"The Key" is one of the last films that William Powell made for Warner Brothers before going to MGM and stardom. This film is set in 1920 Dublin during the Irish War of Independence (1919-1921). As the film shows, the Irish revolutionary period that was nearly a century old had now evolved into open warfare.
Powell plays an English captain of some notoriety with women. He has endured in the Army only because of his daring and accomplishments. His most recent assignment was Africa, but now he arrives for duty in Ireland. And here he meets an old friend, and an old flame. Lo, they are wed to each other.
There's plenty of drama in this rather dark and sinister film, much of it shot on Hollywood sets made to resemble night time streets and scenes in Ireland. The English are trying to Capture Peadar Conlan (played by Donald Crisp), the leader and inspiration for the Irish underground.
Powell's Capt. Bill Tennant is a mix of easygoing good guy and cad. Still, the Powell persona is there. The female in the love triangle is played by Edna Best. She was a prominent actress in England, but one wouldn't think her that talented just from her performance here. She is very wooden throughout the film as Norah Kerr. Her expression seldom changes and she seems to lack emotion except for her pleading for Bill to helps save Andy's life. On the other hand, Colin Clive gave a superb performance as Capt. Andy Kerr. This is a rare film in which the leading man doesn't win the lady in the end. But it's the right ending in this case.
The film clearly is a drama, as billed. But it has a few funny lines. Here are my favorites.
Capt. Bill Tennant, says to General C.O. Furlong (played by Halliwell Hobbes), "You get the paunch and the promotions. I get the fun and the medals. And we both die and get the same funeral."
Capt. Bill Tennant's aide, Homer, has been dozing. Tennant says to the headquarters aide, "You know, in Africa, the tsetse flies used to bite him and go sound to sleep."
Capt. Bill Tennant says to Norah Kerr, "It wasn't that I forgot. I simply couldn't mortgage my tomorrows."
Homer, Tennant's Aide, says, "When shall I expect you sir?" Capt. Bill Tennant, "Oh, eventually."
Capt. Bill Tennant, to Norah Kerr, "I suppose it's only in story books that there's a path back to yesterday."
Powell plays an English captain of some notoriety with women. He has endured in the Army only because of his daring and accomplishments. His most recent assignment was Africa, but now he arrives for duty in Ireland. And here he meets an old friend, and an old flame. Lo, they are wed to each other.
There's plenty of drama in this rather dark and sinister film, much of it shot on Hollywood sets made to resemble night time streets and scenes in Ireland. The English are trying to Capture Peadar Conlan (played by Donald Crisp), the leader and inspiration for the Irish underground.
Powell's Capt. Bill Tennant is a mix of easygoing good guy and cad. Still, the Powell persona is there. The female in the love triangle is played by Edna Best. She was a prominent actress in England, but one wouldn't think her that talented just from her performance here. She is very wooden throughout the film as Norah Kerr. Her expression seldom changes and she seems to lack emotion except for her pleading for Bill to helps save Andy's life. On the other hand, Colin Clive gave a superb performance as Capt. Andy Kerr. This is a rare film in which the leading man doesn't win the lady in the end. But it's the right ending in this case.
The film clearly is a drama, as billed. But it has a few funny lines. Here are my favorites.
Capt. Bill Tennant, says to General C.O. Furlong (played by Halliwell Hobbes), "You get the paunch and the promotions. I get the fun and the medals. And we both die and get the same funeral."
Capt. Bill Tennant's aide, Homer, has been dozing. Tennant says to the headquarters aide, "You know, in Africa, the tsetse flies used to bite him and go sound to sleep."
Capt. Bill Tennant says to Norah Kerr, "It wasn't that I forgot. I simply couldn't mortgage my tomorrows."
Homer, Tennant's Aide, says, "When shall I expect you sir?" Capt. Bill Tennant, "Oh, eventually."
Capt. Bill Tennant, to Norah Kerr, "I suppose it's only in story books that there's a path back to yesterday."