Body Heat (1981)

While scoring high-profile credits as a screenwriter (including The Empire Strikes Back, Return of the Jedi, and Raiders of the Lost Ark), Lawrence Kasdan made his directorial debut with this steamy, contemporary film noir in the tradition of Double Indemnity and other classics from the 1940s. In one of his most memorable roles, William Hurt plays a Florida lawyer unwittingly drawn into a web of deceit spun by Kathleen Turner (in her screen debut) as a married socialite who plots to kill off her husband with Hurt's assistance. Kasdan's dialogue is a hoot (sometimes it borders on satire), and the sultry atmosphere is a perfect complement to the perspiration-soaked chemistry between Hurt and Turner, whose love scenes caused quite a stir when the film was released in 1981. John Barry's score sets the provocative mood, and both Ted Danson and Mickey Rourke are splendid in memorable supporting roles. --Jeff Shannon Amazon.com essential video

Body Heat

I love this movie, the music, the sounds of the voices, the one liners,
the story. I don't normally watch movies over but I have watched this over and over, the story is amazing. 1981 when I first fell in love with
William Hurt. September 30, 2008

Body Heat Superfan

Body Heat is one of my all time favorite movies. It captures the full impact of the steamy Florida summers, interwoven with one of the best screenplays of all time. This remastered version is fantastic! July 19, 2008

Chapter 1: Kathleen Turner

A bucket of ice cubes in the bath is just not enough to cool down this steamy noir. Writer-director Lawrence Kasdan's 1981 homage to Double Indemnity blows the mercury right out the top of the thermometer. Kathleen Turner is the sultry femme fatale who plays William Hurt's hapless pushover like a Stradivarius ("You aren't too smart. I like that in a man.") The combination of the Florida heat with Turner and Hurt's sexual chemistry will light your socks on fire. Outstanding support from Richard Crenna, Ted Danson, J.A. Preston and an up-and-coming character actor named Mickey Rourke. One of a handful of modern neo-noirs (e.g. Roman Polanski's Chinatown and Curtis Hanson's L.A. Confidential) that really gets it "right". July 17, 2008

Loved this movie

This is one of those movies that never gets old. I loved Kathleen Turner in this. The casting was excellent and the characters were great. June 12, 2008

Wicked Duplicity

The film begins with a view of a fire at an old inn: something was being destroyed A lawyer makes a deal for his client. People are upset, "it's the heat". Lawyer Ned Racine meets a married woman, she likes a man who isn't too smart. Their dialogue is snappy, like in the film "Double Indemnity". The heat tells you it is Florida. Ned and Matty meet at her palatial mansion; her husband is quite wealthy. Only one servant? Their affair begins. Will their actions have unforeseen consequences? Does the heat wave cause more anger, hatred, and murder? [Yes.] Does Matty plant ideas in Ned's head? Does he pick up on these hints? The discussions about Matty's pre-nuptial agreement tells you where this is going. "This is so dangerous." Matty's husband has various investments that are vaguely described. One of them is "The Breakers". Is he a front man for people who must remain in the shadows?

Ned states what Matty wants him to say: her marital situation will be simplified. Does Matty's talk about her husband's will show her knowledge and character? One of Ned's clients warns him about committing a crime: it's a serious business. In the early morning the plan is accomplished. Is there a perfect plan? If a spouse is murdered does suspicion always fall on the surviving spouse? Will there be a slip-up over the will? Are mistakes planned? The police are suspicious about this case and warn Ned. He learns more about Matty's past. ["The Maltese Falcon"?] Matty wants it all. What about Edmund's glasses? Is there a double-cross possible? Ned learns new facts about the past. The suspense builds at the end. What about the body? Will Ned finally realize what happened?

The plot of this story is as good as James M. Cain or Raymond Chandler. This film educates against trusting a situation that seems to be too good to be true. May 28, 2008

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