The Hot Spot (1990)

Upon arriving to a small town, a drifter quickly gets into trouble with the local authorities- and the local women- after he robs a bank.

Director:

Dennis Hopper

Writers:

Charles Williams (book), Nona Tyson (screenplay)

Stars:

Don Johnson, Virginia Madsen, Jennifer Connelly

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Don Johnson	...	Harry Madox
Virginia Madsen	...	Dolly Harshaw
Jennifer Connelly	...	Gloria Harper
Charles Martin Smith	...	Lon Gulick
William Sadler	...	Frank Sutton
Jerry Hardin	...	George Harshaw
Barry Corbin	...	Sheriff
Leon Rippy	...	Deputy Tate
Jack Nance	...	Julian Ward
Virgil Frye	...	Deputy Buck
John Hawker	...	Uncle Mort
Margaret Bowman	...	Woman at Gas Station
Debra Cole	...	Irene Davey
Karen Culley	...	Cowgirl
Cody Haynes	...	Cowboy

Storyline

When the drifter Harry Madox reaches a small town in Texas, he gets a job as used car salesman with the dealer George Harshaw and settles down in a hotel room. During a fire, Harry observes that the local bank is left empty and open without any security. Soon he plots a scheme to rob the bank, provoking a fire in his room to distract the employees. When Harry meets George's wife Dolly Harshaw, the easy woman teases him and they have sex. Harry becomes the prime suspect of the bank heist and is arrested, but Dolly provides the necessary alibi to release him and then blackmails him into having a love affair with her. However, Harry falls in love with Gloria Harper, who works as an accountant at the dealership. He discovers that Gloria is being blackmailed by the despicable Frank Sutton, and he decides to press Sutton.

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Plot Keywords:

neo noir | panties | breasts | menage a trois | leg spreading | 

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Taglines:

Safe is never sex. It's dangerous.

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Romance | Thriller

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

26 October 1990 (USA)

Also Known As:

Ardente Sedução

Filming Locations:

Austin, Texas, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$13,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$112,188, 14 October 1990

Gross USA:

$1,293,976

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$1,293,976

Company Credits

Production Co:

Orion Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

130 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Actresses Virginia Madsen and Jennifer Connelly both perform partial nude scenes in this movie with both of them at times appearing topless.

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Goofs

After Harry shoots Frank, the pistol's slider is seen stuck at the rear position indicating an empty magazine. Yet a second later when Harry gets off the floor, the slider is in the forward position and the hammer is cocked.

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Quotes

Dolly Harshaw: There's only two things to do in this town. You got a TV?
Harry Madox: Nope.
Dolly Harshaw: Well then, you're down to one. Lotsa luck!

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Alternate Versions

UK cinema and video versions were cut by the BBFC by 5 secs to remove a brief shot from the building of an incendiary device, as the details shown (matches, an alarm clock etc) were considered to be a dangerous imitable technique. The 2003 DVD release features the same cut print.

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Connections

Featured in At the Movies: The Hot Spot/Mr. Destiny/Memphis Belle/Welcome Home, Roxy Carmichael (1990)

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Soundtracks

The Stroke
Written and Performed by Billy Squier
Courtesy of Capitol Records
By Arrangement with CEMA Special Markets

User Reviews

A tightly crafted, sun-drenched film noir

Dennis Hopper delivers the goods in this meticulously conventional tale of a charismatic underachiever finding his level. Harkening back to the gender and class warfare sensibilities of the Forties, The Hot Spot excels across the board, in acting, dialogue, plotting, music, and cinematography.