"Key Largo" was the last of four films starring Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall. They had wed in 1945, after Bogart's divorce from his third wife Mayo Methot had become official. Bacall gives worshipful glances to Bogie throughout; one has to wonder how much of that is her, and how much is her character.
John Huston directed and, as was usually the case, co-wrote the screenplay. Discounting Bogart's cameo in "In This Our Life", Huston directed six films starring Bogart. Three of those were classics: "The Maltese Falcon", "The African Queen", and "The Treasure of the Sierra Madre". The latter film was made the same year as "Key Largo", but is much superior.
Unlike the previous year's "Dark Passage", "Key Largo" was more than a Bogart-Bacall vehicle. Outstanding supporting roles were given to Lionel Barrymore, Claire Trevor and especially Edward G. Robinson. Barrymore was constrained to a wheelchair due to crippling arthritis. His character was probably written with him in mind. Claire Trevor's pathetic, alcoholic moll won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. It was the only Oscar victory of her long career. Robinson again plays a gangster (he just looks the part) but dominates every scene that he is in.
Bogart plays a former war hero who has become a drifter. He pays a visit to the father (Barrymore) and widow (Bacall) of his martyred war buddy. They run a hotel in the Florida keys. Bogart's timing is poor. Not only is a hurricane on the way, but the hotel has been cased out by mobsters, led by Robinson. Much to Barrymore's consternation, he is held hostage by Robinson, along with Bogie and Bacall. Although Huston tries to make the heroism of Bogart's character in doubt, it comes as no surprise that there is a climactic showdown between Bogart and Robinson, with Guess Who coming out on top.
The cast and the director were among Hollywood's finest, but "Key Largo" is not an outstanding film. The problem seems to be with the characters, who are defined but not fully developed. Barrymore's lines are often little more than telling Robinson, "You bad guy!". Huston's ambivalence with Bogart's heroism leads to contradictory speeches. Robinson's stooges, especially the stupid heavy, are closer to caricatures than characters. Bacall is lovely but her character exudes only moral superiority, solidarity with her father-in-law, and restrained lust towards Bogie.
"Key Largo" was based on a play by Maxwell Anderson. It was filmed entirely on a set constructed in Hollywood, with some storm scenes taken from stock footage from another Warner Brothers film. (64/100)
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