"Key Largo" was filmed in 1948 and served to give more notice to the attraction of film-noir movies, and the acting talents of Humphrey Bogart, Edward G. Robinson, Lauren Bacall, and Lionel Barrymore. Those talents, alone, would make "Key Largo" a very watchable film, but throw in the elements of a storm that is raging around them, and an Oscar-winning role for Claire Trevor, and the viewer has a superb film in front of him/her.
Bogart plays an ex-army major who comes to the area of Key Largo to visit the family of a deceased soldier who was in his unit during the war. Barrymore plays the father of said GI, and Bacall his widow. They are glad to see Bogart and make no bones about having him stay over. However, in the hotel run by Barrymore, there are some gangsters posing as guests who are basically holding everybody as prisoner until they make a criminal deal, and leave the area. Heading the gang is Edward G. Robinson, who as Johnny Rocco, was a big-time hood once, and who aspires to climb that pinnacle of success again. The storm rages outside, and the criminals hold everybody captive inside. Compounding the problems to be endured is the fact that the local sheriff and his deputy are looking for two escaped Indians whom they suspect have come to the hotel, because Barrymore has always been a friend and benevolent benefactor to them. All the emotions that can be brought up come to a head in a small boat at sea after the storm comes to an end.
Directed by John Huston, who always seemed to be a good director for Bogart, this film rates very high on Film-noir lists. Sit back while the hurricane rages.
Bogart plays an ex-army major who comes to the area of Key Largo to visit the family of a deceased soldier who was in his unit during the war. Barrymore plays the father of said GI, and Bacall his widow. They are glad to see Bogart and make no bones about having him stay over. However, in the hotel run by Barrymore, there are some gangsters posing as guests who are basically holding everybody as prisoner until they make a criminal deal, and leave the area. Heading the gang is Edward G. Robinson, who as Johnny Rocco, was a big-time hood once, and who aspires to climb that pinnacle of success again. The storm rages outside, and the criminals hold everybody captive inside. Compounding the problems to be endured is the fact that the local sheriff and his deputy are looking for two escaped Indians whom they suspect have come to the hotel, because Barrymore has always been a friend and benevolent benefactor to them. All the emotions that can be brought up come to a head in a small boat at sea after the storm comes to an end.
Directed by John Huston, who always seemed to be a good director for Bogart, this film rates very high on Film-noir lists. Sit back while the hurricane rages.