The Osceola Brother that had the most lines was portrayed by actor Jay Silverheels. The year after "Key Largo" was released, Jay Silverheels became a television legend for his iconic role as Tonto, faithful Indian companion of the Lone Ranger. He was Tonto for 8 seasons and over 200 episodes of "The Lone Ranger". Hi-Ho Silver!!!
Lionel Barrymore (great-uncle of Drew Barrymore, by the way) is perhaps best known to modern audiences as Mr. Potter in _It's a Wonderful Life._ Edward G. Robinson had a fairly varied career--another gangster in _Little Caesar,_ insurance investigator Keys in _Double Indemnity,_ wandering husbands in _Scarlet Street_ and _The Woman in the Window,_ and a gangster who hides out in a monastery in _Brother Orchid._ Another play to movie you might like is Bogart's first big film break, _The Petrified Forest,_ with Leslie Howard and Bette Davis. Edit: You covered some of this at the end, but I comment as I go.
"When your head says one thing and your whole life says another, your head always loses." Fun Fact; In honor of this film, the real Key Largo hosts a Humphrey Bogart film festival every year. Location Location Fact: While most of the film was shot in Los Angeles, some exterior shots were filmed at the Caribbean Club at Mile Marker 105 on US 1. While the property is still there, much of the old exterior was destroyed in a pair of fires. Good Friemenies Fact: Although they played on-screen enemies, off-screen Humphrey Bogart and Edward G. Robinson treated each other with great respect. Bogart insisted Robinson be treated like a major star, and he would not come to the set until Robinson was ready. Often, he would go to Robinson's trailer to personally escort him to the set. Method Director Fact: In a classic case of a director being emotionally manipulative, John Huston did not inform Claire Trevor about when she was to perform her song solo until the very day it was shot. Trevor was not a trained singer, and she had not even rehearsed the song yet. She also felt very intimidated that she had to perform the song for the A-list actors seated directly in front of her. The result was a hesitant, nervous, uncomfortable rendition--exactly the feeling Huston was hoping to get.
Absolutely great film. Incredibly talented cast. It was a great choice on your part to watch and to react to this film. FYI Lauren Bacall went on to become Bogarts wife.
"This is church-canceling weather!" As a fellow Floridian, I know exactly what someone means when they say this! Thanks for the chuckle - and the great reaction. I love these old Bogart movies.
The day they shot the scene where Gay sings her song John Huston told Claire Trevor they were going to shoot another scene so she would really sing the song unprepared and her nervousness and trepidation in singing were real. She said that singing unprepared was bad enough but singing unprepared to Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall, Lionel Barrymore, and Edward G. Robinson made it even worse!
🎶 Aruba, Jamaica, ooh, I wanna take ya/ Bermuda, Bahama, come on pretty mama/ Key Largo, Montego, baby, why don't we go- Jamaica, off the Florida Keys/ There's a place called Kokomo/ That's where you wanna go to get away from it all And bodies in the sand, tropical drink melting in your hand/ We'll be falling in love to the rhythm of a/ Steel drum band, down in Kokomo. 🎶
"Key Largo" is a triumph for all involved and in every way a film can be. The performance level is breathtakingly high. Claire Trevor and the legendary Lionel Barrymore are particular standouts. When Barrymore's character begins praying for the hurricane to kill them all as long as it kills Robinson's character I get gooseflesh every time.
It's a great film for sure, but Huston's output as a director is so varied and compelling that it's almost counterproductive to single out any one film as his "greatest." From his first movie (The Maltese Falcon, 1941) to his last (The Dead, 1987), he turned out a body of work that contains a fair number of masterpieces and near-masterpieces. (The Man Who Would Be King is one of the most rousing, and ultimately emotionally overwhelming, adventure movies ever.) Even Huston's relative clunkers (e.g. the lugubrious Moby Dick, Night of the Iguana, and Under the Volcano) are intriguing and worth watching. And as an actor, in his portrayal of Noah Cross in Chinatown, John Huston created one of the most chilling and utterly evil characters in all cinema.
Key Largo is a long-time favorite of mine, and I've been wondering when someone would post a reaction video. You seem to be the first! I've watched this movie perhaps a dozen times over the last 30 or 40 years (!)--most recently just a couple of weeks ago--and it really stands the test of time. (Of course, any film directed by John Huston--pronounced Houston, like the city--is well worth multiple viewings.) It's my favorite of Bogart's four films with Bacall, in part because she plays against type; indeed, both Bogart and Bacall give subtle, understated performances of some depth, and the tension smolders as the story progresses. Without drawing undue attention to Frank McCloud's backstory, the film subtly hints that he has not come through the war psychologically unscathed and, in his alone-ness/loneliness, he is seeking for a way to readjust to "normal life" in postwar America. The war may be over, but Johnny Rocco is an unwelcome reminder, in the here-and-now, of what Frank was fighting against during the war, while Mr. Temple and Nora provide a hopeful vision of what postwar American life can be. In this context, Key Largo is very much of the same post-WWII sub-genre as The Best Years of Our Lives (1946). For viewers who know Lionel Barrymore only as Mr. Potter in It's a Wonderful Life, his performance here as a completely different type of character may come as a revelation. Edward G. Robinson makes a wonderfully snarling villain, but his larger-than-life character too is multi-dimensional: his dangerous edge, bubbling just below the surface, is evident in every scene, but his bravado hides his cowardice, until he cracks under the pressure of the storm and Frank's quiet but determined resistance. (Incidentally, although Robinson was often typecast as a gangster especially early in his career, in real life he was a highly cultured and soft-spoken gentleman. To see Robinson in a completely different role in an equally compelling noir-ish thriller, watch The Stranger [1946], starring and directed by Orson Welles.)
Bogie and Robinson made 5 films together, Claire Trevor was also in 1 other with them the 1937 "The Amazing Dr. Clitterhouse". "Bullets and Ballots" is a really good one and "Kid Galahad".Warner Bros. cornered the market on gangster films, they made 112 of them with Bogart, Robinson and/or Cagney. Someone wrote a book about them called "Warners Wiseguys".
A very good film so stacked with some of the most important performers in the noir genre with Bogie, Edward G. Robinson and Claire Trevor in the cast. All three were stars before the evolution of that particular art form but they all appeared in several of the seminal pictures of noir. Some of the best of each (aside from Maltese Falcon which I know you've already seen) For Bogart-In a Lonely Place, High Sierra and The Harder They Fall. For EGR-Scarlet Street, The Woman in the Window (both with another Queen of noir-Joan Bennett) and Night Has a Thousand Eyes. For Claire-Murder, My Sweet, Born to Kill and Raw Deal. Another great Bogart and Bacall movie to track down is Dark Passage. It's another noir with a great supporting performance by Agnes Moorehead.
Another great movie with Lionel Barrymore is a personl favorite… “You Can’t Take It With You.” I honestly think you’d love it. It’s fun and meaningful and sweet and poignant and those sorts of films seem to resonate with you. I mean, it’s a Frank Capra movie, that says it all.
Thanks for reacting to this movie. This was one of my father's favorite films. We'd actually quote lines from this movie from time to time. Bogart enjoyed sailing and was very knowledgeable regarding things like mooring and piloting boats.
Surprisingly this is one I've never seen but some of the lines I recognized. I really liked your reaction to this one and really appreciate your perspective and effort.
this was a good period in bogarts career. you have this one, "key largo," (1948) and 1947s "dark passage." both fun and interesting films. you have the classic film noir "the big sleep" from 1946 where bogie plays the privatre-eye phillip marlow. in 1950 you have "in a lonely place' and 1954's "the caine mutiny" both recieving high acclaim. in 1948 you've got "the treasure of the sierra madre" and "the african queen" (1950) two bona filde tour-de-force performances and films. the latter earning bogie his only oscar. and in the mix are the likes of "beat the devil," "we're no angels," "sabrina" and "the desperate hours." all movies mentioned are worth a look. ole bogie made some remarkable films. he and jimmy stewart are two of my favorite actors. but they never made a film together. that sux! thanks for the video.
Dark Passage is my favourite Bogie Bacall Collab. Always struck me as a mix of their three other and more well known films even though Key came after it. Tight cast, mostly one location, a mystery, some behind the camera ingenuity.
@@kaykutcher2103 ... too bad we can't talk more openly about the plots of these films for fear of tainting the reactors fore-knowledge of the films. (most reactors want no knowledge of a film before they watch it.) but one aspect of "dark passage" always intrigued me. bogart made two films, about 10 years apart, that both use plastic surgery as major plot points. "dead end" (1937) and "dark passage" (1947). what intrigues me is that most people, like me, think of plastic surgery as a rather recent medical reality. its hard to believe it was possible way back in 1947 much less 1937. "dark passage" is real fun, interesting film but i still like bogie and bacall's first film together in "to have and have not" (1945) best. "you know how to whistle don't you? just put your lips together and blow." if that's not a double entendre nothing is.
@@cjmacq-vg8um Personally I never got the spoiler thing. It could be because my country is always late to the party and especially nowadays with social media the word travels fast anyway. I also believe that if a twist is all your film has to offer then it's probably not worth much. But if people ask I'll play ball.
@@kaykutcher2103... i think it would be cool if reactors would watch the trailors of the films they're about to watch. before watching a film most people know about a film at least what the trailor tells them. even if i saw a film on tv the tv guide would offer me a synopsis of the film. and a movie rental would give you the plot of film right on the box. there's very few films i've seen where i knew nothing about the film before i watched it. i think having fore knowledge of a film can increase the enjoyment of the film. just out of curiosity what country do you call home?
The movie to watch is The Treasure Of Sierra Madre (1948) directed by John Huston and starring his father Walter Huston (who won best supporting actor for his role). Of course Humphrey Borgart gets top bill. Now here's a movie to watch!!! Also, the director has a cameo in the beginning. See if you can spot him.
Another great Humphrey Bogart movie I'd recommend checking out is The Petrified Forest from 1936. It was one of his earliest film roles, and one that really put him on the map as an up and coming star. Another movie I'd love to see you react to is The Adventures of Robin Hood from 1938. Probably one of the greatest action/adventure movies of all time, with incredible stunts, production design and an iconic score. For me, any other adaptation of the Robin Hood story is measured against this one...and it sets the bar extremely high.
One of the Osceola Brothers is played by Jay Silverheels, best remembered as Tonto on the 1950s TV series "The Lone Ranger". According to one source the boat scenes were filmed on stage 21 at Warner Brothers. I would question that as I think the only stage at Warners that can be flooded for water scenes is number 16, the largest on the lot, and one of the largest in Hollywood. Some other worthwhile Lionel Barrymore films would be "Grand Hotel", "You Can't Take It With You", and "Captains Courageous".
I was in Key Largo last year and there's a sign along the main road for the hotel where part of the movie was shot (though it's clearly mostly a set). Also on Key Largo is the original African Queen boat from that film.
Thanks, I've been hoping someone would react to this movie. The bar/hotel where this takes place is still open, minus the hotel part that burned and was removed from the structure, as the Caribbean Club.
There is a song that was released in 1982 called "Key Largo" By Bertie Higgins. It pays homage to this movie and was a huge hit. It's really good give it a listen. Every movie Bogie & Bacall made together is a Classic. My favorite is "The Big Sleep".
I think “It’s A Wonderful Life” is the only villain role I’ve seen Lionel Barrymore in. I’ve seen several with him as a kind, if gruff, fatherly/grandfatherly figure. He’s always great!
@@CasualNerdReactions I'm sorry I can't find your Titanic reaction. I watched some of it and stopped but I was planning to finish it but I can't find it.
@@adriennerobinson8984 Sorry to say it got blocked again. I'm working on a new edit now, but once it's uploaded I'm gonna hold it to make sure the next time I release it is the last time. Look for it in mid-September.
Claire Trevor got an Oscar nod for her role. Can’t recall if she won it? She nailed the tragedy and complexity of her character. Huston’s movies always make every character interesting, even the bit parts seem to have curious back stories.
Great reaction Chris. I have been suggesting this film to other RU-vid reactors for years. This is one of my favorite classic films, and my favorite among the Bogey and Bacall films. I'm glad a Florida boy did the reaction. John Huston is an amazing director. You may be more familiar with his daughter Anjelica Huston who famously portrayed Morticia Addams in the Addams Family films alongside Raul Julia as Gomez Addams. Those films are definitely worth a watch if you haven't already seen them. I also like the song by Bertie Higgins that was inspired by this film. I think I might still have the 45 single downstairs in the basement. Good memories for sure. Thanks for sharing and taking me back to better times and happier days. Take care until next time.
Huston directed his daughter Anjelica in his final film, the intimate and moving The Dead--an adaptation of James Joyce's short story of the same name (the final story in Dubliners). A fitting conclusion indeed for a great filmmaker who, forty years earlier, had directed his father, Walter Huston, in The Treasure of the Sierra Madre.
There's a load of Edward G Robinson movies right here on RU-vid for free. In particular I recommend you react to "The Woman in the Window", "Scarlet Street", "The Whole Town's Talking", and "The Stranger" with Orson Welles.
I haven't seen this movie in almost 30 years, so I am looking forward to seeing it with you! Say, I have a question: will you review the 1978 Battlestar Galactica TV show when you finish the new one (which I HATE). If so, feel free to skip Galactica 1980 except the very last episode
@@CasualNerdReactions To Have and Hsvr Not was their first and best. She was 19 and he was 44. It was before they were married. The other which makes 4 is shot in San Francisco is Dark Passage. 1. To Have and Have Not 2. The Big Sleep 3. Dark Passage 4. Keu Largo
Great film, but the the gun duel scene has always seemed the one wobbly bit, though. Clearly the film needs to show Frank's cynicism, disenchantment, whatever... but the backing down the way he did never really rang true. After the bold dressing down he gave Rocco just a bit earlier, it's just incomprehensible that Frank doesn't realize the gun isn't loaded. He's too smart for that, he'd know Rocco would never dream of playing an unrigged game. I suppose the argument could be made that he feigned cowardice to spare the group... but I'm not entirely buying that either. Just an awkward narrative glitch needed to set up his ultimate redemption later.
It is a pretty decent Bogie movie for the most part but the ending I thought was really lame (laughably bad by modern standards). It certainly did not have the oomph you'd expect to see after investing an hour and a half waiting for a big payoff. It was almost like they didn't know how to end it so when their budget finally ran out they decided let's just have the protagonist kill all the criminals on the boat somehow and we'll end it that way. That is how much thought seems to have gone into it. And I was very disappointed. But if you are looking for a Humphrey Bogart movie that like CASABLANCA does have a satisfying ending and has only gotten better with age, I recommend my #1 favorite, THE AFRICAN QUEEN, as his unforgettable portrayal of riverboat captain Charley Allnut in that movie is what earned him his one and only Oscar.
@@creech54 Agreed. It's an extraordinarily bad take. But I take comfort that the term "laughably bad by modern standards" just may be the greatest compliment the film could be given!
