Key West Bicentennial: 92 in the Shade

R, 88 minutes / Cast: Peter Fonda, Warren Oates, Margot Kidder

In 1822, John Simonton purchased the island of Key West from Juan Pablo Salas. Later that year, Lt. Matthew C. Perry planted the United States flag on the island on March 25, 1822, claiming it as American soil—and making 2022 a year of bicentennial celebrations across the island! To celebrate, every month the Tropic is showing movies filmed in or inspired by Key West. We're paying tribute to the August heat with "92 in the Shade," the directorial debut of longtime local author Thomas McGuane.

When spoiled Tom Skelton (Peter Fonda) comes back home to Key West, he decides to put his wayward days behind him and start a business. Borrowing from his wealthy grandfather (Burgess Meredith), he opens a fishing guide service and immediately runs afoul of the competition. Blue collar guides Nichol Dance (Warren Oates) and Carter (Harry Dean Stanton) resent Tom, and try to pressure him into quitting. Tom retaliates by blowing up their boat, and the conflict only escalates from there.