Discuss Key Largo

This is one of my favorite movies, and it's brilliant all the way around. The cast is magnificent, and John Huston was a masterful director. So, whose performance in this film do you think was the most commendable, and for what reason(s)? Personally, I think the honor goes to either Lionel Barrymore, because he was just so wonderfully feisty, and he did an amazing job with a small, but nonetheless important, part, but also because he's just one of my top favorite actors, or possibly Claire Trevor, because her part was a little odd, and very interesting, and she was so convincing it won her the Best Supporting Actress that year! What do you think?

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I haven't seen this in at least a few years, therefore at this point am pretty fuzzy where significant recall is concerned.

Having said that, when I think of this movie, the three people who I always think of first, in fact instantaneously, are (more or less equally) Trevor, Bacall, and Robinson, probably because each has such a great showcase part that is so memorable and vivid. I'm able to readily "see" each of those performers, and their corresponding character, when I think of this movie.

Which definitely by no means should suggest that I don't likewise think similarly highly of the other stars and supporting players involved, as everyone does a terrific job in this superb film.

Thanks so much for joining this discussion as well!

Everyone is almost equally terrific, as you said, and I agree that Robinson's part is especially vivid. I think it's probably the first and only thing I've seen Bacall in so far. Definitely need to seek out more of her films.

I'd choose Claire Trevor, who I saw for the first time, as Dallas, in " Stagecoach (1939)" with John Wayne.

By the way,if you like Humphrey Bogart and would like to see more of Lauren Bacall, then you should watch these three previous movies, where they also starred together:

"To Have and Have Not (1944)", "The Big Sleep (1946)", and "Dark Passage (1947)".


Side notes:

• It always bothered me how, as revenge for the death of his deputy, the Osceola'brothers were so easily killed by the inept sheriff.

Edward Robinson (as Johnny Rocco) played a different role - not a gangster - in " The Woman in the Window (1944)".

Those are excellent recommendations that wonder made. (My overall fave of the three mentioned Bogie-Bacall pairings is The Big Sleep.)

If you'd like to see more of Claire Trevor - and to meanwhile also get the great Basil Rathbone as part of the deal - I'm sure you'll enjoy 1942's Crossroads.

Even with such heavyweight co-stars firing on all cylinders, Claire Trevor is miraculous in this film. One of the finest 'Supporting Actress'-winning performances I have seen. I have only seen Trevor in a handful of films but she was always wonderful in them. Particularly notable is another role opposite Bogart - in Dead End (1937), in which she has only a single scene but is absolutely heartbreaking.

@wonder2wonder Thanks for the recommendations, I will definitely try to see more Bogart/Bacall pairings. And yes, Claire Trevor is really amazing. I have yet to see Stagecoach, though.

@genplant29 I think I saw Crossroads a while back. It was quite interesting, but I happened to see it before I really knew who Claire Trevor was.

@rudely_murray It looks like everyone of this discussion is commending Claire Trevor's performance! And why not? I agree that she was great in that. And thanks, I'll have to look up Dead End.

I just love Claire Trevor and Robinson in this one. My eyes are glued on them every time on screen. Just amazing performances. I really enjoy Trevor in film noirs Raw Deal https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/26167-raw-deal?language=en-US and Murder My Sweet https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/1834-murder-my-sweet?language=en-US Bogie and Bacall seem comfortable and maybe a bit too so. Barrymore is quite good.

Yes indeed, both Robinson and Trevor are excellent! Murder My Sweet sounds fantastic; just added it to my watchlist, so thanks for the recommendation! Perhaps you're right about Bogie and Bacall, I think they were already married at the time they filmed this. Nonetheless, I think they are a great on-screen team, and I enjoy them both immensely. Ah, and Lionel Barrymore is still a favorite at the top of my list.

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