where was key largo filmed

Key Largo (1948) Filming Locations The classic film noir Key Largo , directed by John Huston and starring Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall, and Edward G. Robinson, was primarily shot on soundstages at Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank, California. This kept production costs low during the post-WWII era, with interiors like the hotel and bar filmed on Stage 26 and Stage 16.

Exterior establishing shots captured the real Florida Keys vibe, including the Overseas Highway in Key Largo, Florida (then a rugged stretch of road), Key West in the Florida Keys , and the iconic Seven Mile Bridge. These brief scenes evoked the stormy, isolated hotel setting amid a hurricane, drawing from Maxwell Anderson's play.

Production Details

• Filming dates : December 1947 to March 1948, spanning 78 days total.

• Key techniques : Boat scenes used Sound Stage 21's indoor water tank; hurricane exteriors pulled from stock footage of Night Unto Night.

• No full on-location shoot : Despite the title, Hollywood backlots built the beach and hotel exterior for efficiency.

Real Keys Impact and Legacy

The movie's success sparked tourism—Rock Harbor renamed itself Key Largo in 1952, honoring Bogie and Bacall's chemistry. Today, fans visit spots like the Overseas Highway (Mile Marker 100+), imagining the tense gangster standoff, though the fictional hotel never existed there.

"Key Largo... where adventure inflames men to violent action!" – Movie trailer voiceover, perfectly capturing the film's sultry, dangerous allure.

Trivia from Forums and Fans

Online discussions on IMDb and film sites highlight how the Keys' mystique endures:

• Caribbean Club in Key Largo claims loose ties, though not used in filming—more a nod to the era's vibe.

• Modern viewers speculate on "hidden" dock scenes near Mile Marker 84, per local lore from producer John Huston's visits.

• Trending chatter ties it to Keys' Hollywood history, like James Bond's Licence to Kill (1989) shot nearby.

TL;DR : Mostly Warner Bros. studios in Burbank, CA, with Florida Keys exteriors for authenticity—pure Hollywood magic!

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.