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By
NICK ZEGARAC
"Key Largo" is the exciting
suspense drama directed by the legendary John
Huston. It features Bogie at his care-worn best as
Frank McCloud, a returning war hero who's come to
the Florida Keys to relate the death of a fellow
officer to the soldier's father, James Temple
(Lionel Barrymore) and his widow, Nora (Lauren
Bacall). The hotel, it seems, has been closed up
by a pack of spurious characters headlining for
gangster Johnny Rocco (Edward G. Robinson). Rocco
is on the lam, holding up in the hotel while
plotting his escape to Cuba. As Rocco's alcoholic
gun maul, Gaye Dawn, Claire Trevor took home the
Best Supporting Actress Oscar. There's plenty of
high tension generated between Rocco and Frank,
particularly after one of Rocco's henchmen gets
carried away and murders a police officer during
the climactic hurricane sequence.
John Huston's direction on this occasion ranks
among his best, staging moments of claustrophobic
hysteria in which all the principals are at the
mercy of deceit, inhumane greed and Mother Nature.
Warner Home Video's DVD is exemplary. The
grayscale is well represented with sharp clear
images and definite deep blacks. Shadow
delineation and contrast levels are superb with
fine detail nicely realized throughout.
Occasionally there is some minor shimmering and
edge enhancement but nothing that will distract
from your viewing experience. The audio is mono
and, although at times strident, is well
represented for its vintage. We get no extras on
this disc, an oversight and genuine shame. |
