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Humphrey Bogart, Edward G. Robinson, Monte Blue, Lauren Bacall, Lionel Barrymore ... see more see more... , Claire Trevor , Thomas Gomez , William Haade , Harry Lewis , Marc Lawrence I , Rodd Redwing , John Rodney , Dan Seymour , Luther Crockett , Pat Flaherty , Alberto Morin , Jay Silverheels , Jerry Jerome , John Phillips

Richard Brooks and John Huston's screenplay for Huston's Key Largo eschews the lofty blank verse of Maxwell Anderson's original play, concentrating instead on the simmering tensions among the many cha... read more read more...racters. Humphrey Bogart plays Frank McCloud, an embittered war veteran who travels to Key Largo in Florida, there to meet Nora Temple (Lauren Bacall), the wife of his deceased war buddy. Arriving at a tumbledown hotel managed by Nora's father-in-law James Temple (Lionel Barrymore), McCloud discovers that the establishment has been taken over by exiled gangster Johnny Rocco (Edward G. Robinson) and what's left of his mob. Also in attendance is Gaye Dawn (Claire Trevor), Rocco's alcoholic girlfriend. While the others bristle at the thought of being held at bay by the gangsters, the disillusioned McCloud refuses to get involved: "One Rocco more or less isn't worth dying for." As he awaits a contact who is bringing him enough money to skip the country, Rocco is responsible for the deaths of a deputy sheriff and two local Indian youth. Unwilling to take a stand before these tragedies, McCloud finally comes to realize that Rocco is a beast who must be destroyed. To save the others from harm, McCloud agrees to pilot Rocco's boat to Cuba through the storm-tossed waters. Just before McCloud leaves, Gaye Dawn slips him a gun -- which leads to the deadly final confrontation between McCloud and Rocco. His resolve to go on living renewed by this cathartic experience, McCloud heads back to Nora, with whom he's fallen in love. Claire Trevor's virtuoso performance as a besotted ex-nightclub singer won her an Academy Award -- as predicted by her admiring fellow actors, who watched her go through several very difficult scenes in long, uninterrupted takes. While Key Largo sags a bit during its more verbose passages, on a visual level the film is one of the best and most evocative examples of the "film noir" school. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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86% liked it

11,092 ratings

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96% liked it

27 critics

Unrated, 1 hr. 41 min.

Directed by: John Huston

Release Date: January 1, 1948

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DVD Release Date: February 15, 2000

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Claire Trevor & Edward G. Robinson in Key Largo Humphrey Bogart, Claire Trevor & Lauren Bacall in Keyn Largo Lauren Bacall and Humphrey Bogart Claire Trevor in Key Largo Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall in "Key Largo" Key Largo key largo Claire Trevor in Key Largo Edward G. Robinson, Claire Trevor & Humphrey Bogart Lauren Bacall & Humphrey Bogart in Key Largo Claire Trevor with Oscar for Key Largo Humphrey Bogart, Claire Trevor and Lauren Bacall in Key Largo Claire Trevor in Key Largo Claire Trevor & Edward G. Robinson in Key Largo Claire Trevor in Key Largo Claire Trevor in Key Largo Claire Trevor in Key Largo Key Largo
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Flixster Reviews (622)

  • garyX
    March 8, 2012
    garyX
    A ruthless mobster and his gang hold a group of hotel guests hostage during a hurricane on the Florida Keys. Another Noir from John (The Maltese Falcon) Huston featuring the classic pairing of Bogart and Bacall, this film does not quite live up to the promise of these ingredients... read more but that's a hell of a pedigree to live up to. Making Bogart a do-gooder war hero and Bacall a doting widow takes the edge off their usual cynical, hard-bitten sparring and this overly wholesome approach means that the crackling chemistry they have shown in their other films is compromised. Robinson and Claire Trevor as his soused moll provide the best moments and his sneering diatribes against Bogie's moral stand are great. The hurricane enclosed setting makes for a nice pressure cooker environment in which the protagonists show their true colours and puts an interesting spin on the usual Noir ingredients. Maybe not the most original or inventive examples of the genre and it misses the firecracker dialogue of the likes of The Maltese Falcon, but it is still effective, atmospheric and constantly entertaining.
  • jjnxn
    January 26, 2012
    jjnxn
    Tight thriller with a top notch cast. Claire Trevor deserved her Oscar for broken down singer Gae Dawn she's heartbreakingly wonderful.
  • fb1664868775
    November 14, 2011
    fb1664868775
    Another masterpiece from John Huston, the tension rarely lets up in this fantastic film. With great performances from the whole cast and an ending that packs a punch on noir goodness.
  • ajv2688
    October 24, 2010
    ajv2688
    I liked this movie, not only for the great cast, but the great story too. Two bad situations, gangsters and a hurricane, make for an interesting movie.
  • ythelastman89
    July 6, 2010
    ythelastman89
    Just a really fun movie, you can't go wrong with John Huston and Humphrey Bogart. The story is simple, one man against the mob on an island with no escape. It works amazingly and you never see a dull moment throughout. The Bacall romance in it is subtle, but so honest and believa... read moreble. Edward G. Robinson plays a great over the top mob boss, being really funny at the same time. I think it was hinted that Humphrey Bogart was indestructible in this, probably not too far off.
  • bottcorecords1
    April 22, 2009
    bottcorecords1
    Frank McCloud walks into a Key Largo hotel and is greeted by a screaming lush named Gaye Dawn (Claire Trevor) and a group of thugs. But it's not the lush or the thugs that McCloud's come to see, it's Mr. Temple, and his daughter-in-law Nora (Lionel Barrymore and Lauren Becall). ... read more McCloud served in the war with Mr. Temple's son, and while passing through the area, has stopped to pay his respects to the family. Meanwhile, the local police are on a manhunt for some indians who have escaped from the local jail (even though they're only serving a 30 day sentence). By the time the thugs reveal themselves to be the gang of exiled mob boss Johnny Rocco, and ready to hold the hotel hostage, it's time for the hurricane to hit and all hell to break loose. Key Largo is packed with intensity, both manmade and that made by mother nature. Lauren Becall plays Nora like a wounded bird, wanting to believe in the good of man but willing to scratch the eyes out of any evil-doer that threatens her. She absolutely worships strength in her men. Bogart's McCloud is a survivor, but it's a constant struggle to follow his mind and not his heart. There's a moment when he's branded a coward by the room, and while his words say he'd rather be a live coward than a dead hero, his eyes tell the story of a man who'd like nothing better than to prove everyone wrong. And that's really where the bulk of this movie's strength lies, in performances and the use of non-verbal communication to tell a story far more subtle than the surface suggests. That sublety doesn't extend to Edward G. Robinson's performance, however, as he chews the scenery in his role as the charmingly ruthless and vicious mob boss. In one scene, he tortures Gaye, an old flame of his, with memories of a singing career she once had before booze took over her life and ruined her voice. He offers her a drink in exchange for a song, gently chiding her into singing although she is clearly tortured by the prospect. As she sings, the camera pans around around the room to the faces of the uncomfortable audience being held captive by Rocco. After the ackward performance, Rocco disgustedly denies her a drink, considering her like some lowly animal. It's quite a scene and quite a good movie. In fact, I'd say it was nearly flawless.
  • kenstachnik
    August 26, 2008
    kenstachnik
    Edward G Robinson at his best! Fantastically shot with a scary claustrophobic vibe.

    My second favorite Bogey/Bacall pairing (next to To Have or Have Not)
  • rubystevens
    August 20, 2008
    rubystevens
    rocco is my favorite robinson gangster and this is bogey and bacall's best picture together. a great script, fantastic claustrophobic atmosphere and terrific performances. lionel barrymore is hilarious and claire trevor breaks your heart. i love this movie more than i can ever... read more say!
  • DrZeek
    June 1, 2008
    DrZeek
    James Temple: Are you thieves or what? You want money, is this a robbery?
    Toots: Yeah, Pop, we're gonna steal all your towels.

    For 1948, this would be considered an all-star lineup back in the day, Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall, and Edward G. Robinson star in a thriller direct... read moreed by John Huston. It is set around a hotel in the Florida Keys during a tropical storm. The problem is, a gangster and his cronies are holding people hostage inside. Not as much a film noir as it is a crime thriller, the movie works due to the presence of certain characters and the wonderful dialog throughout.

    Bogart plays Frank McCloud, a war veteran, who goes to the hotel to tell a widow and a father about a man who served under him in the war.

    Once arriving at the hotel, McCloud meets the father, Mr. Temple played by Lionel Barrymore and the widow played by a very good looking Lauren Bacall. This first act provides a good setup for the characters to talk out what they already seem to know about each other, as well as introduce us to some other characters.

    Then the second act kicks into gear when Edward G. Robinson shows up as the famous gangster Johnny Rocco. It is because of Robinson's character that the somewhat slow and talky middle section of this movie works. His character is mean, ruthless, and a bully. Along with his cronies, Rocco's former alcoholic girlfriend, Claire Trevor, is present as well, and Rocco takes almost every opportunity to knock her down.

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

    While this all goes on, Frank goes in and out of putting priority over what is right and how to keep himself alive. Meanwhile, Bacall is also subject to Rocco's torment, as well as Mr. Temple, who is crippled no less.

    The plot thickens as a hurricane kicks up, causing a worried Rocco to get more and more concerned, as he waits to conduct some business from the hotel and then leave for Cuba. There is also a subplot surrounding a police chief and some Indians that weaves its way into the story.

    By the time the third act kicks into gear, blood has been spilled and Frank must go toe to toe with Rocco.

    Along with the wonderful dialog, Huston makes good use of the storm as a great visual motif to essentially work with Rocco's state of mind. I keep mentioning Rocco, and its due to how wonderfully evil and memorable his character is. Sure this is another Bogart and Bacall movie, and they are good, but Robinson really holds the movie together.

    That being said, there are some cool scenes for Bogart to just lay out his cards and show the bad guys what's up.

    A very good movie, bringing two big stars up against each other.

    Frank McCloud: You don't like it, do you Rocco, the storm? Show it your gun, why don't you? If it doesn't stop, shoot it.
  • sanjurosamurai
    April 25, 2008
    sanjurosamurai
    this is a good movie. bogart and robinson deliver performances that are a little too typical, bogart playing his normal existentialist and robinson his normal gangster, but it wasnt a movie about performances. it was a solid story and a good escape into something meant to be si... read moremple and entertaining. overall worth seeing.

View All Key Largo Reviews

Critic Reviews

Dave Kehr
April 8, 2008
Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader

A little windy and rhetorical for my taste, but still one of John Huston's best efforts. Full Review

Variety Staff
April 8, 2008
Variety Staff, Variety

Emphasis is on tension in the telling, and effective use of melodramatic mood has been used to point up the suspense. Full Review

Bosley Crowther
March 25, 2006
Bosley Crowther, New York Times

The script prepared by Mr. Huston and Richard Brooks was too full of words and highly cross-purposed implications to give the action full chance. Full Review

Wesley Lovell
August 15, 2011
Wesley Lovell, Oscar Guy

Trapped in a country estate by an impending storm, a mobster attempts to lay low before escaping from the police, but takes a risky gambit holding Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall hostage. Full Review

Emanuel Levy
June 23, 2011
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

Claire Trevor won a Supporting Oscar for playing the alcoholic mistress of Edward G. Robinson's gangster in John Huston's taut crimer starring Bogart. Full Review

Ian Nathan
April 8, 2008
Ian Nathan, Empire Magazine

Perfeclty tense atmosphere and performances, with the sparks flying between Bogart and Bacall. Full Review

April 8, 2008
Film4

Huston's wayward talent seldom lacked energy. Full Review

April 8, 2008
TV Guide's Movie Guide

Edward G. Robinson deserves special praise. Full Review

Steve Crum
June 7, 2007
Steve Crum, Video-Reviewmaster.com

Great cast headed by Bogart in Huston classic.

Steven D. Greydanus
August 9, 2006
Steven D. Greydanus, Decent Films Guide

Like the similarly sweaty, claustrophobic 12 Angry Men, Key Largo is a rare adaptation of a stage play in which the physical constraints of the stagebound source material are a strength rather than a ... Full Review

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