Key Largo

Genre: suspense (in black and white)

With: Humphrey Bogart (Frank McCloud), Lionel Barrymore (James Temple), Lauren Bacall (Nora), Edward G. Robinson (Johnny Rocco), Monte Blue (Sheriff Ben Wade) and Claire Trevor (Gaye Dawn)

Director: John Huston

Release: 1948

Studio: Warner Brothers

Rating: PG

MBiS score: 8.3/10

A New Lease on Life… and It Didn’t Even Cost You

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Story-line: when an embittered former major goes to the Florida Keys to meet the family of a fallen comrade, he witnesses strange happenings and threatening behaviour.   

Pluses: formidable acting by Bogey, Bacall, Claire Trevor (an Oscar winner) and Edward G. Robinson (observe him as Gaye sings along… is he smiling or grimacing?), a masterly screenplay by Richard Brooks and John Huston (based on a play by Maxwell Anderson), potent dialogues and sturdy direction.   

Minuses: none.

Comments: over the years, I’ve missed KEY LARGO several times but I hope you won’t wait as long as I did to see it. Nothing in this thriller seems forced or artificial; characters are well drawn, their strengths and weaknesses skilfully exposed. Can today’s movie industry beat this kind of star power and flawless dramatic development? Not often, I would say.

MBiS

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