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Torrid Zone (1940) More at IMDbPro »

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Overview

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7.0/10   441 votes
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Down 11% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writers:
Richard Macaulay (screenplay) and
Jerry Wald (screenplay)
Contact:
View company contact information for Torrid Zone on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
25 May 1940 (USA) more
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. full summary | add synopsis
User Reviews:
Last Cagney/O'Brien more (12 total)

Cast

  (in credits order) (verified as complete)

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)
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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
 
Crew verified as complete


Production CompaniesDistributors
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Additional Details

Runtime:
88 min
Country:
Language:
Aspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono (RCA Sound System)
Certification:

Fun Stuff

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. more
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. more
Quotes:
Mr. Steve Case: [to the engineer of an overdue train] How'd you come? By way of Jersey City? more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in Breakdowns of 1941 (1941) more
Soundtrack:
Mi Caballero more

FAQ

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1 out of 1 people found the following review useful.
Last Cagney/O'Brien, 25 February 2008
Author: Michael_Elliott from Louisville, KY

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.

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