Key Largo (1948)

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)

Stars:

Humphrey Bogart, Edward G. Robinson, Lauren Bacall

Won 1 Oscar. Another 1 nomination.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Humphrey Bogart	...	Frank McCloud
Edward G. Robinson	...	Johnny Rocco
Lauren Bacall	...	Nora Temple
Lionel Barrymore	...	James Temple
Claire Trevor	...	Gaye Dawn
Thomas Gomez	...	Richard 'Curly' Hoff
Harry Lewis	...	Edward 'Toots' Bass
John Rodney	...	Deputy Clyde Sawyer
Marc Lawrence	...	Ziggy
Dan Seymour	...	Angel Garcia
Monte Blue	...	Sheriff Ben Wade
William Haade	...	Ralph Feeney

Storyline

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.

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Plot Keywords:

florida noir | gangster | widow | moll | wheelchair | 

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Taglines:

A cast as explosive as its story!

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Genres:

Action | Crime | Drama | Film-Noir | Thriller

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Trivia

A line of Rocco's dialogue was popularly misquoted following the 2000 presidential election and its Florida-centric "recount battle" to make it look as if the movie was prophetic.

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Goofs

Before the storm, Frank and Nora attach two bow lines to the boat. After the storm, when the gang gets on board the boat, Frank has one of the hoods cast off "that bow line" - only one line this time.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Sheriff Ben Wade: [to the driver after pulling over a bus] Hello, Eddie.
Bus Driver: Hi, Ben. What gives?
Sheriff Ben Wade: We're lookin' for a couple Indians broke out of jail. Young bucks in fancy shirts. If you see anything of 'em, telephone my office at Palm Grove.
Bus Driver: Okay.
[after the sheriff and deputy leave, he turns to Frank McCloud in the first passenger seat]
Bus Driver: Those Indians they're lookin' for must be from around here. They always head for home.
Frank McCloud: Home being Key Largo.

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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.

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Alternate Versions

Also available in a computer colorized version.

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Connections

Featured in The Whole Nine Yards (2000)

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Soundtracks

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

User Reviews

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!

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Italian

Release Date:

31 July 1948 (USA)

Also Known As:

Key Largo

Filming Locations:

Key West, Florida Keys, Florida, USA

Box Office

Gross USA:

$7,017,420

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$9,524,420

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

100 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1