Hot Stuff (1979)

Director:

Dom DeLuise

Writers:

Michael Kane (written by) and
Donald E. Westlake (written by)

Release Date:

4 January 1980 (Portugal)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

You can't turn this mob over to the cops. They _are_ the cops.

Plot:

Three cops try to set up a sting by establishing their own Fencing operation. They have less than complete...

Plot Keywords:

Scam | Stolen Goods | Pawnshop | Police

Cast

Dom DeLuise	...	Ernie Fortunato
Suzanne Pleshette	...	Louise Webster
Jerry Reed	...	Doug von Horne
Ossie Davis	...	Captain John Geiberger
Luis Avalos	...	Ramon
Marc Lawrence	...	Carmine
Richard Davalos	...	Charles
Alfie Wise	...	Nick
Bill McCutcheon	...	Paully Albadecker
Sydney Lassick	...	Hymie
Barney Martin	...	Kiley
Pat McCormick	...	Man with Cigars
Sid Gould	...	Sid
Carol Arthur	...	Gloria Fortunato (as Carol DeLuise)
Peter DeLuise	...	Peter Fortunato
David DeLuise	...	David Fortunato
Mike Falco	...	Hit Man - Duke
Crispin Tyrone Jackson	...	Boy with Dog
Michael DeLuise	...	Boy with Fish
Raymond Forchion	...	Holdup Man #1 (as Raymond George Forchion)
Luke Halpin	...	Holdup Man #2
Joe Reeggiero	...	Holdup Man #3
Angela Bomford	...	English Dope Pusher
Mel Pape	...	English Dope Pusher
Steve Gladstone	...	Irving
Matthew Burch	...	Clifford
Peppy Fields	...	Shopper
Shirley Galabow	...	Madame
Eduardo Corbe	...	Guitar Thief #1
Jose Bahamonde	...	Guitar Thief #2
John DiSanti	...	Gay Thief
Sandy Mielke	...	Paully's Friend
Cedar Stump	...	Paully's Friend
Ginger Scott	...	Rosemary
Art Lewis	...	Tony (as Artie Lewis)
Sid Raymond	...	Dog Trainer
Al Nesor	...	Chicken Man
Peter Conrad	...	Rocky
George Warren	...	Carmine's Hood #1
Danny Bardisa	...	Carmine's Hood #2
Leonard Haber	...	Carmine's Hood #3 (as Mayor Leonard Haber)
Terese Beston	...	Girl on Street
Shirley Cowell	...	Society Lady #1
Gigi Carrier	...	Society Lady #2
Katy Reaves	...	Pose Lady
Norma Davids	...	Lady with Raft
Mike Baches	...	Tall Crook
Louis Silvers	...	Golf Thief
Bobby Self	...	Radio Thief
Diane Johnson	...	Pregnant Crook
Laurie Stark	...	Prostitute
Vic Hunter	...	Man in Bar
Victor Helou	...	Moonlight
Jack White	...	Fence
Tony Coffman	...	Girl at Party
William Fuller	...	Boat Driver
Edmund Lupinski	...	Roscoe (as Ed Lupinski)
Jim Ridarsick	...	Muscleman
Beau Gillespie	...	Boy with Chain Saw
Don Soffer	...	Construction Worker
Barry Noell	...	Policeman with Feathers
Mimi Julia Keating	...	Elderly Gunmoll
Scratch	...	Jaws

Directed by
Dom DeLuise

Writing credits
Michael Kane		(written by) and
Donald E. Westlake		(written by)

Produced by
Mort Engelberg	....	producer
Paul Maslansky	....	executive producer
Ted Swanson	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Patrick Williams

Cinematography by
James Pergola		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Neil Travis

Casting by
Jennifer Shull

Art Direction by
Don K. Ivey

Set Decoration by
Tom Coll

Makeup Department
Diane Johnson	....	hair stylist
Elizabeth Lambert	....	makeup artist
Jerry O'Dell	....	makeup artist: Ms. Pleshette

Production Management
Ted Swanson	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Ricou Browning	....	second unit director
Sonny Persons	....	second assistant director
David Whorf	....	first assistant director (as David M. Whorf)

Art Department
Jack Johnson	....	property master
James Robinson II	....	lead man (as Jimmy Robinson II)

Sound Department
Ron Clark	....	supervising sound editor
Jack Dalton	....	sound mixer (as Jack Dalton Sr.)
William S. Johnson	....	boom operator
John Wilkinson	....	sound re-recordist (as John K. Wilkinson)

Special Effects by
J.B. Jones	....	special effects

Stunts
Courtney Brown	....	stunt coordinator
Tim Chitwood	....	stunt driver
William Fuller	....	stunt driver
Jay Amor	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Oscar Barber	....	director of photography: second unit
William D. Barber	....	first assistant camera (as William Barber)
Enrique Bravo	....	camera operator
Edward Knott	....	key grip (as Eddie Knott)
William McConnell	....	second assistant camera (as Bill McConnell)
Walter G. Morris Jr.	....	gaffer
Stephen Wever	....	still photographer (as Steve Wever)
John Winner	....	first assistant camera

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Mel Pape	....	costumer: men (as Melvin E. Pape)
Norma L. Trice	....	costumer: women

Editorial Department
Steve Potter	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Daniel Allan Carlin	....	music editor (as Dan Carlin Jr.)
Dan Wallin	....	score mixer (uncredited)

Transportation Department
William Foster	....	transportation (as Bill Foster)

Other crew
Jack Cowden	....	script supervisor
Beau Gillespie	....	assistant to producer
R.J. Johnson	....	location manager
Sheila Possner	....	assistant to producer
Roberta Rose	....	auditor
Laurie Stark	....	assistant: Dom DeLuise
Brenda Watt	....	dog handler

Thanks
Leonard Haber	....	our special thanks for the assistance of: Mayor of Miami Beach (as Dr. Leonard Haber)
Kenneth I. Harms	....	our special thanks for the assistance of: Chief of Police, City of Miami

Production Companies

• Rastar Pictures

Distributors

• Columbia Pictures (1979) (USA) (theatrical)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1982) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2011) (USA) (DVD) (DVD-R)

Other Companies

• City of Miami Beach  our special thanks for the assistance of (as The City of Miami Beach)
• City of Miami  our special thanks for the assistance of (as The City of Miami)
• Echo Film Services  sound editing (as Echo Film Service)
• Faded Glory  wardrobe
• Pacific Title  title design
• Panavision  lenses and Panaflex camera (as Panavision®)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

91 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Finland:K-16 | Norway:16 | USA:PG | Iceland:L | Australia:M

Filming Locations:

Miami, Florida, USA

Company:

Rastar Pictures

Trivia:

The movie was based on a real-life "deep cover" undercover police operation in the USA.

Goofs:

Continuity: When the 78 or 79 Trans am explodes, it is replaced with a early model Camaro 70 to 73 for the destroyed car.

Quotes:

Doug:Ernie, you want a doughnut?
Ernie:I'd rather have the money instead!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Fisher King (1991)

Soundtrack:

Keep It Loose

A Classic Action-Comedy!!!

Directed by and starring Dom Deluise, the story it tells actually was way ahead of its time and based loosely on fact. A group of cops begin a stolen goods sting by "purchasing" the items, and using videotape as evidence against the "sellers". The movie provides a good look at what extremes the police will do to get the bad guy. There are even worse hazards than the thieves, such as the mafia getting involved and a corrupt cop blackmailing them.

The rest of the ensemble cast includes Jerry Reed, Luis Avalos, Ossie Davis (watch for his "black Godfather"), and Suzanne Pleshette, and their excellent acting proves that they are as good as the bigger Hollywood folks. However, it is really Deluise who shines through, with charm, wit and very funny lines, including a running joke about his retirement as a police officer. The random folks who walk into the "trade store" are also funny, and good actors. A few standouts: Deluise "samples" some marijuana, a gun sting resulting in a hilarious but exciting shootout, the climactic brawl that is funny, well choreographed and has an incredible payoff.

This particular movie is underrated and especially overlooked. As a little kid I always watched it a lot on HBO, so I was hooked. I like big budget, modern action-comedies, but the creators of "Showtime" (2002) should have taken a lesson from "Hot Stuff". See it!