Frank McCloud (Humphrey Bogart) is a war veteran who travels to Key Largo to honor a friend of his who died during the war. He visits those left behind (a father and his daughter played by Lionel Barrymore and Lauren Bacall), who run a hotel in this far corner of Florida.
Despite the quiet season no rooms are said to be available and it doesn’t take long for Frank and the rest of the occupants of the hotel to be stuck as a result of a tropical storm. It turns out it is not the only threat they are facing.
All the hotel guests turn out to be crooks that work for Johny Rocco (Edward G. Robinson), who is staying in the hotel. Rocco is a well-known gangster who had to flee America, but is planning a return and start making money again. When he is recognised by the others they are not allowed to leave anymore and are held prisoner by Rocco. It’s a tense situation, but as a viewer you are treated to excellent acting by both Bogart and Robinson. Robinson is able to flex his acting muscles as a gangster without mercy, a part which he played many times before.
Key Largo is the last movie where Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall starred in together. Bacall doesn’t have a lot of lines and seems to be a part of the set (although a very pretty one), only occasionally giving warm looks to Bogart’s character.
The entire movie was shot on a soundstage, but it is a very convincing one, especially outside of the hotel.
With great acting and an exciting story, Key Largo is a wonderful nail biter that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
Score: 8