Marketic It's no definitive masterpiece but it's damn close.

ThedevilChoose When a movie has you begging for it to end not even half way through it's pure crap. We've all seen this movie and this characters millions of times, nothing new in it. Don't waste your time.

Hattie I didn’t really have many expectations going into the movie (good or bad), but I actually really enjoyed it. I really liked the characters and the banter between them.

Bob This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.

SimonJack "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."

davidjanuzbrown I am a William Powell Fan, and this is one of weakest movies of his career. The biggest problem is the casting. Powell as British Captain Bill Tennent? Does not work whatsoever. Maybe Ronald Colman might have pulled it off, but not Powell, who does not even attempt a British Accent. Even worse was Colin Clive was Captain Andy Kerr and Edna Best as his wife Norah Kerr, He is a boring pathetic character and she is ugly to say the least. To be honest the story that takes place in Ireland in 1920 was good, but the casting was wrong. I would love to see this remade with better British Actors then Clive and Best and an authentic Englishman. Maybe Charlie Murphy as Norah might work. 3 stars for the story and setting.

Torchy I thought The Key was excellent. Interesting story, strong dialogue and good performances. To my mind this is one of Michael Curtiz' best films. It's not just a matter of creating atmosphere. In shooting the street scenes and club scenes Curtiz fills the frame with movement. This film really has the feel of life in the city. With the help of cinematographer Ernest Haller and art director Robert Haas, Curtiz makes the tension of the situation palpable. There are some weak moments, but my only real complaint is that William Powell could be stronger. He's fine at the beginning when he's just playing the breezy adventurer. But as we see that the character is more complex, Powell needs to do more to show the conflict within. Instead he keeps it mostly on the surface. On the other hand, a lot of the actors in small roles are marvelous. Over all, this is a really solid movie.

blanche-2 William Powell is Bill, a British officer who finds an old love in Ireland in "The Key," a 1934 film also starring Edna Best (Norah) and Colin Clive (Andy). A very young Donald Crisp, though his voice identifies him immediately, plays a Sein Fein leader whom the British army seeks to capture. When Bill arrives on the scene, he finds himself living below Andy, a fellow officer and friend, but he doesn't know that the woman he once loved is married to him - and Andy never knew that Bill and Norah were involved. Realizing that their breakup was a mistake, Bill seeks to rekindle the relationship. Norah has continued to love him, and it's stood between her and her husband throughout their marriage.Full of dry ice and night scenes, this old movie was hard to see at times. The story is very familiar, the film is short; it doesn't have a lot to recommend it. It's atmospheric, although this viewer was not drawn into the story. Powell brings it lots of energy - he's the best thing in it; Best and Clive don't project much and look unhappy throughout.