ianlouisiana 27 when he made "The Glass Key",Mr Morgan was transformed into posh arm - candy despite having quite serious aspirations at the start of his career. He was certainly a handsome devil and played men with an eye for ladies,men of uncertain provenance as often as not,men,in fact very like Johnny O'Flynn,an adventurer/playboy,possibly a public school man with impeccable manners, a military background and somewhere,perhaps,well - hidden,a tragic episode in his past. The sort of chap Dornford Yates wrote about 20years earlier. Or John Buchan maybe. O'Flynn has charm and charisma to spare as he works to catch a gang plotting against the British Scientific Establishment. He smokes heroically,drives an Armstrong - Siddeley and fights like a gentleman.Women are putty in his hands - even some blokes appear to go a bit weak at the knees under his gaze. A few years down the line he played a pimp in "The Shakedown" with rather less conviction but gave it a game go. I suspect he lived near Brighton because the premiere of "The Shakedown" was held at "The Regent" and several scenes of "The Steel Key" were filmed in its environs. I remember him striding imperiously through "Boots" trailing smoke and Old Spice accompanied by sighs from the staff - and not only the girls. Some blokes,I thought,have all the luck.

Paul Evans The Steel Key, a fifties B movie, as many have commented, one which felt like the origins of The Saint.The pacing is pretty good, I've watched several films from this era of late, and one common criticism has to be the slow pace at which everything develops and unfolds, The Steel Key doesn't canter along exactly, but it held my interest to the end.One of the first things you notice is just how fiendishly handsome and charismatic Terence Morgan was, I find it hard to believe he didn't crack Hollywood in his career. You can see why he was good casting as a villain.The brief appearance of Esma Cannon cannot help but bring a smile to the face, always cast in funny roles, you can't help but wait for her to do something amusing.It's quite a fun watch, an interesting plot, good characters, worth a look. 6/10

malcolmgsw I can see the point being made by the other reviewers.This is a Saint film in all but name.Terence Morgan is constantly evading the police whilst looking for the professor and his formula.The cast is quite interesting.Edmond Knight who was blinded in the sea battle with the Bismark,playing the professor.Michael Balfour is a sailor.Sam Judd with a moustache plays a henchman.Same Cannon is a rather dotty patient in the doctors waiting room.The film was made on the south coast and I am wondering if it used Brighton studios which was one of the oldest studios,closing in the sixties.The script isn't marvellous,but it provides some action.

dave-blake "The Steel Key" looks like an early try-out for "The Saint" TV series.Terence Morgan plays an attractive rogue that police forces around the world would love to catch red-handed; and yet he is happily focused on bringing real criminals to justice.The "steel key" is a military secret - a "Macguffin" that matters not one jot. The baddies want it - Terence Morgan's character (who uses three different names during the film) gets involved by pretending to have it.Forsythe, the policeman, is Chief Inspector Teal by another name. And Joan Rice is absolutely charming in the love interest role.Good fun - with nice views of Fifties Newhaven.