gangster's convention at their hotel, all hell breaks loose.
Does "SOME LIKE IT HOT" deserve its reputation as one of the greatest film comedies of all time? I believe it does. In fact, it happens to be my personal favorite comedy of all time. Fifty-two years have passed since it was first released and it is just as fresh and hilarious as ever. More importantly, "SOME LIKE IT HOT" features some twisted humor that does not seem dated at all. Mind you, there have been other movies and television series (think "BOSOM BUDDIES" of the early 1980s) with a gender bender theme. But not one of them have been as funny as "SOME LIKE IT HOT". Not even 1982's"VICTOR/VICTORIA" - which is a close second for me - is not as funny. Both movies featured the insidious possibilities of cross-dressing. But whereas the 1982 movie is a bit more obvious and a little preachy in its attempt to convince moviegoers to accept what is presented on the screen, "SOME LIKE IT HOT" is a lot more subtle and funny, thanks to Wilder and Diamond's script. In fact, the movie's last line said a lot more about the consequences of cross dressing than any other movie ever had. I only have one complaint about Wilder and Diamond's script. From the moment "Spats" Columbo and his men arrived in Florida, I found the movie's plot and pacing somewhat rushed. Only Marilyn Monroe's poignant rendition of "I'm Through With Love", Pat O'Brien, Nehemiah Persoff and the last scene saved the movie's final fifteen to twenty minutes.
Production-wise, "SOME LIKE IT HOT" seemed pretty top-notch. Production manager Allen K. Wood did his best to re-create the late 1920s for the film. I certainly had nothing to complain about Edward G. Boyle's sets and Ted Haworth's art direction, both earning Academy Award nominations. Although a part of me find the idea of "SOME LIKE IT HOT" shot in color somewhat appealing (see the photograph above), I must admit that Charles Lang's black-and-white photography (also an Oscar nominee) looked very attractive - especially his photography of San Diego's famous Hotel Del Coronadostanding in as the Florida hotel where Sweet Sue's band performed. Legendary Hollywood veteran Orry-Kelly won the film's only Academy Award for his costume designs. I must admit that I found them very impressive and captured the late 1920s beautifully. I only wish that the women's shoes worn with the costumes had been just as accurate. Looking at Marilyn Monroe's famous walk along the train station platform, I could easily tell that her shoes were circa 1958-59. And I could say the same for the hairstyles worn by the female cast members.
Speaking of the cast,they were superb . . . every last member. The supporting cast provided brief, but memorable moments from the likes of Billy Gray as a young hotel bellhop lusting after Joe (as Josephine), Nehemiah Persoff as the colorful crime boss Little Bonaparte, Beverly Willis as band member and lover of raunchy jokes Dolores, Dave Barry as the band's "dignified" manager Beinstock and a delicious Pat O'Brien as the sardonic police detective Mulligan. The movie also featured a funny performance from Joan Shawnlee as the band's tough talking leader, Sweet Sue. And George Raft was effectively menacing as bootlegger/gangster "Spats" Columbo. I have only seen Joe E. Brown in perhaps two roles . . . and one of them was Osgood Fielding III, the sweet and hilarious millionaire whose heart is captured by Jerry aka "Daphne". I have a deep suspicion that Osgood may have been one of Brown's best movie roles ever. And he also had the good luck to utter one of the funniest and memorable last lines in Hollywood history.
But the movie truly belonged to Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon. Monroe won a Golden Globe award for her performance as the love-sick chartreuse, "Sugar" Kane Kowalczyk. She may or may not have been difficult during the movie's production, but she more than earned that Golden Globe award. She was funny, poignant, sweet . . . and slightly mercenary - especially in her character's pursuit of the fictional Shell Oil heir, "Junior". It is heartening to see that so many have finally learned to appreciate Tony Curtis' talents as an actor. While co-stars Monroe earned a Golden Globe and Jack Lemmon earned an Oscar nomination, Curtis ended up with the "short end of the lollipop". Pity, because he was just as funny as the seductive trombone player Joe. But I found his portrayal of the fictional "Junior" even funnier and he managed to utter the second funniest line in the movie. Bull fiddler Jerry aka "Daphne" led to a second Academy Award nomination for Jack Lemmon . . . and he deserved it. One, he formed a great comedy team with Curtis (with whom he would reunite six years later in "THE GREAT RACE"). Two, watching him assume the airs of woman had me rolling on the floor. But what really cracked me up were his acceptance of the possibility of becoming Osgood's next bride, while basking in the throes of their night together at a Cuban restaurant. It was a superb comedic moment for Lemmon and I would not be surprised if it was the very one that led to his nomination.
What else can I say about "SOME LIKE IT HOT"? Okay, it is not perfect. I was able to spot a few flaws in the costumes and one in the plot. But it is the closest to a perfect film comedy I have seen so far. And remember . . . this movie had been made fifty-two years ago. William Wyler's remake, "BEN-HUR" ended up sweeping the Oscars for that year. Pity. I have never been a fan of that movie. And if it had been up to me, I would have given the top awards to "SOME LIKE IT HOT".
