Plot summary

Veteran army officer Frank McCloud (Humphrey Bogart) lands in Key Largo to visit a hotel owned by the father of his slain war buddy George Temple. There, he meets the endearingly brazen, wheel-chair bound James Temple (Lionel Barrymore) and George's subdued widow Nora (Lauren Bacall), who remained behind to selflessly assist her dear father-in-law at the hotel. Frank discovers that the once-notorious gangster Johnny Rocco (Edward G. Robinson) has commandeered the joint alongside his closest associates and his demoralized mistress Gaye Dawn (Claire Trevor). Frank is too disillusioned by his post-war existence to intervene but quickly realizes Rocco's vacation plans threaten the safety of the closely-knit community. An approaching storm sparks a sense of allegiance to his old pal's loved ones and Frank prepares to put his life on the line to end the senseless violence. Reprising the ruthless spirit of 'Rico' from LITTLE CAESAR, 'Rocco' was Edward G. Robinson's final major gangster portrayal - embodying, for John Huston, the last of the immoral relics from a bygone genre.—Mae Moreno