The Glass Key - Dashiell Hammett - Campbell Playhouse - Orson Welles

The story revolves around Ned Beaumont, a gambler and best friend of the criminal political 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 that he wants to back the corrupt senator in order to marry his daughter, Janet.
The Glass Key is a novel by American writer Dashiell Hammett. It was first published as a serial in Black Mask magazine in 1930, then was collected in 1931 (in London; the American edition followed 3 months later). It tells the story of a gambler and racketeer, Ned Beaumont, whose devotion to Paul Madvig, a crooked political boss, leads him to investigate the murder of a local senator's son as a potential gang war brews.
The Campbell Playhouse (1938-1940) is a live CBS radio drama series directed by and starring Orson Welles. Produced by Welles and John Houseman, it was a sponsored continuation of The Mercury Theatre on the Air. The series offered hour-long adaptations of classic plays and novels, as well as adaptations of popular motion pictures.
Originally Broadcast 3/10/1939
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[@mymythTV]

I enjoy the crackle of radio waves. It's part of the authenticity.

[@jorgepechcasanova2147]

Thanks a lot for this gem of radio days. English not being my mother language, I can clearly understand the dialogues and the narrative in spite of some crackle from the original source. I cannot understand so much whining about poor sound quality sound. It is wonderful to hear this adaptation by Welles. Quite an experience for a Hammett fan.

[@noshirm6285]

Thoroughly enjoyable.

[@Girlgamssilver]

I enjoy anything with Orson Welles in it.

[@judikingsman6132]

Don't be too picky about sound quality. I don't even know how you go about putting up these old gems‼️🙂

[@yepnowletussee6702]

Found your channel afew days ago while packing to move house..bit lonely with covid and no TV... so a really BIG thank you for all of these

[@WhyDoTroonsHaveTheSameVoices]

Such a good adaptation, probably the best and most succinct telling of this story ever done. Lots of recognizable Hammett dialogue, too.

[@cm9439]

Thank you for your dedication. Dashiell Hammett is a favorite of mine.

[@ritaburgess6239]

Another little gem. Thanks for sharing a story by one of my favorite authors. 💓

[@stephaniehand503]

Thank you

[@Girlgamssilver]

The frightening thing about this story is that now in 2022 we are still living this kind of political behavior in real time.

[@royrayburn1503]

Orson Welles was a genius. Loved his voice. He nicked Hollywood to have complete control of his work.A real maverick..Wells made so so movies in order to finance his own projects.

[@valeriejohnson5283]

This one was a little hard to listen to because of the background noise, but it was still enjoyable! 😍

[@suzeauster2223]

Greetings from florida 🌴 What a Gem!!! Thank You 👏

[@jeanettesdaughter]

Great story of true friendship between men. . Dead on point psychological truths even the dark romance. Why people so unalike are attracted to each other, rather like Hammett and Hellman off the page is an entire mystery. That’s a wild guess of course! Who can know? But all fiction comes fractal like from real lives, seen or lived.

[@michaelbedford8017]

Ah! for the days when gangsters and politicians just murdered each other. After hearing the word 'chicken' 33 times, and 'soup' 24, I'm off to get some in. Might sound be better if they didn't actually fry the chickens while they recorded the play.

[@roger2008100]

Such dreadful quality it's a pointless upload

[@Girlgamssilver]

🤣

[@Girlgamssilver]

@@roger2008100 Use your cc option, It is really a good story. Hope you will try again.

[@patriciabullock2793]

Is there any way to remaster this story? I've read the book about 25 times. A great Hammett..

[@anaderol5408]

Excellent and no doubt there was not a trace of steroids in the chicken

[@Girlgamssilver]

😂

[@patriciabullock2793]

Really cut back from the book, which I've read 50 times...I wish the sound could be remastered..thanks

[@Girlgamssilver]

Use cc option.

[@jeanettesdaughter]

The audio is too ruined. In the first act… but improves slightly. Still kind of mushy but at least the crisp, true to life dialog shines through. No one does class conflict and the war between the sexes better than Hammett. No better genre to do that than a criminal underground in bed with a political machine , and a deep thinking, cynical and always critically thinking incorruptible to unmask all of the players. Dirty work but someone has to do it!

[@sharischwing-austen4011]

The audio was terribly crackley

[@bayadere8308]

I was about to turn off but the hissing and crackling was greatly reduced after about twenty minutes.

[@ChestertonRadio]

Sorry for the noise. This was recorded in 1939. I am on the lookout for better recordings. They would have been recorded on big 16" transcription disks..kind of like phonograph records

[@sharischwing-austen4011]

@@ChestertonRadio Thanks for the info.. I do understand some of the old plays would not have high quality audio , but assumed in this day & age that this could be cleaned up somewhat .. However I still enjoyed the play , & always look forward to your wonderful dramas & plays , its rather like winning the lottery... Love from Sydney , Australia... Namaste 🙏

[@Girlgamssilver]

Use cc option. It makes listening a little easier.

[@debl9957]

Poor audio on this one

[@Girlgamssilver]

Use cc option.

[@BlazerManiacNumber96]

I can’t understand what they’re saying through all that static

[@Girlgamssilver]

Turn on cc. That's what I did.

[@BlazerManiacNumber96]

@@tz3218 How is that helpful?

[@WhyDoTroonsHaveTheSameVoices]

. . . and the music was conducted and arranged by Bernard Hermann!!!