Torrid Zone (1940)

Director:

William Keighley

Writers:

Richard Macaulay (screenplay) and
Jerry Wald (screenplay)

Release Date:

25 May 1940 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Comedy

Plot:

Plagued by revolutionaries that harass his plantation in a banana republic, fruit company exec Steve Case rehires former nemesis Nick Butler to restore order and profits.

Plot Keywords:

Plantation | Banana | Singer | Banana Republic | Fruit Company

Cast

James Cagney	...	Nick 'Nicky' Butler
Ann Sheridan	...	Lee Donley
Pat O'Brien	...	Mr. Steve Case
Andy Devine	...	Wally Davis
Helen Vinson	...	Mrs. Gloria Anderson
Jerome Cowan	...	Bob 'Bill' Anderson
George Tobias	...	Rosario 'Rosie' La Mata
George Reeves	...	Sancho, Rosario's Henchman
Victor Kilian	...	Carlos (Rosario's henchman)
Frank Puglia	...	Police Chief Juan Rodriguez
John Ridgely	...	Gardner
Grady Sutton	...	Sam, Steve's Secretary
Paul Porcasi	...	Garcia, Hotel Bar Proprietor
Frank Yaconelli	...	Lopez, Plantation Driver (as Frank Yaconnelli)
Dick Botiller	...	Hernandez, Plantation Worker (as Dick Boteler)
Frank Mayo	...	Shaffer
Jack Mower	...	McNamara
Paul Hurst	...	Daniels, Ship Captain
George Regas	...	Sergeant of Police
Elvira Sánchez	...	Rita, Gloria's Servant (as Elvira Sanchez)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Trevor Bardette	...	Policeman Escorting Lee on Ship (uncredited)
Max Blum	...	Bit Part (uncredited)
Joe Dominguez	...	Manuel, Rosario's Henchman (uncredited)
George Humbert	...	Hotel Manager (uncredited)
Manuel López	...	Chico, Rasario's Henchman (uncredited)
Joe Molinas	...	Native (uncredited)
Don Orlando	...	Hotel Employee Hanging Mosquito Netting (uncredited)
Tony Paton	...	Charley (plantation worker) (uncredited)
Ralph Peters	...	First Train Engineer (uncredited)
Ernesto Piedra	...	Policeman (uncredited)
Paul Renay	...	Jose, Rosario's Henchman (uncredited)
Victor Sabuni	...	Bit Part (uncredited)
Betty Sanko	...	Bit Part (uncredited)
Rafael Storm	...	Man (uncredited)
Leo White	...	Smiling Man to Whom Lee Sings (uncredited)
Tom Wilson	...	Passerby as Train Moves (uncredited)

Directed by
William Keighley

Writing credits
Richard Macaulay		(screenplay) and
Jerry Wald		(screenplay)

Produced by
Mark Hellinger	....	associate producer
Hal B. Wallis	....	executive producer
William Cagney	....	producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Adolph Deutsch

Cinematography by
James Wong Howe

Film Editing by
Jack Killifer

Art Direction by
Ted Smith

Set Decoration by
Edward Thorne		(uncredited)

Costume Design by
Howard Shoup		(gowns)

Makeup Department
Perc Westmore	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Jack L. Warner	....	executive in charge of production

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Frank Heath	....	assistant director (uncredited)

Sound Department
Oliver S. Garretson	....	sound

Special Effects by
Byron Haskin	....	special effects
Hans F. Koenekamp	....	special effects (as H.F. Koenekamp)

Music Department
Leo F. Forbstein	....	musical director

Other crew
John Mari	....	technical advisor

Production Companies

• Warner Bros. Pictures (as Warner Bros.-First National Pictures Inc.)

Distributors

• Warner Bros. Pictures (1940) (USA) (theatrical)
• Dominant Pictures Corporation (1957) (USA) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Teakwood Video (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Teakwood Video (2004) (USA) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (2007) (USA) (DVD)

Runtime:

88 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Spanish

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Certification:

Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15 | USA:Approved (PCA #6091)

Company:

Warner Bros. Pictures

Trivia:

When Frank Puglia says, "I don't believe in a third term," he was referring to the then speculative run of Franklin Delano Roosevelt for an unprecedented third term as U. S. President in 1940.

Goofs:

Continuity: In the gunfight scene between Butler's group and Rosario's group, Rosario shoots Butler and Butler appears to be grabbing his right arm as he goes down. In the next shot, he is now tending to his wound on his left arm. Later in the scene, after they catch Rosario, Rosario bumps Butler's hat as he walks by.

Quotes:

Mr. Steve Case: [to the engineer of an overdue train] How'd you come? By way of Jersey City?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Breakdowns of 1941 (1941)

Soundtrack:

Mi Caballero

Last Cagney/O'Brien

Torrid Zone (1940)

** 1/2 (out of 4)

A banana plantation owner (Pat O'Brien) hires a tough guy (James Cagney) to look after everything but an escaped bandit (George Tobias) causes some trouble as does a woman (Ann Sheridan). This is a slightly entertaining film that offers some nice performances but in the end there's nothing too special with the screenplay, which at times wonders around. O'Brien steals the show as the tough talking owner and this is one exception where he steals the film from Cagney. Cagney is decent in his role but he doesn't bring too much energy to the film. I'm not a fan of Sheridan but she's actually very good her delivering a tough performance. Tobias is great as the villain and Andy Devine offers nice comic support. The cast makes the film entertaining but I wish the screenplay had tried to do a tad bit more. The movie is pretty light weight, which keeps it from being better.