Key Largo (1948)

Key Largo (1948) is a fine film indeed because of it's acute attention to detail. It's character and plot development are straight on. We learn so much from so little. Let's take a look at some details that really stand out:

• Dual storms - There is a hurricane outside and an equally dangerous storm brewing inside the hotel. This duality increases the tension and makes for great suspense.
• Ridiculous Johnny Rocco (Edward G. Robinson) - He's in the midst of unforgiving tropical heat, spends his days in a tub of cold water with a fan oscillating next to him. Yet he'll still don a full-on robe complete with pocket square, scarf and lit up cigar even though it's the most ridiculous ensemble to wear in such heat. He also refuses to bring in his boat during the hurricane and eventually loses it. To top it all off he brings his drunk girlfriend Gaye (Claire Trevor) who foils his plans every which way she can. For such a smart conniving gangster, Rocco becomes a complete idiot in Key Largo and that says something about his future.
• Conflicted Frank McCloud (Bogie) - He survived WWII through his cowardice. He doesn't know whether he's coming or going or whether he should be brave and take action or whether he should just let things happen as they will. You can see the conflict in his eyes. The desire to be a better person but the debilitating fear that grips him.
• Native Americans - Perhaps this is a John Huston touch. The camera focuses at one point on a group of Native Americans and Nora Temple (Lauren Bacall) spends a considerable amount of screen time introducing us to a 100+ year old woman. The camera adores her wrinkled constitution focusing on it so closely that her face takes up the whole screen. It humanizes the story in many ways.
• Lionel Barrymore in a wheelchair - How can this not tug on your heartstrings? If you are familiar with Barrymore's earlier work, you'll understand that it's difficult to watch him in this state towards the end of his career. It's not just the character in the wheelchair it's the actor too.
• Lush versus Widow - Juxtaposition of two opposing female characters adds a lot to the story. It makes us understand each of the two characters and their interactions with both Rocco and McCloud help us understand those male characters too.
• Uncomfortable - Those goons at the beginning of the picture made me terribly uncomfortable. They made the other characters uncomfortable too. The way they spoke, their restlessness and their short fuses made me scared of what was to come. It was tension before the real tension even started.

You can see this film in many ways. As a Bogie film. As a Bogie-Bacall film. As a Bogie-Robinson film. Or even as a Bogie-Trevor film. But what anchors the film is Bogie himself. He's what all the plot points depend on even when he seems to be lurking in the background. In the end, this is really a Bogie film.

God Speed Leslie Nielsen

Leslie Nielsen (1926-2010)

Oh Leslie, you broke my heart yesterday when you passed away. I don't ever think I got a chance to really express how much I appreciated you. Let me take a moment to thank you for a few things:

1. Thank you for entertaining us. You were devilishly handsome and grew up to be quite a distinguished looking older gentleman. But you were never stuck up. There was always a childish quality about you. You had a silly youthful spirit and you made so many of us laugh until our sides hurt. So thank you.

2. Thank you for being there when I got my first period. I know, it's a very strange thing to thank you for. I remember watching Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult (1994) at home and being surprised by a visit from mother nature. It's a difficult time for a young girl but I had you to entertain me for a couple of hours and you know what, that made things a lot easier for me. So thank you.

3. Thank you for Katie and Orbie. I was a teenager with a strong interest in children's entertainment. Who knew I'd end up working at a children's book publisher later in my life. That early interest of mine helped me with my career path. Kate and Orbie was such an unusual show. Canadian produced, semi-animated and with a heart of gold, you narrated the whole thing. You told the story, you did all the voices, it was all you all the time. And you know what? It was lovely. I will always remember that show. So thank you and God Speed.

Gentleman Jim (1942) and Opportunities

Merriam-Webster provides the following two definitions for the word "opportunity":

1. a favorable juncture of circumstances
2. a good chance for advancement or progress

We talk about opportunities passing us by, grabbing an opportunity when we can, and scolding others for being opportunists. Opportunities are tricky things. Some we are lucky to stumble upon, others we can't take because of extenuating circumstances and other opportunities we create ourselves.

James J. Corbett (Errol Flynn) is an opportunist in the fullest meaning of the term. He finds opportunities but for the most part he makes them. He's not satisfied with a little success, he wants it all. He wants to be a gentleman, he wants the girl and he wants the fame that comes with being the best Victorian prize-fighter in San Francisco. Corbett will take any circumstance and turn it around into an opportunity. Even when the odds are against him.

Again we see Flynn in a based-on-a-true-story film which wildly exaggerates the truth in order to entertain audiences with a hot-shot opportunist character who triumphs through sheer determination. That's a real "American" story is it not? He's an Irishman from humble origins and we want to see him rise to the very top. Why? Because we want the same for ourselves. We want those opportunities. We want to be the best. We want to overcome our circumstances and triumph.

This film lavishes it's attention on the Corbett who starts at the bottom and reaches the top. Because that's the most interesting story. However, we see the downfall of another boxer, John L. Sullivan, and although we may ignore our gut feeling, Corbett's heading for the same fate. No matter how successful we are and how many opportunities we seize, we will all be replaced by someone younger. It's the sad inevitable truth of life. All we can ask for is to be remembered kindly and to hope that our triumphs inspire future ones.