Key Largo

Army veteran Frank McCloud arrives at Hotel Largo in Key Largo to visit the Temple family. He meets Nora Temple and her father-in-law James, and begins sharing memories of George's bravery and the small details he spoke of. The looming hurricane and the off-season emptiness set a tense mood.

Frank recounts George's heroism under fire in Italy, sharing anecdotes and letters that Nora and James find moving. The conversations establish a kinship between Frank and the Temples as they connect through George. Emotions rise as the weight of war and loss settles over the room.

The winter season has ended and only six guests remain at the hotel as a hurricane bears down. The staff and guests prepare for the storm, reinforcing a claustrophobic, high-tension environment. Outside, the storm threatens to trap everyone inside with mounting secrets.

Sheriff Ben Wade and Deputy Clyde Sawyer visit the hotel to search for John and Tom Osceola, fugitives in the area. Their presence adds a layer of law-and-order tension and foreshadows trouble behind the walls. The encounter heightens the sense that danger lurks both inside and outside the hotel.

Local Seminoles, including the Osceola brothers, seek shelter at the hotel from the approaching storm. Their arrival complicates the dynamics among guests and lawmen, increasing the potential for conflict. The hotel becomes a temporary refuge under siege conditions.

As the hurricane nears, Curly, Ralph, Angel, and Toots pull guns and seize Nora, James, and Frank. They reveal that the sixth man is Johnny Rocco, a notorious gangster waiting for Miami contacts. The group uses the storm as cover to tighten their control over the hotel and its inhabitants.

In the ensuing chaos, Rocco and his men shoot Deputy Sawyer and dispose of his body by burying it at sea. The brutal act demonstrates the gang's ruthlessness and raises the stakes for the hostages and local authorities alike. The hotel descends further into danger as the storm rages on.

Rocco tortures Gaye Dawn by forcing her to sing and by belittling her, while Frank remains polite and offers her a drink, avoiding direct confrontation. Nora observes that Frank's courage mirrors George's valor, deepening the emotional connection. The moral contrast highlights Frank's restraint under pressure.

Gaye Dawn tells Sheriff Wade that Rocco is responsible for Deputy Sawyer's murder, attempting to deflect blame away from the Seminoles. Wade weighs this information as the hotel situation deteriorates further. The confession shifts the dynamic of who might be targeted next.

Wade mentions that Ziggy's gang has been captured and leaves with Gaye to identify them, adding another layer of police intrigue to the precarious situation. The implication is that the criminal web is broader than the immediate hostage crisis. The hotel crowd braces for whatever comes next.

Rocco's contact Ziggy arrives at the hotel to purchase a large amount of counterfeit money, signaling ongoing criminal activity even as the storm subsides. The encounter confirms that the criminals' plans extend beyond their current confines. The tension inside the hotel remains high as negotiations unfold.

Rocco forces Frank, a skilled seaman, to take him and his henchmen back to Cuba on the small hotel boat. Gaye secretly helps by passing Rocco's gun to Frank, turning the odds in favor of the hostages. The group moves onto the boat under the cover of darkness and rough seas.

Out on the Straits of Florida, Frank uses seamanship, trickery, and the stolen gun to kill the gang members one by one. He secures the hostages' safety and heads back toward shore, signaling for help. The violent confrontation ends the immediate threat to Nora, James, and Frank.

Frank steers the boat back toward Key Largo while radioing for Coast Guard assistance and a message to the hotel. The remote threat recedes as rescue efforts begin to converge on the scene. Nora and James await news with bated breath as the ordeal nears its end.

The phone rings with news that Frank is returning safely, bringing a flood of relief to Nora and James. Nora opens the shutters to let in the sun while Frank steers the boat toward shore. The family atmosphere returns as the hotel prepares to welcome him back home.