"When your head says one thing and your whole life says another, your head always loses."
John Huston directed this film-noir masterpiece with an incredible cast which included the legendary Humphrey Bogart, Lionel Barrymore, Lauren Bacall, Edward G. Robinson, and the fabulous Claire Trevor - who won an Oscar for her outstanding performance.
The movie is set in Key Largo, where a hurricane is fast approaching, adding to the already-tense atmosphere inside the hotel. The sadistic mobster Johnny Rocco storms in and takes the hotel owner, James Temple, his widowed daughter-in-law Nora, and ex-GI Frank McCloud, hostage at gunpoint.
Fun fact: When Claire Trevor asked John Huston for some insight into her character, he gave her a hilarious description of "a drunken dame whose elbows are always a little too big, voice a little too loud, and a little too polite. Very sad, very resigned." And to top it off, he even showed her how to embody the character by leaning on the set's bar.
It's also worth mentioning that despite playing on-screen enemies, Humphrey Bogart and Edward G. Robinson's off-screen relationship was filled with respect and admiration. In fact, Bogart made sure Robinson received the same treatment as him on set.
If you haven't seen this film yet, I highly recommend it. The incredible mix of tension-filled moments, superb dialogue, and an all-star cast will keep you engaged from start to finish!
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