The Glass Key 1942. Veronica Lake, Alan Ladd, Brian Donlevy, William Bendix, Bonita Granville In this slick updating of Dashiell Hammett's crime novel, political boss Paul Madvig (Brian Donlevy) falls for reform politician Ralph Henry's attractive daughter Janet (Veronica Lake), despite the caution of his best friend, Ed Beaumont (Alan Ladd). Paul's efforts to disassociate himself from the criminal underworld backfire, however, when he is accused of murdering Janet's disreputable brother, and a casino owner Paul had offended sends his sadistic thugs after Ed in revenge.