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IMDbPro

The French Key

  • 19461946
  • ApprovedApproved
  • 1h 4m
IMDb RATING
6.4/10
82
YOUR RATING
Evelyn Ankers in The French Key (1946)
  • Adventure
  • Crime
  • Drama
Returning to their hotel room, private detective Johnny Fletcher and his partner Sam Cragg find a dead man clutching a gold coin and they try to solve this case involving murder and gold smu... Read allReturning to their hotel room, private detective Johnny Fletcher and his partner Sam Cragg find a dead man clutching a gold coin and they try to solve this case involving murder and gold smuggling.Returning to their hotel room, private detective Johnny Fletcher and his partner Sam Cragg find a dead man clutching a gold coin and they try to solve this case involving murder and gold smuggling.
IMDb RATING
6.4/10
82
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Walter Colmes
  • Writer
    • Frank Gruber(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Albert Dekker
    • Evelyn Ankers
    • Mike Mazurki
Top credits
  • Director
    • Walter Colmes
  • Writer
    • Frank Gruber(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Albert Dekker
    • Evelyn Ankers
    • Mike Mazurki
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 5User reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos

    Albert Dekker and Mike Mazurki in The French Key (1946)
    Albert Dekker in The French Key (1946)
    Albert Dekker and Mike Mazurki in The French Key (1946)
    Evelyn Ankers, Albert Dekker, and Mike Mazurki in The French Key (1946)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Albert Dekker
    Albert Dekker
    • Johnny Fletcheras Johnny Fletcher
    Evelyn Ankers
    Evelyn Ankers
    • Janet Morganas Janet Morgan
    Mike Mazurki
    Mike Mazurki
    • Sam Craggas Sam Cragg
    John Eldredge
    John Eldredge
    • John Holtermanas John Holterman
    Frank Fenton
    Frank Fenton
    • Horatio Vedderas Horatio Vedder
    Selmer Jackson
    Selmer Jackson
    • Walter Winslowas Walter Winslow
    Byron Foulger
    Byron Foulger
    • Peabodyas Peabody
    Joe DeRita
    Joe DeRita
    • Detective Foxas Detective Fox
    Marjorie Manners
    Marjorie Manners
    • Betty Winslowas Betty Winslow
    David Gorcey
    David Gorcey
    • Eddie Milleras Eddie Miller
    Archie Twitchell
    Archie Twitchell
    • Murdockas Murdock
    • (as Michael Branden)
    Sammy Stein
    Sammy Stein
    • Percyas Percy
    Alan Ward
    • Madiganas Madigan
    Walter Soderling
    Walter Soderling
    • George Polsonas George Polson
    Emmett Vogan
    • Desk Clerkas Desk Clerk
    George Chandler
    George Chandler
    • Roomeras Roomer
    • (uncredited)
    Bernard Gorcey
    Bernard Gorcey
    • Little Manas Little Man
    • (uncredited)
    Frank Moran
    Frank Moran
    • Listener to Sam's Storyas Listener to Sam's Story
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Walter Colmes
    • Writer
      • Frank Gruber(screenplay) (based on novel by)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    User reviews5

    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    Enjoyable 1940's mystery
    Let's start by saying what this film is not: it's not film noir, and it's not a suspense movie. The emphasis here is on how Johnny Fletcher, well played by Albert Dekker, figures out the mystery. There's a lot of humor and clever lines. Frank Gruber, who wrote the script, was also the author of the original novel, published in 1940. It sold well and he went on to write a series of similar novels featuring Johnny Fletcher and Sam Cragg. Mike Mazurki is good here as Cragg, and gives a light-hearted performance in keeping with the spirit of the film. The other standout performance is by Evelyn Ankers. Her scenes with Dekker are the best part of the movie. Gruber also wrote scripts for a couple of the Basil Rathbone-Nigel Bruce Sherlock Holmes movies. He was a pro. This movie is worth watching.
    helpful•3
    0
    • shakspryn
    • Nov 2, 2021

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • May 18, 1946 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Cheia Franceză
    • Filming locations
      • Republic Studios, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Walter Colmes Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 4 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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