Key Largo

19481948
Not RatedNot Rated
1h 40min

Key Largo (1948)

Theatrical Trailer from Warner Bros. Pictures

Play trailer2:24

Action Crime Drama

A man visits his war buddy's family hotel and finds a gangster running things. As a hurricane approaches, the two end up confronting each other.A man visits his war buddy's family hotel and finds a gangster running things. As a hurricane approaches, the two end up confronting each other.A man visits his war buddy's family hotel and finds a gangster running things. As a hurricane approaches, the two end up confronting each other.

Director
- John Huston
Writers
- Richard Brooks(screenplay)
- John Huston(screenplay)
- Maxwell Anderson(based on the play by)
Stars

See production, box office & company info

See more at IMDbPro

Won 1 Oscar
- 1 win & 1 nomination total

Videos1

Key Largo

"Key Largo" Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall, and Lional Barrymore 1948 Warner Bros.

"Key Largo" Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall 1948 Warner Bros.

"Key Largo" Edward G. Robinson, Humphrey Bogart, and Lauren Bacall 1948 Warner Bros.

"Key Largo" Lauren Bacall and Humphrey Bogart 1948 Warner Bros.

"Key Largo" Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall 1948 Warner Bros.

"Key Largo" Humphrey Bogart, Felipa Gomez, and Lauren Bacall 1948 Warner Bros.

"Key Largo" Lionel Barrymore, Lauren Bacall, and Humphrey Bogart 1948 Warner Bros.

"Key Largo" Lauren Bacall and Humphrey Bogart 1948 Warner Bros.

"Key Largo" Humphrey Bogart and Lionel Barrymore 1948 Warner Bros.

"Key Largo" Humphrey Bogart & Edward G. Robinson. 1948 Warner Bros.

Edward G. Robinson behind the scenes of "Key Largo." 1948 Warner Bros.

Edward G. Robinson behind the scenes of "Key Largo." 1948 Warner Bros.

Humphrey Bogart

Frank McCloudas Frank McCloud

Edward G. Robinson

Johnny Roccoas Johnny Rocco

Nora Templeas Nora Temple

Lionel Barrymore

James Templeas James Temple

Gaye Dawnas Gaye Dawn

Richard 'Curly' Hoffas Richard 'Curly' Hoff

Edward 'Toots' Bassas Edward 'Toots' Bass

Deputy Clyde Sawyeras Deputy Clyde Sawyer

Ziggyas Ziggy

Angel Garciaas Angel Garcia

Sheriff Ben Wadeas Sheriff Ben Wade

Ralph Feeneyas Ralph Feeney

Beulah Archuletta

Bus Passengeras Bus Passenger
(uncredited)

Luther Crockett

Ziggy's Henchman #1as Ziggy's Henchman #1
(uncredited)

The Traveleras The Traveler
(uncredited)

Old Indian Womanas Old Indian Woman
(uncredited)

Ziggy's Henchman #2as Ziggy's Henchman #2
(uncredited)

Dispatcheras Dispatcher
(uncredited)

Director
- John Huston
Writers
- Richard Brooks(screenplay)
- John Huston(screenplay)
- Maxwell Anderson(based on the play by)
All cast & crew
See more cast details at IMDbPro

To Have and Have Not

7.8

To Have and Have Not

The Big Sleep

7.9

Dark Passage

7.5

The Maltese Falcon

8.0

The Maltese Falcon

The African Queen

7.8

The African Queen

High Sierra

7.5

The Asphalt Jungle

7.9

The Asphalt Jungle

In a Lonely Place

8.0

In a Lonely Place

The Treasure of the Sierra Madre

8.2

The Treasure of the Sierra Madre

Out of the Past

8.0

Out of the Past

The Caine Mutiny

7.7

The Caine Mutiny

The Petrified Forest

7.6

The Petrified Forest

Frank McCloud travels to a run-down hotel on Key Largo to honor the memory of a friend who died bravely in his unit during WW II. His friend's widow, Nora Temple, and wheelchair bound father, James Temple manage the hotel and receive him warmly, but the three of them soon find themselves virtual prisoners when the hotel is taken over by a mob of gangsters led by Johnny Rocco who hole up there to await the passing of a hurricane. Mr. Temple strongly reviles Rocco but due to his infirmities can only confront him verbally. Having become disillusioned by the violence of war, Frank is reluctant to act, but Rocco's demeaning treatment of his alcoholic moll, Gaye Dawn, and his complicity in the deaths of the Osceola Brothers and a deputy sheriff start to motivate McCloud to overcome his Hamlet-like inaction. —Brian Greenhalgh

florida noir gangster widow moll wheelchair 169 more

Taglines
- A storm of fear and fury in the sizzling Florida Keys !
Genres
Certificate
- Not Rated
Parents guide

Trivia
Although they played on-screen enemies, off-screen Humphrey Bogart and Edward G. Robinson treated each other with great respect. Bogart insisted Robinson be treated like a major star, and he would not come to the set until Robinson was ready. Often, he would go to Robinson's trailer to personally escort him to the set.

Goofs
Describing the summer heat in the Keys, Mr. Temple says that it will cool down in November: "The thermometer will drop to 100 (F, about 38C)", implying that summer temperatures are consistently above 100. This is incorrect. The climate is humid, but the adjacent waters moderate the temperature. Average summer high is 87F (31C). According to the Keys official tourism website, "The hottest it's ever been in Key West is 97º F (36º C), and that was way back in 1880."

Quotes
Frank McCloud: When your head says one thing and your whole life says another, your head always loses.

Crazy credits
At the southernmost point of the United States are the Florida Keys, a string of small islands held together by a concrete causeway. Largest of these remote coral islands is Key Largo.

Alternate versions
Also available in a computer colorized version.

Connections
Edited into Tales from the Crypt: You, Murderer (1995)

Soundtracks
Moanin' Low
(uncredited)
Music by Ralph Rainger
Lyrics by Howard Dietz
Sung by Claire Trevor

Top review

10/10

under-appreciated classic

Key Largo is an absolutely brilliant film. Cast and screenplay are both superb. Bogart and Bacall have an intense personal chemistry that sparks on screen, and the supporting cast of Barrymore and E. G. Robinson give their best performances ever. Robinson, in particular, as the slimy gangster johnny rocco is great - his portrayal of the 'banality of evil' is the best I've ever seen.

The screenplay is magnificent. Not just the dialog, but also the balance of characters is perfect. For each good character there is a bad one of equal weight, forming a perfectly complementary totality, a yin/yang balance that teeters between triumph and disaster according to the finest shades of personal choice. It's an examination of freedom, of corruption, of courage and betrayal - a perfect encapsulation of the world, focused upon a hotel on a tiny island in the middle of a hurricane.

This movie deserves more recognition than it gets. The action is understated but intense, densely-packed with meaning and significance, at both the individual and cultural level. Watch this movie with new eyes!

helpful•33

2

geroldf
Jan 19, 2002

What's the significance of the setting in "Key Largo"?

Release date
- July 31, 1948 (United States)
Country of origin
- United States
Languages
- English
- Italian
Also known as
- Gangster in Key Largo
Filming locations
- Overseas Highway, Key Largo, Florida, USA
Production company
- Warner Bros.
See more company credits at IMDbPro

Gross US & Canada
- $7,017,420
Gross worldwide
- $9,524,420

See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

Runtime
- 1h 40min
Color
- Black and White
Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1

New to Streaming: The Thin Red Line, Pig, La piscine, Roadrunner, and More

New to Streaming: The Thin Red Line, Pig, La piscine, Roadrunner, and More

Aug 6The Film Stage

The Criterion Channel Unveils August 2021 Lineup

Jul 26The Film Stage

Key Largo (1948)

Top Gap

What is the Italian language plot outline for Key Largo (1948)?

More to explore

View image

Hollywood Romances: Our Favorite Couples

See the entire gallery

Image caption not available

What to Watch in October

Watch the video

Recently viewed

Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.