A storm can't be stopped by a gun (Key Largo (DVD))

Name: Sputnik_257

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Product:	Key Largo (DVD)
Date:	18/11/01 (81 review reads)
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By 1948 the name Humphrey Bogart had become well established, as he churned out film after film for his fosterparents, the Warner studios. It was all a question of "what would be the next Bogart?" But many movie-watchers equally paid to see Lauren Bacall. Another New Yorker to have moved West, she here co-stars in her fifth film with Bogart, and they again give an electric dual-performance -- they had married three years earlier, after meeting on screen, despite a twenty-five year age difference.

Key Largo sees Bogart as the all-American hero again, smooth talking, calm and intelligent. This time he's a penniless drifter, stuck like so many Americans at the time without a job after an impressive military tour of duty. As Frank McCloud, he is returning to the home and family of a fallen comrade. Thirty years later, Rambo, in exactly the same situation, would whip out the old knife and sharp sticks, but back here in the forties the American hero has to set a different role model. So we get an edge-of-your-seat crime drama rather than an action adventure. Fine by me.

Frank goes down to the Florida Keys to meet the aforementioned family of a war-time friend: James Temple (Lionel Barrymore) owns a hotel on one of the smaller islands, living with his daughter-in-law Nora (Lauren Bacall), the wife of the dead soldier. Arriving at the hotel he is surprised to find it closed and all but empty, occupied only by a collection of men with a distinct city appearance and a like for the old alcohol. Among them is a woman named Gaye, existing in a constant drunken state, but she probably needs to be to be the mistress of the mysterious boss who stays in his room upstairs. Frank locates the old man and his daughter-in-law, who accept him into their household for the night.

Now we've got the core cast list, we need the big event that pushes them together and challenges them in different ways, right? Right! But anyone who c
omplains that Key Largo is predictable is surely missing the point of watching these classics. The Florida Keys being the Florida Keys, a gigantic hurricane is fast approaching. Once it hits, Frank, his host and hostess, and the mysterious guests, are trapped inside for the night. Adding to this is the local police's efforts to capture two American Indian escaped convicts, whom Mr Temple is sheltering on his property.

It's at this point that the city-dwelling guests reveal themselves -- they're exiled gangsters, back once more to America for a quick counterfeit money deal, before sailing back to Cuba. The man in the upstairs room, now coming out to command the situation, is Jonny Rocco, a well-known gangster of yesteryear, desperate to regain his previous power but struggling to do so in this post-prohibition days.

So Key Largo now watches this mixture of characters as they spend the night at the mercy of the storm. Frank is happy just to get through the ordeal, calmly accepting their position, while Temple and his daughter-in-law are far less pleased about their being held hostage in their own home. But city-boy Rocco is not enjoying sitting out the hurricane, haunted by stories of recent catastrophes. A captured cop in their midst also poses a problem, and before long the police are sniffing around, as the criminals wait and the hostages look for a way out.

The story unfolds nicely -- predictable, of course, but interesting and satisfying. The relationship between Bogart and Bacall is, as expected, fascinating to watch. Widowed but loyal to her deceased husband, Bacall takes a liking to their new friend, but is hesitant to pursue her feelings. Bogart's character is collected and calm throughout, but glows in the eyes of his young admirer, and he can't help feeling protective towards her. The two performances are fantastic, as they nervously exchange glances and briefly hold eye contact throughout thei
r ordeal, putting forward their characters very well, as people worth caring for. Edward G. Robinson is intimidating and stereotypical enough as the crazed ex-mobster, his henchmen all incredibly simplified and typical also, but enjoyable to watch for this reason if nothing else. Lionel Barrymore has a fairly limited role as the crippled old host, but does a fine job of mixing fearless heroism with physical incompetence, and a love and respect for both his sons wife and the new visitor.

John Huston again directs Bogart and co, and again gives us plenty of well-shot close and medium character interaction -- the film is predominantly made up of conversations on a set, as was the style back then, a clear development from stage shows.

Key Largo is an excellent little drama, and another fine film in the Bogart collection of classics. Lauren Bacall does not disappoint, with the role and co-star she was born for. While not intellectually challenging or especially surprising, we are kept interested by the tense atmosphere and the continual clashes of the various uniquely defined characters. A great drama, this is another American-hero film, with Bogart helming what has become another classic.

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