* AwardSnub: It can be said for Creator/EdwardGRobinson's entire career, since he never even received an acting nomination from the UsefulNotes/{{Academy Award}}s. But his role as the ruthless gangster Rocco was critically acclaimed and iconic.
* FairForItsDay: The portrayal of the Seminoles is [[HollywoodNatives pretty stereotypical]], but they are shown as very sympathetic and unique characters. The deaths of [[spoiler: the Osceola brothers]] is treated as a serious tragedy, and Temple even acknowledges the difficulties their culture faces in current American society.
* FanDisservice: The romantic lead of "Casablanca" and a handful of pretty attractive guys feature in this film...and who gets a bathtub scene? Creator/EdwardGRobinson.
* HarsherInHindsight:
** The white cop casually shooting the Native American brothers because he ''suspected'' them of a crime, and expressing minimal guilt later, which is brushed off as being entirely the main villain's fault for lying to the cop. As if taking a random stranger's word as reason to shoot first and ask questions later is standard police procedure.
** James Temple's closing lament about how Americans seem to hurt Native Americans "even when we try to help them" stings more today with awareness of the [[NeglectedRez growing poverty on many federal Indian Reservations]].
** Johnny Rocco angrily says, "After living in the USA for more than 30 years they call me an undesirable and want to throw me out of the country...like I was a dirty red or something." A year after the film came out, Creator/EdwardGRobinson was investigated by the Committee on Un-American Activities which claimed the progressive Democrat, was "frequently involved in Communist fronts and causes". He eventually testified as a friendly witness but he was still grey listed in TheFifties.
* HilariousInHindsight: The criminal Johnny Rocco does business with is named Ziggy. Makes one wonder if his last name was [[Music/DavidBowie Stardust]].
** In a similarly musical vein, the climax takes place on a boat called ''[[Music/CarlosSantana Santana]]''.
* LoveToHate: [[Creator/EdwardGRobinson Johnny Rocco]] is considered one of the most iconic portrayals of a gangster in Hollywood history.
* RetroactiveRecognition: Jay Silverheels (a.k.a. [[Series/TheLoneRanger Tonto]]) appears as John Osceola.
* SignatureScene: The climax on the boat, where Frank outsmarts the gangsters. (This scene was later homaged in the film ''{{Film/Mitchell}}'', best known for its appearance in a ''Series/MysteryScienceTheater3000'' episode.)
* SpecialEffectFailure: The models used for the hurricane mostly work pretty well, but there's a couple shots where you can clearly see the strings controlling the palm trees.
* TheWoobie: Frank definitely counts. He came back from [[UsefulNotes/WorldWarTwo the war]], aimless and drifting without purpose. The incident in the hotel only further reveals [[ShellShockedVeteran his fears]].
** James Temple. The criminals ruin his relationship with the local Seminoles who had trusted him for years.
** Gaye Dawn. She used to be a fantastic lounge singer, but now can't even finish a song [[TheAlcoholic without a drink]]. The abuse she gets from Johnny doesn't help either.
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