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The Key poster

The Key

1958 · 2h 14m · Drama, Romance, War · United Kingdom, United States of America · Rated 12 (DE)

He had the life expectancy of a match.

In wartime England, circa 1941, poorly-armed tugs are sent into "U-Boat Alley" to rescue damaged Allied ships. An American named David Ross arrives to captain one of these tugs. He's given a key by a fellow tugboat-man -- a key to an apartment and its pretty female resident. Should something happen to the friend, Ross can use the key.

Directed by
Carol Reed
Written by
Carl Foreman
Based on the novel by
Jan de Hartog
Starring
William Holden, Sophia Loren, Trevor Howard, Bernard Lee
6.1Smart score

The TMDB rating, pulled toward the movie average (6.03) as if it had 82 extra average votes. Few votes means more pull.

TMDB6.1

34 TMDB votes · IMDb page

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Apple TV Store: available in 27 countries
Rent or buy · 27Australia, Belarus, Belize, Bulgaria, Canada, Cape Verde, Cyprus, Czechia, Estonia, Ghana, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Latvia, Lithuania, Mauritius, Mozambique, New Zealand, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States

Streaming data by JustWatch, via TMDB. Links open the JustWatch listing for United States.

Style & content

tugboatworld war ii
Rating12 (DE)

Keywords from TMDB.

Connected through the crew

The Bridge on the River Kwai1957 · Writer Carl ForemanThe Man with the Golden Gun1974 · Cinematographer Oswald MorrisLolita1962 · Cinematographer Oswald MorrisThe Third Man1949 · Director Carol ReedHigh Noon1952 · Writer Carl ForemanThe Dark Crystal1982 · Cinematographer Oswald MorrisThe Guns of Navarone1961 · Writer Carl Foreman, Cinematographer Oswald MorrisSleuth1972 · Cinematographer Oswald MorrisThe Man Who Would Be King1975 · Cinematographer Oswald MorrisFiddler on the Roof1971 · Cinematographer Oswald MorrisOliver!1968 · Director Carol Reed, Cinematographer Oswald MorrisMoby Dick1956 · Cinematographer Oswald Morris

Browse lists

Best Drama Movies of the 1950sBest Romance Movies of the 1950sBest War Movies of the 1950sBest Drama Movies of All TimeBest Romance Movies of All TimeBest War Movies of All Time