STUDIO ONE - THE GLASS KEY - 1949
This is a "live" episode from the long running anthology series, "WESTINGHOUSE: STUDIO ONE". This series ran for 467 episodes between 1948 and 1958. This episode is the 13th of the production run.
This teleplay is based on the Dashiell Hammett novel, THE GLASS KEY. The novel had previously been made into feature films twice, 1935 and 1942. George Raft headlined the first screen version while Alan Ladd did the duty in the second.
The story revolves around a big city political boss, his number one man, a pretty blonde, her father and various other sorts all involved in murder.
Using the 1942 version as a template, we have Donald Briggs playing the Ladd part, Jean Carson doing Veronica Lake, Lawrence Fletcher in the Brian Donlevy bit, Les Damon in the Joseph Calleia role and Bern Hoffman doing the William Bendix role.
Briggs is the right hand man for rackets man and political boss, Lawrence Fletcher. Briggs is not happy with Fletcher getting involved with a local political race. He tells him that it is all hot potatoes because Fletcher is going against the reform ticket. Fletcher though is blind to the danger because he has the hots for the daughter, Jean Carson, of another candidate, Edwin Jerome. Jerome is also the father of the reform man.
Also in the mix is one of Fletcher's rivals in the gambling rackets, Les Damon. Briggs cautions Fletcher that the last thing they need is a violent dispute with Damon. There is a heated argument between Fletcher and Briggs with the latter quitting.
Next thing you know, Briggs is approached by Damon to join his crew. At the same time, throwing gas on the fire is that the Reformer is found dead as a doornail. The main suspect starts to look like Fletcher. Now Jean Carson puts the bite on Briggs. She is sure Fletcher is guilty of her brother's murder and wants his help in proving it.
Anyways, Briggs may have had a falling out with Fletcher, but he is not going to help anyone get him. This soon leads to a first rate curb stomping by Damon henchman, Bern Hoffman. The rest of the teleplay is more or less a re-hash of the film with the real killer being turned up.
Since the runtime had to be compressed to fit into an hour (with commercials) there is the odd short cut. The fact that it is a live production means there is the odd line mix up and even a cameraman getting in the way of a shot, etc. This does not take away from the tension in the least.
Don Briggs was on screen for 40 years between 1936 and 1976. Jean Carson seemed to pop up on 50's television series all the time. She made a career out of playing "the other woman" types.
This is a "live" episode from the long running anthology series, "WESTINGHOUSE: STUDIO ONE". This series ran for 467 episodes between 1948 and 1958. This episode is the 13th of the production run.
This teleplay is based on the Dashiell Hammett novel, THE GLASS KEY. The novel had previously been made into feature films twice, 1935 and 1942. George Raft headlined the first screen version while Alan Ladd did the duty in the second.
The story revolves around a big city political boss, his number one man, a pretty blonde, her father and various other sorts all involved in murder.
Using the 1942 version as a template, we have Donald Briggs playing the Ladd part, Jean Carson doing Veronica Lake, Lawrence Fletcher in the Brian Donlevy bit, Les Damon in the Joseph Calleia role and Bern Hoffman doing the William Bendix role.
Briggs is the right hand man for rackets man and political boss, Lawrence Fletcher. Briggs is not happy with Fletcher getting involved with a local political race. He tells him that it is all hot potatoes because Fletcher is going against the reform ticket. Fletcher though is blind to the danger because he has the hots for the daughter, Jean Carson, of another candidate, Edwin Jerome. Jerome is also the father of the reform man.
Also in the mix is one of Fletcher's rivals in the gambling rackets, Les Damon. Briggs cautions Fletcher that the last thing they need is a violent dispute with Damon. There is a heated argument between Fletcher and Briggs with the latter quitting.
Next thing you know, Briggs is approached by Damon to join his crew. At the same time, throwing gas on the fire is that the Reformer is found dead as a doornail. The main suspect starts to look like Fletcher. Now Jean Carson puts the bite on Briggs. She is sure Fletcher is guilty of her brother's murder and wants his help in proving it.
Anyways, Briggs may have had a falling out with Fletcher, but he is not going to help anyone get him. This soon leads to a first rate curb stomping by Damon henchman, Bern Hoffman. The rest of the teleplay is more or less a re-hash of the film with the real killer being turned up.
Since the runtime had to be compressed to fit into an hour (with commercials) there is the odd short cut. The fact that it is a live production means there is the odd line mix up and even a cameraman getting in the way of a shot, etc. This does not take away from the tension in the least.
Don Briggs was on screen for 40 years between 1936 and 1976. Jean Carson seemed to pop up on 50's television series all the time. She made a career out of playing "the other woman" types.
