City Heat (1984)

Director:

Richard Benjamin

Writers:

Blake Edwards (story)
Blake Edwards (writer) ...

Release Date:

7 December 1984 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Comedy

Tagline:

Take Clint the street-smart cop . . . take Burt the wise-guy private eye . . . and then take cover!

Plot:

A slick private eye and tough police lieutenant--once partners, now bitter enemies--reluctantly team up to investigate a murder.

Plot Keywords:

1930s | Car Explosion | Spilled Coffee | Shot Multiple Times | Cadillac

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Clint Eastwood	...	Lieutenant Speer
Burt Reynolds	...	Mike Murphy
Jane Alexander	...	Addy
Madeline Kahn	...	Caroline Howley
Rip Torn	...	Primo Pitt
Irene Cara	...	Ginny Lee
Richard Roundtree	...	Dehl Swift
Tony Lo Bianco	...	Leon Coll
William Sanderson	...	Lonnie Ash
Nicholas Worth	...	Troy Roker
Robert Davi	...	Nino
Jude Farese	...	Dub Slack
John Hancock	...	Fat Freddy
Jack Thibeau	...	Garage Soldier
Gerald S. O'Loughlin	...	Counterman Louie

Also Known As:

Kansas City Jazz (USA) (original script title)

Runtime:

93 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.20 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:14 (original rating) | Iceland:16 (video rating) | Spain:13 | Canada:14+ (Ontario) | USA:PG (certificate #27552) | Netherlands:12 | West Germany:16 | South Korea:15 | Australia:M | Finland:K-16 | Norway:15 | Norway:16 (1985) | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | Singapore:PG

Company:

Malpaso Company, The

Trivia:

Edwards hired Robert Davi to play the main villain after seeing him in "The Gangster Chronicles" (1981). But after Edwards left the project, Davi's role was reduced considerably.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: In the scene where Lt. Speer breaks into the mobster's home to get the slug upon which to run ballistics the mobster asks Speer if Speer has a warrant. The movie takes place prior to 1934 and the repeal of prohibition. There was no requirement for police to have warrants to search citizens' property or to seize such property until the 1940's.

Quotes:

Lt. Speer: How about a fast game of sleeper?
Poolroom thug: What's that?
Lt. Speer: That's where you take your best shot, and I put you to sleep.
Lt. Speer: [cracks him over the head with a pool cue]

Movie Connections:

Features Horse Feathers (1932)

Soundtrack:

City Heat

BAD BAD BAD!!! * out of ****

A disappointment doesn't even begin to describe this sorry excuse for a movie. When Burt Reynold's career took a nose dive after making stupid movies like Cannonball Run, I thought this might be a comeback but only to succeed by driving another nail in the coffin for Mr. Reynolds.

Reynolds plays detective Mike Murphy an irresponsible smart ass who was partners with Lieutenant Speer (Clint Eastwood). For reasons unexplained they have become the worst of enemies. Now stop right there because my question is, why? Speer's reply is, "lots of reasons." Good because for the stories sake, it would be nice to know.

After a pointless and unfunny fight at the local diner Murphy finds out the next day that his new partner Dehl (Richard Roundtree) may be barking up the wrong tree when his personal finances have blossomed. Apparently (at least I think so) Dehl has obtained the accounting books from Leon Coll (Tony Lo Bianco) that shows where all his dirty money goes. In turn Dehls plan is to sell them to Primo Pitt (Rip Torn)and that will turn Pitt into number 1 and Leon Coll into number two. Speer? Primo Pitt? Where did writer Blake Edwards get these names anyway?

But Dehl changes his mind and is subsequently killed but Dehl's girlfriend (Irene Cara) manages to escape and becomes a key witness to the crime. For more reasons unexplained Speer happens to show up in the nick of time but Primo gets away.

So Reynolds and Eastwood team up (sort of) to solve the case which in itself seems impossible because the story is full of more loop holes than Michael Jordan's basketball shoes. The only bright spot is the late great Madeline Kahn who plays Caroline Howley, Reynolds girlfriend and she by herself has some good moments.

But, here are some moments and situations I do not believe:

1. That Speer would know the exact time and place to show up when Dehl is murdered although he was not given any information prior to the meeting place.

2. That Speer would not have known that Caroline (who's father is one of the most well known people in Chicago)was kidnapped by Primo Pitt until after Murphy tells him much later in the film.

3. That Murphy would know where Pitt and his thugs are although he has not be given directions to the hideout by anyone. The same goes with Speer who also shows up about 5 minutes later.

4. That Speer's character detests unnecessary violence but becomes crazy and psycho when someone has spilled his coffee.

5. That Clint Eastwood, Burt Reynolds, Richard Benjamin and Blake Edwards just didn't say know to the whole thing.