Body Heat (1981)

User Rating:

7.3/10   

Director:

Lawrence Kasdan

Writer:

Lawrence Kasdan (written by)

Release Date:

28 August 1981 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

It's a hot summer. Ned Racine is waiting for something special to happen. And when it does... He won't be ready for the consequences.

Plot:

In the midst of a searing Florida heat wave, a woman convinces her lover, a small-town lawyer, to murder her rich husband.

Plot Keywords:

Lawyer | Florida | Murder | Bar | Wind Chime

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 3 nominations

Cast

William Hurt	...	Ned Racine
Kathleen Turner	...	Matty Walker
Richard Crenna	...	Edmund Walker
Ted Danson	...	Peter Lowenstein
J.A. Preston	...	Oscar Grace
Mickey Rourke	...	Teddy Lewis
Kim Zimmer	...	Mary Ann
Jane Hallaren	...	Stella
Lanna Saunders	...	Roz Kraft
Carola McGuinness	...	Heather Kraft
Michael Ryan	...	Miles Hardin
Larry Marko	...	Judge Costanza
Deborah Lucchesi	...	Beverly
Lynn Hallowell	...	Angela
Thom Sharp	...	Michael Glenn (as Thom J. Sharp)

Runtime:

113 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:M (original rating) | Singapore:M18 | Canada:14+ (Ontario) | South Korea:18 | New Zealand:R16 | Philippines:R-18 | Argentina:16 | Australia:MA | Finland:K-16 | Norway:15 | Peru:18 | Portugal:M/16 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:R (PCA #26275) | West Germany:18 | Ireland:18 | UK:X (original rating) | Iceland:16

Filming Locations:

Delray Beach, Florida, USA

Company:

Ladd Company, The

Trivia:

Christopher Reeve was offered the lead but turned it down after saying, "I didn't think I would be convincing as a seedy lawyer."

Goofs:

Factual errors: In the movie, when the new will is invalidated, Edmund's death is determined to be intestate. However, under the doctrine of dependent relative revocation, the first will written by Edmund would be valid. As a result, Heather would have received 50%, as stated in the first will.

Quotes:

Oscar: Whatcha got for pie today, Stella?
Stella: I got cherry, cherry and cherry.
Oscar: Well, what do you recommend?
Stella: I like the cherry.
Oscar: Bring it on.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Sex at 24 Frames Per Second (2003) (V)

Soundtrack:

Feel Like a Number

Loved it

I bought the DVD because it was cheap and because Kathleen Turner was in it. Since it's not a very famous film I was surprised how good it was. The camera-work was great. Check out an early scene in the film when the camera starts behind the bar and slides around to follow William Hurt outside where he lights up and strikes a perfect pose leaning against the doorway like Bogart or someone from one of those forties films. Wonder how many takes that took. Hurt puts in a great performance. The fact that his character is called Ned Racine gives him a head start but it's a very challenging role to portray a guy who is at the same time dynamic, lazy, naive, charming and likable. All the performances are top drawer. Kathleen Turner does a great job as the femme fatale. Mickey Rourke is in just two scenes but grabs your attention in both. Ted Danson and JA Preston are good as Ned's friends. Richard Crenna plays the kind of assertive character he played in Rambo,which fits in here as he delivers a pivotal line which sums up the story.('You've got to know the bottom line')