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:

There are only two things to do in this small town. One is watching TV . . .

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Romance | Thriller

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Certificate:

R

Did You Know?

Trivia

The part of as Gloria Harper was originally cast with actress Uma Thurman but in the end the role went to actress Jennifer Connelly.

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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

Referenced in Easy Riders, Raging Bulls: How the Sex, Drugs and Rock 'N' Roll Generation Saved Hollywood (2003)

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Soundtracks

Chopin's Love Theme
Written by Frédéric Chopin
Performed by The 101 Strings Orchestra (as "101 Strings" Orchestra)
Arranged by Robert W. Lowden (as R.W. Lowder)
Courtesy of Alshire International, Inc.

User Reviews

Don J. at his finest

HOT SPOT is what Virginia Madsen calls her loins, dear ones. Don Johnson does his best to keep them cooled them off but he has trouble keeping up with her, especially since Don has his eye on the luscious and very young Jennifer Connelly. Don plays a drifter who picks up a job at a used car lot in a small Texas town. He soon finds himself bedding the owner's absolutely insatiable wife. And he is soon working on the oh-so innocent Connelly. The lusty trio is ably supported by such veteran character actors as Jerry Hardin, Jack Nance and Barry Corbin, and this his hot-as-hell, steamy production was directed by none other than Dennis Hopper. A great film for adults. The ending is a classic. I wonder how much fun the notorious lothario Johnson had while filming this, since he spends a lot of screen time in the arms of Madsen and Connelly, both of whom are at the top of their form.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

26 October 1990 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Hot Spot

Filming Locations:

117 N Main St Taylor, 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