By Michael Lyons
"The best thing about a heat wave is constantly having the illusion you're getting exercise." - Unknown
Remember a few months ago when you complained about how chilly it was. Not anymore, right? Some areas that usually get snow for Memorial Day are sweltering.
While movies about cooler climates might seem like a great antidote, it could be a fun time to revel in the whole "misery loves company" mind frame and take a look back at just some of the many movies that have used heat waves at their backdrops (and a number of them take place in New York).
Here are some movies that have turned up the heat:
Rear Window (1954)
Alfred Hitchcock's masterpiece. Jimmy Stewart is a photojournalist recovering from a broken leg and confined to his apartment in Greenwich Village in New York City during a summer heatwave.
With nothing to do but stare out his window and watch the neighbors through their windows, he begins to believe that his neighbor may have murdered their wife.
Co-starring Grace Kelly, Thelma Ritter, Raymond Burr, and the fantastic courtyard movie set, Hitchcock makes another character in the film.
Rear Window is not just one of the director's best and one of the best thrillers ever; it's a great "snapshot in time" of life in major cities before air conditioning was so common in summer (anyone for a nice snooze on their fire escapes?).
The Long, Hot Summer (1958)
The title says it all. Based on stories from William Faulkner, this tale of Mississippi in the summer provides the backdrop for the tumultuous relationships of the Varner family. A fantastic cast, including Paul Newman, Joanne Woodward, Orson Welles, and Angela Lansbury, perfectly directed by Martin Ritt, easily makes this pure Hollywood gold.
In the Heat of the Night (1967)
Another iconic Hollywood classic uses a sweltering summer southern heat wave as a backdrop and metaphor. Sidney Poitier is Virgil Tibbs, a police detective from Philadelphia who winds up investigating a murder in a small Mississippi town, clashing with the local police chief, played by Rod Stieger. The two leads are incredible as they move from clashing adversaries to understanding allies. Throughout it all, director Norman Jewison's film is still relevant today.
The Odd Couple (1968)
Alright, so maybe it's only the first act of the movie that takes place during a heat wave, but after that, you get the brilliant Walter Matthau and Jack Lemmon as Felix and Oscar in this classic adaptation of Neil Simon's play about a slob and a neat freak, forced to live together after their divorces.
The opening heat wave scenes are hysterical, as Oscar has his poker buddies over for the weekly game when his air conditioner is broken. Neil Simon's comedy gold follows: "Why don't we chip in three dollars a piece and buy another window?,” says one of the poker buddies. “How can you breathe in here?!" And the rest of the film features summer in Manhattan as a backdrop.
Dog Day Afternoon (1975)
Al Pacino is brilliant as a jittery bank robber who attempts to knock over the First Brooklyn Savings Bank on a sweltering summer day. With outstanding supporting performances from John Cazale, James Broderick, Chris Sarandon, and Charles Durning, director Sidney Lumet has made a film that is tense, dramatic, funny, and almost documentary-like (particularly the feel of city summer heat). What's most incredible is that it's based on a true story, and the "Attica!" scene is still one of the golden moments of 70s
Body Heat (1981)
Writer and director Lawrence Kasdan's brilliant thriller turns up the heat in many ways. A throwback to Hollywood's golden age of noir thrillers, the film tells the story of a slick attorney (William Hurt) who gets involved with a wealthy businessman's wife (Kathleen Turner).
With its South Florida setting, there's plenty of steaminess here. The two lead stars are great, and the conclusion is still a marvel of the "twist ending."
Do the Right Thing (1989)
It's incredible how both of-it's-time and prescient this thirty-three-year-old film is. Spike Lee's masterpiece is about one day, on one block in Brooklyn, during a heat wave, during which racial tensions explode as the temperature rises.
This rare film delivers on so many emotional levels and becomes more of a revelation each time one watches it.
Die Hard with a Vengeance (1995)
Bruce Willis' third outing as rogue police officer John McClane, trying to stop a mad bomber (Jeremy Irons) from destroying Manhattan and bringing along a reluctant citizen (a hilarious and sharp Samuel L. Jackson) in the process.
And New York City, in all its heat wave stickiness, is again the backdrop, complete with the Lovin' Spoonfuls hit song "Summer in the City" playing over the opening credits.
And these are just a few of the many heat wave movies out there. So, when the summer temperatures become unbearable, let the movies bear it for you by heading inside, turning on the air conditioner to its "Arctic" setting, and enjoying one or all of these Hollywood heat wave films.
Stay cool, everyone!
My book, Drawn to Greatness: Disney's Animation Renaissance is now available on Amazon!
Enjoy more of my articles and podcasts at my website, Words From Lyons
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