Overview
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Release Date:
25 May 1940 (USA)
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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.
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User Comments:
Fast-paced dialogue, action, romance -- the trinity of film!
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| 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) |
Crew verified as complete
Additional Details
Runtime:
88 min
Aspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1
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Sound Mix:
Mono (RCA Sound System)
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.
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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.
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Quotes:
Lee Donley:
[
cutting off Nick's shirt so she can dress his wound] Oh, did I hurt you?
Nick Butler:
[
sarcastically] Oh, no. How could you hurt me by sticking a scissors in my arm?
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Soundtrack:
I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles
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FAQ
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Message Boards
Discuss this movie with other users on
IMDb message board for Torrid Zone (1940)
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Related Links
This film is basically "The Front Page" set on a banana plantation, with the "Oomph Girl" thrown in for a love interest, but somehow it manages to transcend that sort of genre-typing.
Everyone from Jimmy Cagney and Pat O'Brien (in one of the best of their 10 films together) to George Tobias shines in this snappy action-romance, sprinkled with the kind of dialogue that made the movies of the '30s and early-'40s the most fun ever. My favorite exchange in the history of film is in this movie...
Helen Vinson (Gloria) is kissing Jimmy Cagney (Nick), and her cigarette has slipped from her fingers to the floor. The camera follows the cigarette down, and then a hand reaches in from out-of-frame to pick it up...the camera pulls back to reveal Ann Sheridan (Lee):
Lee: This is how the Chicago Fire got started.
Gloria: The Chicago Fire was started by a *cow*.
Lee: History repeats itself.
Now, how can you not love a film like that? Ann Sheridan singing! Pat O'Brien conniving! George Tobias as a Latin American bandit! Jimmy Cagney with a mustache!
Sadly, Torrid Zone is not yet available on video, but it shows up on TV from time to time. Don't miss it!