John Huston's magisterial little noir drama straddles gangster picture motifs with a classical stageplay pitting various characters against other. A stellar ensemble cast are stuck in a family hotel in the middle of a hurricane. Much drama is centered on the interior psychological warfare while the storm rages outside.

Bogart plays a WWII vet and drifter who stops by to visit his old friend (Lionel Barrymore) who runs the hotel. Barrymore's daughter, Lauren Bacall, warms up to Bogart and this is another picture exhibiting their real life chemistry on screen. This time, Bacall doesn't play a femme fatale or anything like her sly ladies of The Big Sleep or To Have and Have Not. She's more innocent yet independent and principled. With the storm encroaching, one of the hotel guests turns out to be a notorious gangster boss played by Edward G. Robinson (who else?). He essentially seizes control of the place and keeps everyone hostage. Another guest is killed and his body disposed of outside. The suspense builds up around a cop who comes by to check on the hotel during the storm and all the guests pretend nothing is wrong.

When Bogart is forced at gunpoint to helm their boat to leave Key Largo, the others fear it's his death sentence. Robinson's embittered and estranged mistress hands Bogart a small pistol before he's taken on board. There he uses his wits to even the playing field, getting the jump on some of Robinson's men while the others are down below. A thrilling standoff ensues and Bogart dispatches everyone and turns the boat around.

There's a lovely shot of Bacall opening the window barricades to let a flood of heavenly light shine through and then it fades to the rocking ocean waves. Gorgeously done and I happened to pause here to take a break and unintentionally lingering on the still frame made it more powerful. This is a terrific film of sharp dialogue, noir atmosphere in an exotic locale, and a good, tense thriller—a home invasion and claustrophobic picture juxtaposing a bunch of unlikely characters together in one place and letting the conflicts play out.