The Glass Key (1942 film)

The Glass Key is a 1942 film noir, directed by Stuart Heisler and based on the novel of the same name by Dashiell Hammett. An earlier film version had been released in 1935.

When Madvig tells gangster Nick Varna Joseph Calleia that he is cleaning up the city and that Varna will no longer receive protection from the police, Beaumont grows even more concerned. Complicating matters further, Henrys neerdowell son, Taylor Richard Denning, owes Varna for gambling debts, while Madvigs young sister, Opal Bonita Granville, is in love with Taylor. When Madvig finds out, Opal fears what he will do to her boyfriend.Beaumont later finds Taylors lifeless body in the street. Madvig is the prime suspect, much to Varnas delight. When Varna hears that Beaumont and Madvig have split over the Henry mess, he also tries to recruit Beaumont. Beaumont turns him down, so Varna has him brutally beaten repeatedly by sadistic henchman Jeff William Bendix to torture him into revealing details of corruption to the editor of the newspaper Varna controls. Beaumont contrives an escape and is hospitalized. When Beaumont recovers, he learns that Varna has found a witness to Taylor Henrys killing, a man named Sloss Dane Clark. Madvig has Sloss brought to his office, but Sloss is gunned down before he can talk. As a result, Madvig is indicted for the murder and held in jail. ........

Source: Wikipedia