The Heat's On
(1943)
78-79 mins | Comedy | 2 December 1943
Cast:
Mae West, Victor Moore, William Gaxton [ More ]Director:
Gregory RatoffWriters:
Fitzroy Davis, George S. George, Fred SchillerCinematographer:
Franz F. PlanerEditor:
Otto MeyerProduction Designer:
Nicolai RemisoffProduction Company:
Gregory Ratoff ProductionsThe working title of this film was Tropicana. According to a 26 May 1943 news item in HR, Harry Goetz was to have produced the film with Gregory Ratoff. Other pre-production news items in HR note that music arranger Sam Messenheimer was to "supervise" and Chris Beute work as a production assistant on the project, but the extent of their contribution to the released film has not been determined. Although the DV review credits Boris Ingster and Lou Breslow with screenplay, they are not mentioned in the SAB or in onscreen credits. According to an unidentified publicity item in the AMPAS files, Ida Lupino's younger sister Rita was to make her film debut in this picture, portraying a Spanish dancer, but her appearance in the released film has not been confirmed. This picture marked Mae West's return to the screen after a three-year absence and her last film appearance until Myra Breckenridge in 1970. ...
The working title of this film was Tropicana. According to a 26 May 1943 news item in HR, Harry Goetz was to have produced the film with Gregory Ratoff. Other pre-production news items in HR note that music arranger Sam Messenheimer was to "supervise" and Chris Beute work as a production assistant on the project, but the extent of their contribution to the released film has not been determined. Although the DV review credits Boris Ingster and Lou Breslow with screenplay, they are not mentioned in the SAB or in onscreen credits. According to an unidentified publicity item in the AMPAS files, Ida Lupino's younger sister Rita was to make her film debut in this picture, portraying a Spanish dancer, but her appearance in the released film has not been confirmed. This picture marked Mae West's return to the screen after a three-year absence and her last film appearance until Myra Breckenridge in 1970.
When Broadway producer Tony Ferris experiences financial difficulties with his new show, "Indiscretions," Ferris' star Fay Lawrence, seizes the opportunity and threatens to break her contract and go to work for rival producer Forrest Stanton. Soon after, Ferris is visited by Hubert Bainbridge, the milquetoast brother of Hannah Bainbridge, the head of the Bainbridge Foundation, an organization dedicated to preserving decency on Broadway. When Hubert asks Ferris to audition his niece, Janey Adair, an aspiring singer, and mentions that he has been put in charge of the Foundation while his shrewish sister Hannah attends a convention in Seattle, Ferris conceives of a scheme to save his show. After Ferris convinces Hubert that "Indiscretions" is indecent, the show is raided and the cast jailed. Ferris is thrilled by the publicity until he discovers that the show has been shut down and Fay has accepted a role in Stanton's new production, "Tropicana." In order to steal Fay away from Stanton, Ferris promises to star Janey in a show with Fay and then convinces Hubert to inform Stanton that Fay has been blacklisted by the Foundation, thus insuring that Stanton will sell "Tropicana" to cut his losses. After spreading the word that he has raised $200,000 to stage a new musical, Ferris buys "Tropicana" from Stanton and writes him a rubber check for the amount. Upon discovering that Hubert has the responsibility for the treasury during his sister's absence, Ferris convinces him to sink the proceeds into the show. While backstage one day, Hubert meets Fay and shyly confides that he is financing the show. Intrigued, Fay invites him to her apartment, gets him drunk, and ...
When Broadway producer Tony Ferris experiences financial difficulties with his new show, "Indiscretions," Ferris' star Fay Lawrence, seizes the opportunity and threatens to break her contract and go to work for rival producer Forrest Stanton. Soon after, Ferris is visited by Hubert Bainbridge, the milquetoast brother of Hannah Bainbridge, the head of the Bainbridge Foundation, an organization dedicated to preserving decency on Broadway. When Hubert asks Ferris to audition his niece, Janey Adair, an aspiring singer, and mentions that he has been put in charge of the Foundation while his shrewish sister Hannah attends a convention in Seattle, Ferris conceives of a scheme to save his show. After Ferris convinces Hubert that "Indiscretions" is indecent, the show is raided and the cast jailed. Ferris is thrilled by the publicity until he discovers that the show has been shut down and Fay has accepted a role in Stanton's new production, "Tropicana." In order to steal Fay away from Stanton, Ferris promises to star Janey in a show with Fay and then convinces Hubert to inform Stanton that Fay has been blacklisted by the Foundation, thus insuring that Stanton will sell "Tropicana" to cut his losses. After spreading the word that he has raised $200,000 to stage a new musical, Ferris buys "Tropicana" from Stanton and writes him a rubber check for the amount. Upon discovering that Hubert has the responsibility for the treasury during his sister's absence, Ferris convinces him to sink the proceeds into the show. While backstage one day, Hubert meets Fay and shyly confides that he is financing the show. Intrigued, Fay invites him to her apartment, gets him drunk, and tricks him into revealing Ferris' entire scheme. Fay immediately notifies Stanton, who then phones Hannah in Seattle. The next day during rehearsal, Hannah bursts into the theater, and after ordering Janey to leave the show and Hubert to return to his post in the supply room, she informs Ferris that she has closed all his accounts. Desperate, Ferris schemes to manipulate Fay into coming to the aid of the show. Feigning insanity, Ferris has himself committed to an asylum and asks Dr. H. Snyder to summon Fay for a visit. When Snyder explains that Ferris' financial setbacks have driven him mad, Fay offers to take over the show. Upon hearing the news, Ferris experiences a miraculous recovery, but when the doctor refuses to release him, Fay cheerfully volunteers to sign the commitment papers. Next, Fay visits Hannah and threatens to expose Hubert's embezzlement of the Foundation funds unless she invests in the show. Intimidated, Hannah agrees and the show becomes a big success.
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