City Heat (1984)
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23% of critics liked it
(13 reviews) -
29% of users liked it
(5,991 ratings)
This standard, tongue-in-cheek, gangsters and good guys saga is carried on the star power and screen presence of Clint Eastwood as Lt. Speer, a taciturn, tough, play-it-by-the-book cop, and on Burt Reynolds as Mike Murphy, Speer's old friend in the force, now turned private eye but still a… More This standard, tongue-in-cheek, gangsters and good guys saga is carried on the star power and screen presence of Clint Eastwood as Lt. Speer, a taciturn, tough, play-it-by-the-book cop, and on Burt Reynolds as Mike Murphy, Speer's old friend in the force, now turned private eye but still a captivating rogue at heart. With a sub-text of playing their well-known screen personas off each other, Eastwood and Reynolds provide more than a surface interpretation of the characters that made them famous. After Murphy's partner is murdered, he focuses on pitting one mob boss against another in an attempt to have both mobsters kill each other. In the meantime, Lt. Speer -- who has never approved of Murphy's private detective business -- does not really know if Murphy is for or against the two top gangsters. Set in the era of speakeasies and Prohibition, an added layer of "film noir" can be discerned under the complex plot, verbal repartée, and episodes of toned-down violence (a kind of parody in themselves). Although this may not be the best film either star has made, it is still interesting to see them together on screen. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, Rovi
- Directed By
- Richard Benjamin
- Genres
- Drama, Action & Adventure, Mystery & Suspense, Comedy
- In Theaters
- Dec 7, 1984 Wide
- Studio
- Warner Home Video
Critic Reviews
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Variety Staff, Variety
An amiable but decidedly lukewarm confection geared entirely around the two star turns.
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Geoff Andrew, Time Out
It's certainly not a subtle movie, but with memorable performances, ludicrously over-the-top one-liners and amiable zaniness, it qualifies as a lot of fun.
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Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
How do travesties like this get made?
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Janet Maslin, New York Times
One of Mr. Benjamin's main contributions to the film is a good-humored buoyancy, even when things are at their most muddled.
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Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader
Under the direction of last-minute replacement Richard Benjamin, the results are insufferable -- grotesque, chaotic, demoralized.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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Clint Eastwood
as Lieutenant Speer
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Burt Reynolds
as Mike Murphy
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Jane Alexander
as Addy
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Madeline Kahn
as Caroline Howley
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Rip Torn
as Primo Pitt
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Irene Cara
as Ginny Lee
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Richard Roundtree
as Dehl Swift
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Tony Lo Bianco
as Leon Coll
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William Sanderson
as Lonnie Ash
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Nicholas Worth
as Troy Roker
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Robert Davi
as Nino
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Jude Farese
as Dub Slack
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John Hancock
as Fat Freddie
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Harry Caesar
as Locker Room Attendant
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Hamilton Camp
as Garage Attendant
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Michael Cassidy
as Stunt
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Anthony Charnota
as Poker Player
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Dallas Cole
as Redhead Sherry
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Nick Dimitri
as Garage Soldier
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Buddy Ekins
as Stunt
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Lou Filippo
as Referee
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Bruce M. Fischer
as Bruiser
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Richard Foronjy
as Poker Player
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Wiley Harker
as Mr. Smith
-
Bob Herron
as Garage Soldier
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Chuck Hicks
as Stunt
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Art La Fleur
as Bruiser
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Gene Lebell
as Garage Soldier
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Julius Le Flore
as Stunt
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Arthur Malet
as Doc Loomis
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Christopher Moore
as Roxy Cop
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Jack Nance
as Aram Strossell
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Gerald S. O'Loughlin
as Counterman Louie
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Charles Parks
as Dr. Breslin
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Walter Robles
as Poker Player
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Ernie Sabella
as Ballistics Expert
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Joan Shawlee
as Peggy Barker
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Preston Sparks
as Keith Stoddard
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Tom Spratley
as Chauffeur
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Beau Starr
as Pitt Lookout
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Darwyn Swalve
as Bordello Bouncer
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Bob Terhune
as Billiard Soldier
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Tab Thacker
as Tuck
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George P. Wilbur
as Stunt
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Alfie Wise
as Short Guy
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Bill Hart
as Garage Soldier
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Fred Lerner
as Pitt Roof Sniper
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Carey Loftin
as Roxy Driver
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Fritz Manes
as Stunt
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Michael Maurer
as Vint Diestock
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George Orrison
as Pitt Doorway Thug
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Alex Plasschaert
as Shortest Friend
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Jack Thibeau
as Garage Soldier
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Wayne Van Horn
as Stunt
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Glenn Wilder
as Stunt
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Hank Calia
as Shorter Friend
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Daphne Eckler
as Agnes
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Minnie Lindsay
as Bordello Maid
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Bob Maxwell
as Mr. Smith
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Lonna Montrose
as Didi
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James Hooks Reynolds
as Stunt
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Mic Rodgers
as Stunt
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Sharon Schaffer
as Stunt
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Jimmy Lewis
as Roxy Patron
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Allan Graf
as Stunts
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Richard Drown
as Stunts
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Holgie Forrester
as Little Red
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Debby Porter
as Stunts
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George Fisher
as Garage Soldier
