Key Largo (1948)

Written by barrymost on October 14, 2019

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.