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Red Heat (1988 film)

From Alfawiki
Red Heat
Company typeFilm
IndustryMotion picture
Founded1988
FounderWalter Hill
ProductsAction comedy film
ParentTriStar Pictures

Red Heat is a 1988 American action comedy in the buddy cop genre, directed, co-written, and co-produced by Walter Hill. The film stars Arnold Schwarzenegger portraying Soviet officer Ivan Danko alongside Jim Belushi as Chicago detective Art Ridzik. Together, they pursue Georgian drug lord Viktor Rostavili (Ed O'Ross), responsible for the death of Danko's partner. The majority of scenes set in the Soviet Union were filmed in Hungary. Schwarzenegger received $8 million for his performance. The movie is dedicated to Bennie Dobbins, who tragically passed away during production.

Plot

Moscow police officers Ivan Danko and Yuri Ogarkov lead a raid targeting Georgian crime boss Viktor Rostavili. During the operation, Rostavili kills Ogarkov and escapes to the United States. When Rostavili is apprehended in Chicago on a minor charge, Danko is dispatched covertly to bring him back to the USSR.

Upon arriving in Chicago, Danko teams up with detectives Art Ridzik and Max Gallagher. While interrogating Rostavili, Danko seizes a mysterious key. During transport, Rostavili’s henchmen ambush the group, killing Gallagher and freeing their leader. Defying orders from American officials to cease his investigation, Danko remains determined to capture Rostavili, with Ridzik assigned to supervise him. They uncover Rostavili’s alliance with local gangs involved in smuggling cocaine into Soviet territory. A confrontation with Rostavili’s wife, Cat Manzetti, results in an ambush that forces them to retreat.

At a hospital, they question an injured accomplice who is then assassinated by a disguised attacker; Danko kills the assailant. After American authorities confiscate Danko’s firearm and order him to halt his inquiry, Ridzik secretly hands over his own gun to Danko. Later, Cat is murdered by Rostavili.

Danko fends off another assault at his hotel while Rostavili steals the key from his room. The key corresponds to lockers at a bus station where Rostavili collects drugs and hijacks a bus. Danko and Ridzik give chase in another bus, causing Rostavili to crash into a train. As he emerges from the wreckage, Danko kills him. At the airport, the two exchange wristwatches as a token of their newfound partnership; Danko remarks that since they are law enforcement officers rather than politicians, it is acceptable to like one another. The film concludes with Danko saluting in Moscow’s Red Square.

Cast

Development and writing

Walter Hill originated the film's concept, envisioning Arnold Schwarzenegger as a Russian law enforcement officer operating in the United States—a distinctive idea designed to attract a wider audience despite Schwarzenegger’s accent. Hill aimed to craft a classic, larger-than-life action tale that would challenge American viewers to embrace an unapologetically Soviet protagonist.

Schwarzenegger accepted the role primarily due to the storyline and a memorable scene involving a wooden leg concealing cocaine, adapted from Harry Kleiner’s script. Hill regarded this particular sequence as the film’s highlight, even though he had reservations about the remainder of the screenplay following the Moscow segment.

To create a more believable character, Hill deliberately softened Schwarzenegger’s usual on-screen persona, focusing on his expressive qualities rather than physical prowess. In preparation, Schwarzenegger studied Greta Garbo’s performance in Ninotchka and learned some Russian phrases, using his accent to enhance authenticity.

James Horner composed the musical score with an intent to evoke a heroic atmosphere akin to Olympic victory themes. Additionally, Sergei Prokofiev’s Cantata for the 20th Anniversary of the October Revolution is featured prominently during the opening and closing credits.

Hill chose buses over cars for the climactic sequence to better complement Schwarzenegger’s screen presence and add visual interest. He characterized the movie primarily as a traditional buddy film centered on two men.

Throughout filming, the script was frequently revised by several writers including Hill, Kleiner, Troy Kennedy Martin, Steven Meerson & Peter Krikes, and John Mankiewicz & Daniel Pyne. The project developed rapidly from Hill’s initial idea without a finalized script, reflecting his energetic creative approach.

For visual branding, title designer Wayne Fitzgerald crafted a unique typeface that combined elements of English and Russian alphabets to visually reinforce the film’s Soviet motif.

Filming

The first portion of the opening sequence was filmed at Budapest’s Rudas Thermal Bath, featuring a fight scene with Schwarzenegger who approved of the nudity as appropriate for the story. Due to insufficient snow in Budapest, the latter half was shot in Austria. The crew spent four days filming in Moscow, mainly around Red Square—a possibility made feasible by improving US-Soviet relations. However, because of uncertainties regarding location permissions, many scenes set in Moscow were actually filmed in Budapest; notably, Buda Castle doubled as the Soviet Ministry of Home Affairs.

Weapons

Danko’s firearm—described as "the finest Soviet 9.2 mm weapon designed by Podbyrin"—was designed by Tim LaFrance. It drew inspiration from the Desert Eagle and resembled an oversized Walther P38; this prop earned the nickname "Hollywood Eagle" and was marketed commercially as the "Pobyrin pistol." The antagonist Viktor Rostavili carried a concealed weapon: a modified derringer hidden within his sleeve that could be swiftly deployed using a spring mechanism.

Music

The film incorporates Sergei Prokofiev’s Cantata for the 20th Anniversary of the October Revolution movement titled "The Philosophers" during both its opening and closing sequences. Composer James Horner incorporated themes from his earlier 48 Hrs score—a technique he continued employing in later works such as Commando (1985 film) and Another 48 Hrs.

Release

Red Heat debuted in Los Angeles and New York on June 17, 1988, with distribution handled by TriStar Pictures.

Box office

The movie launched at the top position in the box office rankings, earning $35 million domestically. However, it was surpassed in earnings by Schwarzenegger's other 1988 comedy, Twins. Schwarzenegger later admitted that the film "didn't achieve the blockbuster status I anticipated," attributing this to factors such as audience receptiveness and aspects of the performances. Director Walter Hill remarked that while the film fared well in the U.S., it exceeded expectations internationally and found considerable success in the home video market.

Critical response

On Rotten Tomatoes, Red Heat holds a 67% approval rating derived from 27 reviews, with critics noting Walter Hill's gritty direction and humor despite a somewhat conventional plot. Metacritic assigns it a score of 61%, reflecting generally positive feedback. According to CinemaScore audience surveys, the film received a "B" grade.

Critical opinions were divided: Roger Ebert gave it 3 out of 4 stars, commending its stylized action sequences and Hill’s direction. Variety praised Schwarzenegger’s performance alongside Belushi’s complementary role. On the other hand, Hal Hinson of The Washington Post described the film as lacking joy and poorly executed, while film historian Leonard Maltin characterized it as "dreary and coarse" with unlikable main characters.

Video game

In 1989, a video game adaptation of the film was launched for various computer systems.

External links

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