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Heat Lightning

  • 19341934
  • PassedPassed
  • 1h 3m
IMDb RATING
7.1/10
779
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Aline MacMahon in Heat Lightning (1934)
  • Crime
  • Drama
In the Mojave Desert, Olga runs a gas station, lunch counter, and auto camp with her younger sister Myra. In a 24-hour period, Olga must deal with Myra's desire to go to a town dance with a ... Read allIn the Mojave Desert, Olga runs a gas station, lunch counter, and auto camp with her younger sister Myra. In a 24-hour period, Olga must deal with Myra's desire to go to a town dance with a cad, the appearance by happenstance of George, an old boyfriend whose conduct is never abo... Read allIn the Mojave Desert, Olga runs a gas station, lunch counter, and auto camp with her younger sister Myra. In a 24-hour period, Olga must deal with Myra's desire to go to a town dance with a cad, the appearance by happenstance of George, an old boyfriend whose conduct is never above suspicion, and the overnight presence of two women recently divorced in Reno, who, with... Read all
IMDb RATING
7.1/10
779
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Mervyn LeRoy
  • Writers
    • Leon Abrams(from the original play by)
    • George Abbott(from the original play by)
    • Brown Holmes(screen play)
  • Stars
    • Aline MacMahon
    • Ann Dvorak
    • Preston Foster
Top credits
  • Director
    • Mervyn LeRoy
  • Writers
    • Leon Abrams(from the original play by)
    • George Abbott(from the original play by)
    • Brown Holmes(screen play)
  • Stars
    • Aline MacMahon
    • Ann Dvorak
    • Preston Foster
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 19User reviews
    • 20Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos

    Preston Foster and Aline MacMahon in Heat Lightning (1934)
    Preston Foster and Aline MacMahon in Heat Lightning (1934)
    Aline MacMahon in Heat Lightning (1934)
    Add photo

    Top cast

    Edit
    Aline MacMahon
    Aline MacMahon
    • Olgaas Olga
    Ann Dvorak
    Ann Dvorak
    • Myraas Myra
    Preston Foster
    Preston Foster
    • Georgeas George
    Lyle Talbot
    Lyle Talbot
    • Jeffas Jeff
    Glenda Farrell
    Glenda Farrell
    • Mrs. Tiftonas Mrs. Tifton
    Frank McHugh
    Frank McHugh
    • Frank - the chauffeuras Frank - the chauffeur
    Ruth Donnelly
    Ruth Donnelly
    • Mrs. Ashton-Ashleyas Mrs. Ashton-Ashley
    Theodore Newton
    Theodore Newton
    • Steve Lairdas Steve Laird
    Willard Robertson
    Willard Robertson
    • Everett Marshallas Everett Marshall
    Harry C. Bradley
    Harry C. Bradley
    • 'Popsy' - a Businessmanas 'Popsy' - a Businessman
    James Durkin
    James Durkin
    • The Sheriffas The Sheriff
    Jane Darwell
    Jane Darwell
    • Gladys - the Wifeas Gladys - the Wife
    Edgar Kennedy
    Edgar Kennedy
    • Herbert - the Husbandas Herbert - the Husband
    Muriel Evans
    Muriel Evans
    • Blonde Cutieas Blonde Cutie
    Jill Dennett
    Jill Dennett
    • Girl with Black Bangsas Girl with Black Bangs
    • (uncredited)
    Sam Hayes
    Sam Hayes
    • Radio Announceras Radio Announcer
    • (voice)
    • (uncredited)
    Chris-Pin Martin
    Chris-Pin Martin
    • Mexican Husband with Familyas Mexican Husband with Family
    • (uncredited)
    Margareta Montez
    • Mexican Wifeas Mexican Wife
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Mervyn LeRoy
    • Writers
      • Leon Abrams(from the original play by)
      • George Abbott(from the original play by)
      • Brown Holmes(screen play)
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    In the Mojave Desert, Olga runs a gas station, lunch counter, and auto camp with her younger sister Myra. In a 24-hour period, Olga must deal with Myra's desire to go to a town dance with a cad, the appearance by happenstance of George, an old boyfriend whose conduct is never above suspicion, and the overnight presence of two women recently divorced in Reno, who, with a chauffeur, are carrying valuable jewels. George gets wind of the jewels and plays with Olga's heartstrings to set up a robbery. Myra arranges to sneak off with her beau. It's hot, and the heat lightening is crackling on the horizon. Is Olga's life of peace and hard work in the desert about to change for the worse? —<jhailey@hotmail.com>
    • soda
    • california mexico border
    • lies
    • pre code
    • jealousy
    • 60 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Taglines
      • "I JUST KILLED A RAT!" (original poster-all caps)
    • Genres
      • Crime
      • Drama
    • Certificate
      • Passed
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Condemned by the Catholic Legion of Decency just before it changed its name to the National Legion of Decency in April, 1934. It was added to their first list of banned films, published in the May 14, 1934 edition of Motion Picture Daily.
    • Goofs
      While Herbert is trying to remove the radiator cap, Gladys begins to walk around him, and a shadow of the boom microphone is visible on the hood of the car.
    • Quotes

      George: Want another barbequed sandwich?

      Jeff: I can hear the warden ask if I have any last words before they turn on the heat and you ask if I want another barbequed sandwich?

    • Connections
      Version of Highway West (1941)

    User reviews19

    Review
    Top review
    Great Cast Brings Material Up
    Heat Lightning (1934)

    ** 1/2 (out of 4)

    Sisters Olga (Aline MacMahon) and Myra (Ann Dvorak) run a small gas station in the Arizona desert where they fight about the youngest sisters wants when it comes to a different life. Throughout the day a wide range of people stop by the shop including a couple thugs (Preston Foster, Lyle Talbot) who are wanted for killing a couple men and one of them has a past relationship with Olga. This crime picture from Warner certainly isn't among their best but the nice cast and short 64-minute running time makes it a nice little gem as long as you don't go in expecting too much. The first starts off with quite a bit of innuendo around the older sister Olga and her constantly putting men down. The way she dresses, talks and acts, it really does seem like this could have been shown during TCM's look at gay and lesbian images in early Hollywood. Her behavior is explained as the film goes along but that is certainly one thing that really jumped out. For the most part the characters really aren't all that interesting and the only reason one would pay close attention to them is because the studio cast some very familiar faces and especially to those who enjoy their "B" movies. Both MacMahon and Dvorak are good in their parts of the battling sisters and both Foster and Talbot could play heavies in their sleep. The four have some pretty good scenes together and especially MacMahon and Foster when it comes to talking about their past. The cast also includes Glenda Farrell playing a sexy idiot, Frank McHugh her driver and we even get Ruth Donnelly and Edgar Kennedy in small bits. The screenplay is full of the typical stereotype characters you'd expect in a film like this but the most disappointing thing is that not much happens throughout the running time. The movie is certainly leading up to final showdown but nothing ever really happens and there just aren't enough twists or turns to keep any sort of drama going. The movie does include a terrific looking set as I thought the diner was good enough to offer up some terrific shots and especially those where the camera just looks around the insides and there being windows everywhere. This allows one to get a 360-look around the place. Some pre-Code elements add to the fun but the main draw here are the actors.
    helpful•5
    9
    • Michael_Elliott
    • Jul 30, 2011

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 3, 1934 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • Spanish
    • Also known as
      • Зарница
    • Filming locations
      • Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Warner Bros.
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 3 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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