Key Largo

An army veteran who arrives at the Temple hotel during a hurricane with a quiet, steady resolve. He honors his friend's memory, speaks with restraint, and refuses heroic posturing when unnecessary. He ultimately uses seamanship and cunning to defeat Rocco and his gang, choosing survival for all.

George Temple’s widow who embodies loyalty and calm in the face of danger. She recognizes Frank’s courage and navigates shifting loyalties between love, gratitude, and prudence. Her presence anchors moral choices and offers a humane perspective on vengeance and justice.

Owner of Hotel Largo and patriarch of the Temple family. He hopes to keep his home safe while weighing Frank's offer to stay. He embodies old-school hospitality and authority, becoming part of the tension as events unfold.

Former moll of Johnny Rocco, now aging and alcoholic, kept as a captive atmosphere in the hotel. Her mistreatment highlights vulnerability and humanity, and she ultimately assists Frank in a way that shifts the balance of power.

The exiled gangster who uses the hurricane and the other guests to broker a deal. He exerts control through intimidation and manipulation, providing the central threat that Frank must counter.

Local lawman who pursues the Osceola brothers and ultimately makes the deadly decisions that frame the final act of the standoff. His authority is tested by the storm and the gang’s deception.

Lawman’s deputy who becomes a victim in the confrontation, his body later discovered after the storm. His death catalyzes the pursuit of justice and reveals the gang’s brutality.

Rocco’s Miami contact, a charismatic gangster whose arrival triggers the plan that Frank must unravel at sea. He represents the outside crime network pressing in on the hotel.

One of the Osceola brothers sought by the authorities; a fugitive who becomes part of the night’s tense dynamics. His presence highlights the intersecting fates of crime and law in the Keys.

The other Osceola brother; his capture and implied involvement intensify Sheriff Wade’s actions and the showdown’s stakes. His role underscores the human cost of crime.

Servant in the hotel who remains loyal and discreet amid the crisis. He helps maintain order and acts as a quiet observer of the protagonists’ moral choices.