Top 50 Actors, #37 - Edward G. Robinson: "Key Largo" (1948)

Movie Stats:
Released 1948 (USA)
American, in English
Director - John Huston
Stars - Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall, Lionel Barrymore, Edward G. Robinson

Plot Summary:
On his way to Key West, Frank McCloud (Bogart) stops in to visit the family of a friend he lost during WWII — Nora Temple (Bacall), the dead man’s widow, and James Temple (Barrymore), his father — and finds they’re all trapped in a hotel with notorious gangster Johnny Rocco (Robinson) & his goons during a hurricane.

Warnings:
Violence.

Bad Stuff:
As is typical of films of this era, the treatment of the Native American characters isn’t exactly culturally sensitive.

I thought it was a bit boring. Lots of pontificating.

I didn’t care for the score, especially not the “romantic” music at the end, which felt out of place.

Good Stuff:
All the acting is top notch. I felt Bogart and Claire Trevor (as Johnny’s dame, Gaye Dawn) were the standouts.

It does a good job of building a tense atmosphere. Most of the action takes place in just one or two rooms, giving the film a claustrophobic feel.

I enjoyed the complexity of the relationship between Rocco and Dawn. It had the whole Madonna/whore vibe. Rocco liked her when he “found” her on the chorus line, young and innocent. Now that his influence has corrupted her, he finds her disgusting. It’s frustrating, but it’s well played by the actors.

About the Performance:
I like Robinson. I felt he did a good job with the nuances of the character. Rocco isn’t likable; I wouldn’t say he has any redeeming qualities. At the same time, he didn’t seem pure evil to me, either. He’s unsavory. Robinson portrays that well through Rocco’s smarm and ego. He made me feel exactly what I was supposed to feel for the character: revulsion.

Other performances of Robinson’s I’ve reviewed: Soylent Green; Double Indemnity.

The Verdict:
I didn’t love it. As mentioned above, a large portion of the film is just McCloud and Rocco metaphorically waving their wangs at each other. I don’t really care for that in movies (or in real life for that matter). It’s pretty ho hum to me. Also, I didn’t find McCloud’s rapid close relationship with the Temples especially believable. However, I did admire the film’s ability to create tense, dramatic moments and there were a lot of great performances. I don’t think I’ll ever watch it again, but I could see why a person might add it to a list of their favorites.

I give it 3.5 stars.