MovieChat Forums > The Glass Key (1942) Discussion > Another covert gay theme in a 40s noir?

Another covert gay theme in a 40s noir?

posted 13 years ago by Local Hero
14 replies | jump to latest

I've finally seen The Glass Key for the first time, and I assume I'm reinventing the wheel with this comment, but since there's nothing else about it on this message board, I'll throw it out there.

The William Bendix character certainly seems like a latent homosexual who can't admit his orientation to himself, but sublimates his attraction to the Ladd character into aggression toward him. He comments on Ladd's attractiveness and romantic prowess at numerous moments, he constantly calls him names like 'sweetheart,' he stares into Ladd's eyes with a constant fixation, and, as he puts it in his own dumb (he even calls himself dumb) way, he doesn't know why he likes beating up Ladd in particular so very much (or bouncing him around, as he puts it). Bendix's final scene in which he oscillates between menace and great affection for Ladd is believable as the behavior of a drunk, but it also feels like the culmination of the Bendix character's subconscious feelings throughout the film.

[–] Enrique-8 13 years ago

Interesting take on the Bendix character...I am watching it now and I will look for these things.

Enrique Sanchez

[–] Enrique-8 13 years ago

Read this and you will be vindicated, LOCAL HERO.

http://www.noiroftheweek.com/2009/06/glass-key-1942.html

Enrique Sanchez

[–] alistla 11 years ago

I read the linked article and I wouldn't call it vindication. It's just one person's interpretation, hardly definitive. Bendix's character is certainly a sadist. But unless you've spent a lot of time around athletes, blue-collar workers, thugs and other more low-brow, physically oriented males, you wouldn't understand the type of humor shared by that stratum of society.

Bendix's use of "sweetie" and "baby" in reference to Alan Ladd's character is ironic. Bendix hates Ladd, but as a sadist, he loves beating him. The fact that Ladd is tough and can take a lot of punishment incites admiration in Bendix.

Occam's razor: the bantering nature of relationships among blue-collar males, frequently alternating insults and rough-housing with expressions of fondness, is a more plausible explanation to me for the dialogue and actions in this movie, than a homosexual subtext.

[–] Enrique-8 11 years ago

@Alistla:

Good counterpoint and very strong reasoning there. You've got to be rather tough not to be affected by another man calling you those things. It must be part of a sadistic streak in that element. They seem more like taunts and abrasive threats to man's purported masculinity which are so common in this strata. The average man would be taken aback.

Enrique Sanchez

[–] ozymandias312 10 years ago

Right on, Alistla. I know some people find it hard to believe, but everything is not always about sex.

And I stood where I did be; for there was no more use to run; And again I lookt with my hope gone.

[–] princeplanet 11 years ago

http://www.noiroftheweek.com/2009/06/glass-key-1942.html

[–] RugGuy 13 years ago

As you probably know MILLER"S CROSSING is in part based on the novel of The Glass Key. The character equivalent to Bendix/Jeff is the Dane who is definetely gay.

I discuss gay characters in Hammett and Chandler novels in this video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fi_Y7GUC5tA

[–] melissy87-928-30530 13 years ago

i was thinking the same thing

[–] tbeer1313 11 years ago

There was never any question that the Bendix character was not homosexual.

[–] JimB-4 11 years ago

In your view. It's a legitimate debate, true or not.

[–] ContinentalOp 10 years ago

The novel has a bit of what could be seen as a homosexual subtext too. Hammett didn't really shy away from mentioning explicit homosexuality as Joel Cairo from 'The Maltese Falcon' was openly an homosexual character.

If you want a noir movie with openly homosexual hitmen, there is 'The Big Combo' and a certain scene involving them is actually very touching.

Formerly KingAngantyr

[–] disinterested_spectator 9 years ago

I’ll go a step further. I think Ed picks up on Jeff’s homosexual tendencies, and enters the bar toward the end of the movie intent on seducing Jeff and getting him to talk. Ed behaves timid and feminine as he approaches Jeff and lets him take him upstairs. The fact that Alan Ladd is a small man with pretty features really makes this plausible.

Furthermore, Jeff keeps saying that Ed is a “heel.” That is a term normally used by a woman in reference to a man who has mistreated her in some way, not a term one man uses about another man.

For what it is worth, I am straight and I normally groan when someone concludes that two men in a movie who are friends must have some kind of homoerotic relationship.

[–] DBLurker 9 years ago

He could be bisexual.

His scenes definitely gave a gay vibe but also, he was a psychopath who enjoyed beating up people. So it's hard to say whether he was a homo or just trying to humiliate Ed by calling him 'baby' and 'sweetheart'.

Honestly, I think it's the latter. He was a psycho who got off on beating up and humiliating people (mostly because he was being 'pushed around' himself by his boss).

[–] liscarkat (16483) 5 years ago

Yes, every male relationship...no, actually every male acquaintance in old movies is GAY!

Close friends with another guy...GAY!
Try to kill a guy by beating him to death...DOUBLE GAY!

We're all homos. Those of us who think we're not are just in denial.