Key Largo

Synopsis: Frank McCloud travels to a run-down hotel on Key Largo to honor the memory of a friend who died bravely in his unit during WW II. His friend's widow, Nora Temple, and wheelchair bound father, James Temple manage the hotel and receive him warmly, but the three of them soon find themselves virtual prisoners when the hotel is taken over by a mob of gangsters led by Johnny Rocco who hole up there to await the passing of a hurricane. Mr. Temple strongly reviles Rocco but due to his infirmities can only confront him verbally. Having become disillusioned by the violence of war, Frank is reluctant to act, but Rocco's demeaning treatment of his alcoholic moll, Gaye Dawn, and his complicity in the deaths of some innocent Seminole Indians and a deputy sheriff start to motivate McCloud to overcome his Hamlet-like inaction.
Genre: Action, Crime, Drama
Director(s): John Huston
Production: Warner Bros. Pictures
  Won 1 Oscar. Another 1 nomination.
 
IMDB:
7.9
Rotten Tomatoes:
97%
NOT RATED
Year:
1948
100 min
1,481 Views


- Hello, Eddie.

- Hello, Ben.

What gives?

We're looking for a couple

of Indians broke out of jail.

Young bucks in fancy shirts.

If you see anything of them,

phone my office at Palm Grove.

Those Indians must be from around here.

They always head for home.

Home being Key Largo.

Want something, Jack?

Mr. Temple around?

He ain't here. Hotel is closed.

When will he be back?

I don't know.

Have a beer?

- The bar is closed.

- That's right.

I told you, didn't I?

Hotel's closed.

In the summer,

everything's closed.

Give him a drink.

Give him a drink!

You heard me!

Give him a drink!

You said beer?

Thank you.

Think nothing of it.

Bargain Lass on the outside

is running very fast and very hard.

Come on, Lady Bountiful.

Come on, Lady Bountiful!

Come on!

How's that for picking them?

Can I pick them or can't I?

That's him.

I'll take it up.

If he wants you,

he'll send for you.

I like Fancy Free.

Carrying 118 pounds.

That's a lot of weight.

What do you think?

Fancy Free.

- You play the ponies?

- No.

- Why not?

- I haven't the money.

Angel, another beer

for the gentleman.

I play the long shots.

Betting on a favorite,

what do you win?

When a horse comes in for me,

he pays plenty.

Take Fancy Free:

"Morning Line, 12- 1. "

That's ridiculous.

He should be 4- 1, even less.

Look at that breeding.

"By Chance Play, out of

Misconstrue by Omaha. "

He hasn't won in 11 starts, true.

But he's been twice on the money...

...and today he's running a $3000

claiming race. Ought to be a cinch!

What's your name?

McCloud. Frank.

By John, out of Helen.

I'm Miss Dawn.

Miss Gaye Dawn.

You. He wants you.

Please excuse me.

Who's that?

- I don't know.

- What's he want?

Old man Temple.

Look, mister, if you're

thinking of putting up here...

...the hotel's closed.

- Won't be open for another month.

- Why are you here?

- We're guests.

- But you said...

We're here by special arrangement.

I don't plan to stay.

I just wanna see Mr. Temple.

Oh, well, why didn't you say so?

He's out by the boathouse.

Mr. Temple?

My name's McCloud.

Frank McCloud.

McCloud, huh?

Not Major McCloud?

Yes, sir.

Nora!

Nora! Nora!

Come here!

When did you get here?

A few minutes ago.

I'm on my way to Key West.

Did you come on the bus?

I saw it stop.

Hey, Nora!

Hurry up!

Come here!

Look who's here!

This is George's wife.

This is Major Frank McCloud.

How do you do?

Your husband and I were

in the same outfit overseas.

As if she didn't know.

I wrote you a letter, major,

to St. Louis.

It was sent on to Portland, St. Paul

and Memphis before it came back.

- Ever been down here before?

- No, sir.

George was right.

The Keys are different than

anything I've seen. And hotter.

Don't look for it to get

any cooler before November.

The thermometer will go

down to about 100.

The sand flies and mosquitoes

will disappear.

It'll be right livable for about

three months on the Keys.

Except for tourists.

- That Black Caesar's Rock?

- How'd you know?

For one who's never been here,

I know a lot about these Keys.

They were a favorite subject

with George.

He used to dig for pirate gold

right over there.

He never lost hope of finding

Blackbeard's own treasure.

He must've dug 10,000 holes.

- Ever find anything?

- Oh, sure.

Salt water, every time.

How long will you be with us?

- An hour or so.

- An hour?

You can spare more time than that.

We got a lot to talk about.

- I'll talk as long as you like.

- Then you'll stay overnight.

He can have George's room.

Yes, Dad.

- May I help you?

- If you will.

Afternoon, Mrs. Temple.

Mr. Temple.

Any news of the Osceola brothers?

Oh, I'm sorry, Ben.

I want you to meet my son's

commanding officer, Major McCloud.

- How do you do?

- Officer Ben Wade. Sawyer.

We'd like to have a look around.

You won't find those Indians,

because they ain't here.

Maybe they're in the

mangrove swamps. Maybe.

Or maybe if you wanna go wading,

you might find them.

But if I was you,

I'd save myself the trouble.

No doubt they'll give

themselves up before morning.

They sure enough ought to.

That's a fact, Mr. Temple.

The longer they stay at large,

the tougher it'll be on them.

Fool Indians. 30 days to do

and they bust out.

Thirty days in jail for an Indian...

...is like 30 years for somebody else.

Anyway, I'd like to have

a look around.

Clyde, if Mr. Temple says

they ain't here, they ain't.

His word's good enough for me.

Sorry to bother you.

Come on, Clyde.

Those two brothers and my boy, George,

grew up together.

There's no harm in them.

They just went to Palm Grove

and got a little snootful...

...and started to take Florida

back for the Indians.

Came mighty near succeeding too.

I sent word for them to

come in and give themselves up.

Not that I'm supposed to know where

they are, you understand.

Major, I want you to meet Mr...

- Bass.

- Garcia.

We've met.

My son's commanding officer overseas.

They were in the

Italian campaign together.

From Salerno to Cassino.

My boy, George, was killed

in Cassino.

What's going on here?

Nothing, Mr. Temple.

What's the matter with her?

- Nora? Nora!

- Yes, Father.

What ails that girl? She hurt?

Case of one too many, that's all.

Look here! If you people can't

behave yourselves, you gotta leave.

What did you hit her for?

I'll let you in on something.

She's a lush.

After she bends the elbow a few times,

she sees things:

Rats, roaches, snakes,

bats, you know.

A sock in the kisser is the only

thing that'll bring her out of it.

Your room's ready, major.

How long have they been here?

That one, Curly, and the woman

showed up first.

Dad Temple told them

we were closed...

...but he offered to rent

the whole hotel for a week.

It was so much money,

Dad couldn't turn it down.

Mr. Brown and the others arrived

in that boat four days ago.

Which one is Brown?

He's in number 11.

Never comes out except at night.

What's he like?

He's a lady- killer,

or thinks so.

Rich, I guess. The others jump

when he lifts a finger.

Out of season in this heat.

Why would they decide

to sit down on Key Largo?

They'll be leaving here

tonight or tomorrow.

Major?

Were you with George when he died?

Was he in much pain?

He never knew what hit him.

I was afraid he might have suffered.

Come down to Dad's room

when you're ready.

Excuse me.

Staying the night, huh?

I'm Curly Hoff.

I heard how you were with

old man Temple's son in Italy.

The kid got it?

Too bad.

I hope you didn't take offense

how we handled you.

You caught Toots and me

at a bad time.

We were ready to bite

anybody's head off.

Especially a certain blond's.

Five of us come down here

for the deep- sea fishing.

All the way from Milwaukee.

More than a year, we'd been planning

to come here and fish our brains out.

So what happens?

One guy brings a blond.

And after we all swore

up and down, no dames!

But he's gotta bring her, this guy.

If she isn't drunk and crying,

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Richard Brooks

Richard Brooks (May 18, 1912 – March 11, 1992) was an American screenwriter, film director, novelist and film producer. Nominated for eight Oscars in his career, he was best known for Blackboard Jungle (1955), Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958) Elmer Gantry (1960; for which he won the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay), In Cold Blood (1967) and Looking for Mr. Goodbar (1977). more…

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