Black & White World

Key Largo (1948)

They say 90% of good directing is casting.  In the case of Key Largo, that is certainly true.  For his post-war story of quiet heroism against the domestic enemy of organized crime, he reunites some of the biggest names from the ‘30s gangster films—Humphrey Bogart, Claire Trevor, and the great Edward G. Robinson.

Key Largo is best remembered for its teaming of Bogart and Bacall, but they fade into the background compared to Robinson, Trevor and the venerable Lionel Barrymore.  Bacall in particular seems uncomfortable in her role.  Her least convincing act is when Nora is called upon to attack Rocco and pummel him, scratch his face, spit on him.  Bacall reacts almost robotically—maybe she just wasn’t comfortable actually attacking Robinson, but that scene rings false.

But that’s one small failure in a film filled with successes.  Of all the great performances here, only Claire Trevor copped an Oscar nomination for her portrayal of the alcoholic moll, which she rightly won.  Robinson was overlooked once again, as was Barrymore.  According to IMDB, Huston was unable to come up with an ending for the film. It was Howard Hawks who offered the final shoot-out on the boat, a scene originally conceived for To Have and Have Not.

1. OMG! a Bogie movie and you gave it 4.5 stars!

   Seriously, Bogart, Edward G, Lauren Bacall, Claire Trevor and the awesome Lionel Barrymore all directed by JOHN HUSTON. It doesn’t get any better. This is what film making is all about and why I keep watching movies. Key Largo is a gem.

   Posted by  on  06/08  at  08:24 PM

2. I don’t dislike Bogie so much that he ruins movies for me.  Casablanca, for example, that’s one I love.  I just don’t actively seek out his movies, and he’s rarely the best thing in the movie for me.  Here, for example, he is way overshadowed by the mighty Eddie G and by Claire Trevor.

   Posted by  on  06/08  at  09:14 PM
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