Torrid Zone (1940)

Director:

William Keighley

Writers:

Richard Macaulay (original screenplay) and
Jerry Wald (original 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 | Banana Republic | Unfaithful Wife | Singer

Cast

James Cagney	...	Nick Butler
Ann Sheridan	...	Lee Donley
Pat O'Brien	...	Steve Case
Andy Devine	...	Wally Davis
Helen Vinson	...	Gloria Anderson
Jerome Cowan	...	Bob Anderson
George Tobias	...	Rosario
George Reeves	...	Sancho
Victor Kilian	...	Carlos
Frank Puglia	...	Rodriguez
John Ridgely	...	Gardner
Grady Sutton	...	Sam
Paul Porcasi	...	Garcia
Frank Yaconelli	...	Lopez (as Frank Yaconnelli)
Dick Botiller	...	Hernandez (as Dick Boteler)
Frank Mayo	...	Shaffer
Jack Mower	...	McNamara
Paul Hurst	...	Daniels
George Regas	...	Sergeant of Police
Elvira Sánchez	...	Rita (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 Sabini	...	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		(original screenplay) and
Jerry Wald		(original 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		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Jack Killifer		(film editor)

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	....	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 (presents) (as Warner Bros. Pictures Inc.) (a Warner Bros.-First National picture)

Distributors

• Warner Bros (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)

Also Known As:

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) | USA:TV-PG (TV rating)

Filming Locations:

Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USA

Company:

Warner Bros

Trivia:

When Frank Puglia says, "I don't believe in a third term," he was referring to the then speculative run of Franklin D. 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:

Lee Donley:[as Gloria enters] Here comes Malicious.
Nick Butler:Can that talk!
Lee Donley:Well, some days a girl can't make a cent!
Gloria Anderson:I don't imagine you have any trouble.
Lee Donley:Why do you malk around making noises like a lady? All a guy has to do is wink and he hits the jackpot.
[Gloria turns around and leaves]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Breakdowns of 1941 (1941)

Soundtrack:

I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles

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.