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Too Hot to Handle

  • 19381938
  • PassedPassed
  • 1h 47m
IMDb RATING
6.7/10
1.5K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Clark Gable, Myrna Loy, Leo Carrillo, and Walter Pidgeon in Too Hot to Handle (1938)
  • Adventure
  • Comedy
  • Drama
Two rival newsreel photographers join forces to find an aviatrix's missing brother, who has disappeared in the Amazon rainforest.Two rival newsreel photographers join forces to find an aviatrix's missing brother, who has disappeared in the Amazon rainforest.Two rival newsreel photographers join forces to find an aviatrix's missing brother, who has disappeared in the Amazon rainforest.
IMDb RATING
6.7/10
1.5K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Jack Conway
  • Writers
    • Laurence Stallings(screen play)
    • John Lee Mahin(screen play)
    • Len Hammond(based on a story by)
  • Stars
    • Clark Gable
    • Myrna Loy
    • Walter Pidgeon
Top credits
  • Director
    • Jack Conway
  • Writers
    • Laurence Stallings(screen play)
    • John Lee Mahin(screen play)
    • Len Hammond(based on a story by)
  • Stars
    • Clark Gable
    • Myrna Loy
    • Walter Pidgeon
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 23User reviews
    • 10Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos39

    Clark Gable and Myrna Loy in Too Hot to Handle (1938)
    Walter Connolly in Too Hot to Handle (1938)
    Clark Gable and Walter Connolly in Too Hot to Handle (1938)
    Clark Gable and Leo Carrillo in Too Hot to Handle (1938)
    Clark Gable and Myrna Loy in Too Hot to Handle (1938)
    Clark Gable and Myrna Loy in Too Hot to Handle (1938)
    Clark Gable, Myrna Loy, and Walter Pidgeon in Too Hot to Handle (1938)
    Clark Gable and Myrna Loy in Too Hot to Handle (1938)
    Clark Gable and Myrna Loy in Too Hot to Handle (1938)
    Clark Gable and Myrna Loy in Too Hot to Handle (1938)
    Clark Gable and Myrna Loy in Too Hot to Handle (1938)
    Myrna Loy in Too Hot to Handle (1938)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Clark Gable
    Clark Gable
    • Chris Hunteras Chris Hunter
    Myrna Loy
    Myrna Loy
    • Alma Hardingas Alma Harding
    Walter Pidgeon
    Walter Pidgeon
    • Bill Dennisas Bill Dennis
    Walter Connolly
    Walter Connolly
    • 'Gabby' MacArthuras 'Gabby' MacArthur
    Leo Carrillo
    Leo Carrillo
    • Joselitoas Joselito
    Johnny Hines
    Johnny Hines
    • Parsonsas Parsons
    Virginia Weidler
    Virginia Weidler
    • Huldaas Hulda
    Betty Ross Clarke
    Betty Ross Clarke
    • Mrs. Hardingas Mrs. Harding
    Henry Kolker
    Henry Kolker
    • 'Pearly' Toddas 'Pearly' Todd
    Marjorie Main
    Marjorie Main
    • Miss Wayneas Miss Wayne
    Gregory Gaye
    Gregory Gaye
    • 'Popoff'as 'Popoff'
    Al Shean
    Al Shean
    • Gumpertas Gumpert
    Willie Fung
    Willie Fung
    • Willieas Willie
    Lillie Mui
    • 'Tootsie'as 'Tootsie'
    Patsy O'Connor
    Patsy O'Connor
    • 'Fake' Huldaas 'Fake' Hulda
    Ernie Alexander
    • Projectionistas Projectionist
    • (uncredited)
    Eddie Arden
    • Cycle Messengeras Cycle Messenger
    • (uncredited)
    King Baggot
    King Baggot
    • Reporteras Reporter
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Jack Conway
    • Writers
      • Laurence Stallings(screen play)
      • John Lee Mahin(screen play)
      • Len Hammond(based on a story by)
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    Chris Hunter is a sly newsreel reporter. While in Shanghai doing reports on the Chinese-Japanese war, he meets pilot Alma Harding. At first she doesn't trust him, but by a trick he manages to get her hired as his assistant. During an adventurous expedition through the jungles of South America he manages to change her view of him. —Tom Zoerner <Tom.Zoerner@informatik.uni-erlangen.de>
    • secretary
    • screwball comedy
    • rain forest
    • aviatrix
    • jungle
    • 84 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Taglines
      • Love Scoops the world's hottest news . . . !
    • Genres
      • Adventure
      • Comedy
      • Drama
      • Romance
    • Certificate
      • Passed
    • Parents guide
      • Add content advisory

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Production was delayed in August, 1938, when three hundred African American extras working on the film went on strike.
    • Goofs
      When Chris is screening the raw footage of the plane crash, it is already completely edited with multiple camera angles and shot with various lenses, even though only one camera was supposedly used to film it, and the footage is supposed to be raw.
    • Quotes

      Alma Harding: [Referring to macArthur's change of mood] Well, I never saw weather clear up quicker. This business must be alittle like an insane asylum.

      Miss Kitty Wayne: It's nice though. You don't realize you're in the violent ward until you're stuck to the bed.

    • Crazy credits
      We wish to thank Her Majesty's Governor of Netherlands Guiana for permitting our expedition to enter the jungles of the Tottiekampu country. Our thanks also to Chief Moi of the Matawais tribe for allowing us to record for the first time the sights and sounds of the Djuka Fire Dance Ritual.
    • Alternate versions
      Also available in a computer colorized version.
    • Connections
      Edited into Nick Carter, Master Detective (1939)
    • Soundtracks
      Sobre las Olas (Over the Waves)
      (1887) (uncredited)

      Written by Juventino Rosas

      Background music on the test film shown to natives

    User reviews23

    Review
    Top review
    9/10
    Never a dull moment!
    The epitome of the madcap comedy/adventure genre! From the Japanese invasion of China to the bustle of midtown Manhatten to the Amazon jungle, never a dull moment. This could have served as the prototype for the "Indiana Jones" films or "Romancing the Stone".

    War correspondent Gable is not beyond inventing a scoop if none is readily available. Myrna Loy, playing a sort of Amelia Earhart role, is duped by a rival news organization into a ploy to beat Gable at his own game. How the action moves from China to New York to a burning ship off the east coast to South America is....too complicated to describe in a short review. This may not be the best Gable film or the most convincing role ever played by Myrna Loy (although it's quite similar to her "Thin Man" roles), but it is highly entertaining. Both the filming and the story may be a little simplistic for today's taste and is certainly a far fetched plot but it's a good rip-roaring yarn nevertheless. I'll downgrade it to a 9 out of 10 only because the transfer that I saw wasn't up to the highest standards.
    helpful•7
    1
    • chaos111
    • Aug 23, 2006

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 16, 1938 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • Spanish
    • Also known as
      • Let 'Em All Talk
    • Filming locations
      • Tottiekampu country, Netherlands Guyana
    • Production company
      • Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $1,564,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 47 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

    Related news

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