The French Key
“The Adventures of detective ace Johnny Fletcher”
Synopsis
Private detective Johnny Fletcher and his sidekick Sam Cragg skip out on their rented room, but when they sneak back to retrieve their luggage, they discover a dead body on the bed, holding a gold coin in its hand. Fletcher is told by a coin collector that the piece is an old and valuable Spanish coin, but Fletcher soon begins to suspect that the man is himself involved in the murder. Fletcher's investigation leads to he and Sam getting caught up in a murder and gold smuggling scheme.
Top Cast
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Albert Dekker
Johnny Fletcher
Evelyn Ankers
Janet Morgan
Mike Mazurki
Sam Cragg
John Eldredge
John Holterman
Frank Fenton
Horatio Vedder
Selmer Jackson
Walter Winslow
Byron Foulger
Peabody
Joe DeRita
Fox
Marjorie Manners
David Gorcey
Eddie
Archie Twitchell
Murdock (as Michael Branden)
Sammy Stein
Alan Ward
Walter Soderling
Emmett Vogan
Desk Clerk
George Chandler
Roomer (uncredited)
Bernard Gorcey
Little Man (uncredited)
Frank Moran
Listener to Sam's Story (uncredited)
Release History & Theatrical Window
May 18, 1946
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Walter Colmes
- Screenplay & Story
- Frank Gruber
- Original Score
- Alexander Laszlo
- Original Title
- The French Key
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 4m
- Production Studios
- Republic Pictures, Walter Colmes Productions
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Walter Colmes
Frank Gruber
Alexander Laszlo
Robert Jahns
Department Leadership Roster
Walter Colmes
Director
Frank Gruber
Screenplay
Alexander Laszlo
Original Music Composer
Robert Jahns
Editor
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
NR: Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
International Certification Matrix
Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for The French Key.
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Frequently Asked Questions About The French Key
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is The French Key about?
Private detective Johnny Fletcher and his sidekick Sam Cragg skip out on their rented room, but when they sneak back to retrieve their luggage, they discover a dead body on the bed, holding a gold coin in its hand. Fletcher is told by a coin collector that the piece is an old and valuable Spanish coin, but Fletcher soon begins to suspect that the man is himself involved in the murder. Fletcher's investigation leads to he and Sam getting caught up in a murder and gold smuggling scheme.
Who directed The French Key?
The French Key was directed by Walter Colmes.
Who stars in The French Key?
The principal cast of The French Key includes Albert Dekker, Evelyn Ankers, Mike Mazurki, John Eldredge, Frank Fenton.
When was The French Key released and how long is it?
The French Key was released in 1946 with a total runtime of 1h 4m.
Who composed the musical score for The French Key?
The original motion picture soundtrack for The French Key was composed by Alexander Laszlo.
Is The French Key based on a book or true story?
The French Key is adapted from the following source material: Novel: "Frank Gruber".
What is the age rating and content advisory for The French Key?
The French Key holds official age classifications: US: NR (Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.).