Red Heat *** (1988, Arnold Schwarzenegger, James Belushi, Peter Boyle, Ed O’Ross, Larry Fishburne, Gina Gershon) – Classic Movie Review 8249

Director Walter Hill’s 1988 action thriller Red Heat stars Arnold Schwarzenegger as Russian lawman Captain Ivan Danko of the Soviet State Police, who is sent to Chicago to pick up a drug dealer, dangerous Georgian drug kingpin Viktor Rostavili (Ed O’Ross), and is helped there by belligerent local cop Detective Sergeant Art Ridzik of the Chicago Police Department (played by James [Jim] Belushi) in an uneasy alliance.

Director Hill turns in a fast, tough, foul-mouthed thriller, big Arnie proves a very confident, charismatic star, and Belushi trails enjoyably along in his wake. They are a good sparring double act.

Red Heat is by no means a great thriller but it is an entertaining movie, and it boasts two notable screen firsts: the first American film allowed to be shot in Red Square, and a unique duel between two Chicago buses.

Also in the cast are Peter Boyle, Ed O’Ross, Larry [Laurence] Fishburne, Gina Gershon, Brent Jennings, Richard Bright, J W Smith, Gretchen Palmer, Pruitt Taylor Vince, Michael G [Mike] Hagerty, Brion James and Gloria Delaney.

Red Heat is directed by Walter Hill, runs 104 minutes, is made by Carolco Pictures, Lone Wolf and Oak Pictures, is released by Columbia Tri-Star, is written by Harry Kleiner and Walter Hill, Troy Kennedy Martin, shot by Matthew F Leonetti, produced by Walter Hill and Gordon Carroll, scored by James Horner and designed by John Vallone.

On a $29 million budget, it grossed $34 million in the US, so it was not one of the bigger hits from Arnie’s prime.

© Derek Winnert 2019 Classic Movie Review 8249

Check out more reviews on http://derekwinnert.com