The Glass Key

[Wellesnet]

On 10 March 1939, Orson Welles's production of Dashiell Hammett's "The Glass Key" was broadcast on "The Campbell Playhouse," CBS-Radio. Welles sounds like he has a bad cold here, but that actually helps with his characterization of an Al Capone-like gangster figure (although more benign). He actually has more of a supporting role here, while the lead is taken by Paul Stewart.

The "Glass Key" of the title refers metaphorically to the fragile bond between human beings, particularly the corrupt bond between gangsters and politicians that existed at the time Hammett's novel was written in 1931. So when the crime boss boasts that he practically has a key to the senator's house, his right-hand man warns him that it is a glass key.

Hammett was quoted as saying it was his favorite of his novels, even more so than "The Maltese Falcon". Welles's production is well done, although the plot is a bit too tricky and convoluted for radio. It helps to know some of the plot beforehand.

Wiki:
"The story revolves around Ned Beaumont, a gambler and best friend of the criminal boss Paul Madvig. Ned finds the body of a Senator’s son on the street and Madvig asks him to thwart the D.A.'s investigation, his motive being he wants to back the corrupt senator in order to marry his daughter, Janet. Ned goes to New York searching for Bernie, a bookie who owes him a great deal of money from a gambling debt but ends up getting beaten up. Meanwhile someone sends a series of letters to people close to the crime, hinting that Madvig was the murderer. Suspicion for this falls on Madvig's daughter Opal, the victim's girlfriend. Madvig's political base begins to crumble, when he refuses to spring a follower's brother from jail. The follower goes to rival mob boss Shad O'Rory, who eliminates a witness to the brother's crime. Madvig then declares war on O'Rory, who offers to bribe Beaumont to expose Madvig in the newspaper. Beaumont refuses, is knocked unconscious and wakes captive in a dingy room..."

Filmed twice:
in 1935, starring George Raft and directed by Frank Tuttle
(available in six parts on Youtube):
Part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ccJWOoVl4AE

in 1942, with Alan Ladd and Veronica lake

[Wellesnet]

Available, in good sound, at the new IU/Lilly website, along with the original script:
https://orsonwelles.indiana.edu/items/s ... 898%2C3387