Humphrey Bogart’s Hollywood career boasts plenty of iconic performances in classic films like The Big Sleep and The African Queen, but one of his best movies actually gives him less to say while surrounding his character with other talented players.

From 1948, director John Huston’s Key Largo puts a WWII veteran, a seaside hotel owner and his recently widowed daughter, a former nightclub singer (and current lush), and some gangsters led by the infamous ‘Johnny Rocco’ into a pressure-cooker of a situation as they all become trapped by a hurricane bearing down on the island. Edward G. Robinson, Lauren Bacall, and Lionel Barrymore each turn in fine performances and frequently share as much screentime as Bogart.

While light on plot, this story abounds in atmosphere and visual detail, not to mention some great writing; Robinson’s ‘Rocco’ gets in a few menacing speeches as he threatens the civilians unlucky enough to wind up stuck with him for the night. Even the character actors – Harry Lewis, Thomas Gomez, Dan Seymour – cast as mobster underlings make an impression with minimal dialogue. 

At the moment, Key Largo isn’t available to stream with any paid subscription service, but you can get a copy on DVD from NPL. If you enjoy classic films, definitely give this a look…you just might find you like your noir with a tropical vibe.