Set against the background of the 1920s Troubles in Ireland, British army officer Captain Bill Tennant (William Powell) is stationed in Dublin and assigned to work with British intelligence officer, Captain Andrew 'Andy' Kerr (Colin Clive). Tennant soon discovers that Kerr's wife Norah (Edna Best) is the same woman he was in love with years before. When Kerr is captured by the IRA and held hostage, to be released only on the condition that IRA leader Peadar Conlan (Donald Crisp) is released, Tennant finds himself personally involved in the Troubles.
The Key is based on a play of the same name by R(obert) Gore-Browne and J(ocelyn) L(ee) Hardy (British). The play was adapted for the movie by American screenwriter Laird Doyle. The title was changed to High Peril when re-issued in 1960 to avoid confusion with the 1958 British film, The Key (1958), which is a different story.
In 1912 the British Government passed the Home Rule Bill granting Ireland limited independence with the prospect of later full independence similar to Australia, Canada etc. This was fiercely opposed by Irish Unionists who predicted they would be oppressed in an Irish Nationalist dominated Ireland if cut off from the rest of the British Isles. Both sides formed their own private armies with the Irish Nationalist's militia (Sinn Fein/IRA) launching a rebellion with German assistance in Dublin at Easter 1916 and conducting a campaign of mass assassination against Irish Unionists from January 1919 onwards. In 1920, the Government of Ireland Act split the country into two separate jurisdictions: Southern Ireland, which eventually became known as the Irish Free State, and Northern Ireland, which remained part of Britain. Fighting between the nationalists and the loyalists continued, which is why the British army was sent in to aid the Irish police in keeping the peace and has declared martial law in this movie. In 1922 the British Government were able to force a compromise with Southern Ireland semi-independent but still within the Empire and Northern Ireland still part of the United Kingdom.
No. Peadar Conlan is a character created for the movie. He is representative of many such nationalist leaders fighting for Irish independence.
Conlan is charged with sedition (treason), inciting a rebellion, and bearing arms against His Majesty the King.
Extremely. One of the authors is Captain J.C 'Hoppy' Hardy, a much decorated veteran of the Great War who was famous for his repeated escapes from German prisoner of war camps. His nickname is derived from his wooden leg, having lost the real one in combat. In 1920, he served as an intelligence officer in Dublin during the Anglo-Irish war and brings much of his experiences to the story, the central characters reminiscent of his contemporary colleagues Duff Cooper and especially South African Major 'Tiny' King, a close friend of Hardy's who would romance and marry an Irishwoman during the course of the conflict.
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