"Key Largo is a borderland, an island acting as a bridge for escape from or return to mainstream America. In Noir Anxiety, Kelly Oliver and Benigno Trigo argue that the free-floating anxiety of noir reflects a more primal angst related to borders and boundaries. We want to be sure of our footing, to know who and where we are. But labels are arbitrary, identities and cultures are fluid and changing, and war escalates worry over the present and future of a nation. Film noir reflects such concerns, more often than not challenging the viewers sense of ease and security. Duplicity is everywhere. From personal integrity to race, class, and nation, film noir emphasizes a world of ambiguity. And this makes the island setting of Key Largo ideal for its tensions and central conflict." Read more here.
