Key Largo

A brilliant John Huston thriller with an unbeatable cast: Bogart, Bacall, Robinson, and Barrymore! It's neither amazing nor a secret as to why this classic noir will never get stale.

A storm is about to break over Key Largo, but that's nothing compared to the emotional eruptions going on inside James Temple's run-down hotel, where the crippled old proprietor, his daughter-in-law, and a disillusioned ex-GI are being held up by the notorious gangster, Johnny Rocco. What does he want? Well, to put in his own words, he wants "more". And his temper, as well as his gun, could very well go off at any given moment. Mr. Temple, you might want to stop antagonizing him. This brilliant, tense noir is, in my opinion, one of master director John Huston's best. Considered by some to be one of the lesser Bogie/Bacall pairings, it's still a superb film that you don't want to miss. Some of the movie's best moments are (1) Claire Trevor, as Rocco's alcoholic moll, desperately singing for the sadistic Rocco and hoping to be rewarded with a drink, and (2) the verbal battles between the arrogant Rocco, and the wonderfully feisty Mr. Temple. Would I recommend? Yes, yes, and...yes.

With an hurricane rapidly approaching, "Frank" (Humphrey Bogart) visits "Temple" (Lionel Barrymore) - the wheelchair-bound father of his late wartime buddy at his hotel only to find that it's temporarily under new management. "Johnny Rocco" (Edward G. Robinson) is a fleeing gangster and he's taken up residence while his escape is being organised. Needless to say there is a delicate dynamic at their hotel - with his friend's widow "Nora" (Lauren Bacall) treading on eggshells and Claire Trevor frequently stealing the scene as the drunken moll "Gaye". It's an hugely atmospheric thriller this. The sparing, pithily, delivered dialogue and the great use of the audio helps build this tension here aided by a strong effort from Barrymore; Bogart in his best less is more mode and Robinson doing what he did best - and here, quite effectively too. There's on-screen chemistry a plenty and a denouement that rounds things off with a deadly confrontation! Film-noir at it's best, this and if you can see it on a big screen then do.