Ìý This classic thriller is an important piece of Warner Brothers' heritage yet it doesn't seem to merit a DVD release to match.
Adapted from a stage play, this is an exercise in claustrophobic tension that is far superior to an overrated film like Hitchcock's "Rope" for example. Bogart plays a veteran GI who stops at the crumbling hotel run by the family of his buddy who was killed in the war. There he finds a sneering and brutal Edward G Robinson, who along with his gangster cohorts, is holding the family prisoner. With a hurricane brewing and day turning to night, the tension builds to a nerve-shredding conclusion.
With many great performances, it's a shame that everyone involved sounds so tinny on the DVD. The 1.0 soundtrack is weak and thin with nasty distortion ruining the music every time it swells with tension. Considering that Warners did a reasonable job with "Casablanca" and outstanding work for "Rebel Without a Cause", this release of "Key Largo" is disappointing.
There is better news where the picture is concerned, with a transfer that is overall quite clear. Included on the DVD is the trailer but no biographies of the stars. Considering that this is not the only Bogey classic Warners are releasing, they could have made more of an effort.
Chapters: 32
Ratio: 1.33:1
Sound: Dolby Digital 1.0
Extra Features: Scene selection, trailer, multiple languages, subtitles, English and Italian for the hearing impaired.
