Key West is a special place. It reminds me of the Cantina in “Star Wars” (the place where Luke and Obi-Wan first met Han Solo and Chewbacca).
Keywest is otherworldy.
Here are the best documentaries on Key West I can find.
Enjoy!
1) All That Is Sacred
I love this doc so much that I wrote a 1,300 word review of it: https://dailydoc.com/all-that-is-sacred/.
But here’s my shorter review:
“All That Is Sacred” is a wild ride through the sun-soaked madness of Key West in the 60s and 70s.
Directed by Scott Ballew, this 34-minute doc is a deep dive into the lives of literary legends like Jimmy Buffett, Tom McGuane, Jim Harrison, and Richard Brautigan.
These guys didn’t just visit Key West—they made it their playground.
Cheap living, a diverse mix of people, and a daily routine that involved fishing, writing, and, yes, plenty of drugs. Imagine a pile of cocaine on the table every night, a normal sight for these guys.
They fished for Tarpon by day and partied by night. Carl Hiaasen even quips, “Who goes Tarpon fishing on acid?” These guys did.
The doc pulls you right into their Key West world with raw, vintage footage, including scenes from the 1974 documentary Tarpon (see below), shot by Christian Odasso and Guy de la Valdene.
It’s grainy, sun-bleached, and perfect for capturing the vibe of those wild days.
I look at this doc as a requiem for a lost world. Key West today is all tourists.
Back then? It was wild, untamed, and unforgettable.
“All That Is Sacred” is 34 minutes of pure, uncut Key West madness. You’ll wish you were there.
Watch it for free on YouTube by clicking the video embed above (or at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HR5HUmj-DJM). Yeti (sponsor of the film) also has it on Yeti.com but it’s just an embed of the YouTube link above).
2) Modern Marvels: Overeseas Highway
Modern Marvels: Overseas Highway is a wild ride through the history of one of America’s coolest engineering feats—the Overseas Highway, connecting Key West to mainland Florida.
This episode (Season 10, Episode 54) aired September 3, 2003 and dives into how a boat-only route became a breathtaking road over the ocean.
Back in 1912, oil tycoon Henry Flagler’s railroad made the journey possible.
But in 1935, a hurricane wiped out 40 miles of track. Enter a $175-million fix that turned the wreckage into the Overseas Highway.
It’s a drive that feels like you’re floating on water.
The episode is packed with expert insights from folks like Robert V. Droz and Linda Figg, who break down the gnarly challenges of building and maintaining this road.
They fight the elements, work over open water, and keep it all running smoothly.
Watch” it on:”Oversea Highway” for free on YouTube by clicking the video embed above or here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8k-ntS9aEg
3) Tarpon
The above video link should work (it’s just that YouTube won’t let me embed it on Daily Doc). Just click the play button and you’ll be taken to YouTube to watch it — have fun and come back soon!).
Tarpon is the doc that almost never saw the light of day. Filmed in 1973 by French filmmaker Christian Odasso and his brother-in-law Guy de la Valdene, it’s a 52-minute slice of Key West’s wild 70s fishing scene.
As Carl Hiaasen puts it in “All That Is Sacred”, “Tarpon” has “some of the greatest Tarpon fishing that’s ever been shot.”
But it wasn’t just about fishing.
The film featured literary giants like Richard Brautigan, Jim Harrison, and Thomas McGuane, with a soundtrack whipped up by Jimmy Buffett in just one day.
Yes, it’s got overlap with “All That Is Sacred” above.
But “All That Is Sacred” couldn’t have been done without the filming of “Tarpon” (which predated it). All That Is Sacred used footage from Tarpon.
Despite its killer content, Tarpon was shelved for decades.
Why? A shark scene. PBS wanted it cut; the filmmakers refused. Result?
The doc was unreleased, becoming an urban legend in fishing and film circles.
The story doesn’t end there. In 2008, Tarpon was finally restored and released on DVD.
Fans of the era could finally see the fly fishing magic set against a backdrop of 70s Key West, with treasure hunters, smugglers, hippies, and eccentrics all playing their part.
The doc also captured the early push for conservation and catch-and-release ethics, a radical idea at the time.
Fast forward to today, and Tarpon is getting another upgrade—a 4K restoration, ready for streaming. It’s now being shown alongside All That Is Sacred, a newer doc that dives into the same cultural swirl of 70s Key West.
Finally, this gem isn’t just a legend; it’s real, and it’s spectacular.
I don’t see any place to watch “Tarpon” right now but check back on two places:
- https://www.tarpon1973.com/where-to-see (the site currently says that “Tarpon will be released for streaming in March 2024. DVDs and Blu-Rays available in April 2025).
- https://www.justwatch.com/ (a general site that tracks streaming options for films)
4) Key West: City of Colors
In 2003, a small island made a big statement with a mile-and-a-quarter rainbow flag stretching from the Gulf of Mexico to the Atlantic Ocean.
Directed by Key West newcomer Gilbert Baker, this documentary chronicles the creation of the world’s largest LGBTQ+ pride flag, a symbol Baker originally designed in 1978.
The film dives deep into Key West’s quirky, colorful community—a place where drag queens, retirees, and conch locals coexist in harmony.
The story is not just about the flag, but the fabric of a community stitched together by acceptance.
We meet the locals, like a cook flipping omelets in a tutu and a straight mayor who rallies the town behind this project.
The flag, with its eight vibrant colors, isn’t just a banner; it’s a lifeline for a community that’s seen its share of struggle, from the AIDS crisis to everyday prejudice.
In the end, the flag isn’t just flying—it’s soaring, a testament to Key West’s unwavering belief in the power of unity.
Watch it for free by clicking the video embed above.
5) National Geographic Video: Atocha: Quest for Treasure
Key West serves as both the operational base and spiritual heart of this Mel Fisher epic treasure hunt.
“Atocha: Quest for Treasure,” narrated by Martin Sheen, dives into the epic tale of Fisher, a man who spent 16 years chasing a dream that most would’ve abandoned.
Released in 1986, this National Geographic doc is a mix of swashbuckling adventure and heartbreaking loss, all set against the turquoise waters off Key West.
Fisher, a former chicken farmer turned treasure hunter, is a character straight out of a Hemingway novel.
The film follows his relentless search for the Nuestra Señora de Atocha, a Spanish galleon that sank in 1622.
It took with it a fortune in silver, gold, and emeralds.
Sheen’s narration adds just the right amount of gravitas.
We see Fisher battling everything from hurricanes to the heartbreak of losing his son, Dirk, during the hunt.
And he’s spending $500 per day to keep the hunt going.
Finances are tenuous. They go sixteen to 20 weeks without pay.
But Fisher’s persistence pays off.
After countless false leads and years of back-breaking work, the team finally strikes gold!
They uncover a trove worth up to $400 million.
It’s not just a story about treasure; it’s a testament to dogged determination and the power of a dream.
Watch Atocha: Quest for Treasure for free on YouTube by clicking the video embed above.
6) The Curse of Robert the Doll
I haven’t watched this one yet but it’s got some traction on IMDB ( 105 votes).
Here’s A.I.’s description of it:
Imagine strolling through Key West, Florida, and ending up face-to-glass with Robert the Doll, the star of “The Curse of Robert the Doll,” who’s possibly the most haunted toy ever. This doc dives into the creepy tale of Robert, who’s been scaring visitors for over a century.
Director Brian Knappmiller brings us an hour and 21 minutes of spine-tingling history as psychic medium Cindy Kaza digs deep into Robert’s origins.
It’s not just a spooky story; it’s a trip through time to 1905 when Robert was first owned by a Key West family.
The doc covers everything from bizarre illnesses to freak accidents linked to those who dared to disrespect the doll.
If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to have a toy that might actually want to kill you, this doc is for you.
It’s like “Annabelle” but real, and trust me, you’ll think twice before mocking a doll again. Just be sure to say goodbye before you leave—seriously.
— ChatGPT analyzing IMDB, YouTube and HBO Max.
Watch “The Curse of Robert The Doll” on HBO Max at https://play.max.com/movie/c2968855-c70f-482f-992a-2fe81367f8de. If that doesn’t work, go check out https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/the-curse-of-robert-the-doll-2022 to see the latest streaming options.
Thanks for reading!
Rob Kelly
Chief Maniac, Daily Doc