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1948
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KEY
LARGO
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STARRING:HUMPHREY
BOGART,EDWARD G.ROBINSON,LAUREN BACALL, LIONEL BARRYMORE,MONTE
BLUE,THOMAS GOMEZ,WILLIAM HAADE,MARC LAWRENCE,HARRY LEWIS,JOHN
RODNEY,DAN SEYMOUR,CLAIRE TREVOR
BASED
ON THE PLAY BY MAXWELL ANDERSON
SCREENPLAY
BY RICHARD BROOKS & JOHN HUSTON
PRODUCED
BY JERRY WALD
DIRECTED
BY JOHN HUSTON
GENRE:CRIME/DRAMA/FILM-NOIR/THRILLER
RATED:AUSTRALIA:G/UK:NA/USA:APPROVED
RUNNING
TIME:100 MIN
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Although
Key Largo is based on Maxwell Anderson's play, it is John Huston's
baby all the way. Changing character names, location, and just about
everything else, Huston - along with screenwriter Richard Brooks -
has reshaped the films source material into a dialogue heavy, multi-character
film-noir which the talented filmmaker does oh so well.
As the title indicates, the film is set in Key Largo, a small
island amongst the Florida Keys. Humphrey Bogart stars as Frank McCloud,
a WWII veteran visiting the family of a now deceased soldier who was
under his command. The soldier's father is Jo Temple, played by a
fantastically crabby Lionel Barrymore; his widow is Nora, played by
Lauren Bacall in her forth and final collaboration with her husband,
Bogart, and both play there roles very well: Bogart tones it down
and delivers a surprisingly reserved turn; as expected, Bacall plays
off him very well, her steel eyes and lush looks the perfect counter
to Bogart's hard demeanour.
The Temple's own an establishment named - easily enough - Hotel Largo,
which has been rented out for the week by exiled gangster Johnny Rocco,
played by Edward G. Robinson who steals the movie with his permanent
grimace, heavy walk and intimidating presence. Backed by his goons,
Rocco places fear in those around him, and to make matters worse he
has taken a shining to Nora and just loves to see her squirm as he
whispers vulgar obscenities in her ear. Equally impressive is Claire
Trevor in her Oscar wining role as Rocco's ex-singer / alcoholic mole,
who is constantly humiliated by Rocco's taunts and come downs.
As Rocco and his boys take Frank and the Temple's hostage a large
hurricane hits the Keys. With no where to run, mind games begin to
develop between the hostages and their abductors. This leads to heavy
ramifications as innocent people are killed. To enhance the mood,
composer Max Steiger contributes with an occasionally pompous yet
otherwise solid score. Karl Freund chips in with sharp black and white
photography.
The film ends with a thrilling shoot out on a boat headed to Cuba.
Surprisingly, the whole sequence had nothing to do with Anderson's
play, yet it works because Huston is at the helm. Makes me wonder
why they gave credit to Anderson at all. |
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