Key Largo (1948)

User Rating:

8.0/10   

Director:

John Huston

Writers:

Maxwell Anderson (play)
Richard Brooks (writer) ...
(more)

Release Date:

31 July 1948 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Film-Noir | Thriller

Tagline:

A storm of fear and fury in the sizzling Florida Keys !

Plot:

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

Plot Keywords:

Hotel | Hurricane | Gangster | Wheelchair | Moll

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 1 nomination

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
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Beulah Archuletta	...	Passenger on Bus (uncredited)
Luther Crockett	...	Ziggy's henchman #1 (uncredited)
Pat Flaherty	...	The traveler (uncredited)
Felipa Gómez	...	Old Indian woman (uncredited)
Jerry Jerome	...	Ziggy's henchman #2 (uncredited)
John Litel	...	Dispatcher (uncredited)
Alberto Morin	...	Skipper of Rocco's boat (uncredited)
John Phillips	...	Ziggy's henchman #3 (uncredited)
Rodd Redwing	...	John Osceola (uncredited)
Jay Silverheels	...	Tom Osceola (uncredited)
Joe P. Smith	...	Bus Driver (uncredited)

Directed by
John Huston

Writing credits
Maxwell Anderson		(play)
Richard Brooks		(writer) and
John Huston		(writer)

Produced by
Jerry Wald	....	producer

Original Music by
Max Steiner

Cinematography by
Karl Freund		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Rudi Fehr

Art Direction by
Leo K. Kuter

Set Decoration by
Fred M. MacLean

Makeup Department
Perc Westmore	....	makeup artist
Betty Delmont	....	hair stylist (uncredited)

Production Management
Chuck Hansen	....	production manager (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Arthur Lueker	....	assistant director (uncredited)

Sound Department
Dolph Thomas	....	sound

Special Effects by
Robert Burks	....	special effects
William C. McGann	....	special effects director (as William McGann)

Stunts
Allen Pomeroy	....	stunt coordinator (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Everett Dexter	....	grip (uncredited)
Ellsworth Fredericks	....	camera operator (uncredited)
Mac Julian	....	still photographer (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Leah Rhodes	....	wardrobe

Music Department
Murray Cutter	....	orchestrator

Other crew
Jean Baker	....	script supervisor (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Warner Bros. Pictures

Distributors

• Warner Bros. Pictures (1948) (USA) (theatrical)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (1997) (USA) (DVD)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (1997) (USA) (VHS)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (1998) (USA) (DVD)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (1998) (USA) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (2000) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2000) (USA) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (2005) (USA) (DVD)
• Key Video (????) (USA) (VHS)
• Warner Bros. (1950) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• Warner Home Video (2006) (USA) (DVD)

Runtime:

100 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Certification:

Iceland:12 | Sweden:15 | West Germany:16 (nf) | South Korea:15 (2003) | Australia:G (cable rating) | Australia:PG (original rating) | Canada:PG (video rating) | Finland:K-16 | USA:Approved (PCA #12932)

Filming Locations:

Florida Keys, Florida, USA

Company:

Warner Bros. Pictures

Trivia:

The film version of "Key Largo" has very little to do with Maxwell Anderson's original play. All the characters in the play had their names changed in the film version. This was very unusual for a play written by Anderson, who was then one of the most highly regarded American playwrights, and whose best-known plays had, on the whole, been filmed faithfully.

Goofs:

Plot holes: Near the end the sheriff tells Mr. Temple, Nora and Gaye that the state police have picked up Ziggy and his henchmen as they were about to cross the border into Georgia. It's about 1000 miles from the Keys to the Florida-Georgia border. As Ziggy and his men drove away not long before Rocco and his men left on the boat, and Frank had shot Rocco and his men only about 12 miles off shore, it would not have been possible for Ziggy and his men to reach the border of Georgia by car in so short a time.

Quotes:

James Temple: Are you thieves or what? You want money, is this a robbery?
Toots: Yeah, Pop, we're gonna steal all your towels.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Biography: The Barrymores" (2004)

Soundtrack:

Moanin' Low

Brilliant

Obviously someone below couldn't tell a well directed, highly regarded classic film the likes of Key Largo from a Turkey Sandwich - but thanks for the remedial effort nonetheless.

This movie doesn't get the attention of a Casablanca or a Maltese Falcon, but it's definitely one to see - and not just for the giants on the screen. The build up of tension between the main characters is set well against the backdrop of the impending storm seemingly threatening to cave their hotel in literally and figuratively. Frank's character arc from jaded passiveness to the restrained heroism he is inescapably drawn towards has been seen in other Bogie characters, but usually those guys were either willing participants on the trigger end of their guns, or they were fulfilling their own agendas as well. However Frank McCloud has no ulterior motives. Here, there is a refreshing change from the usual Bogie-isms; Frank doesnt engage in any verbal bravado with Rocco, there are no confident smirks on his face, or promises to 'get even' later.

As for Barrymore, he was just simply an acting genius. Look no further than the scene with him getting out of his wheelchair in a futile attempt to fight Rocco as proof. Fantastic. E.G. Robinson delivers his vitriol so well on-screen, you cant help but hate his guts and wait for his come-uppance. Both Barrymore and EGR were great at delivering speeches - extended lines of dialogue while 'flying solo' - you can almost here the room go quiet as they worked the script. Lauren Bacall's chemistry with her Husband was so natural and unforced, even the scenes with no dialogue show how much they were in love - albeit true she doesnt exactly carry the workload in this one.

Some of the scenes with the Indians seem a little odd, but it still works in the context of the entire movie. Don't overlook this great film!