City Heat

PG

1984

1 hr. 37 min.

Action

Comedy

Crime

Drama

List

22%

18 Reviews

Tomatometer

24%

5,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

In 1933, private investigator Mike Murphy (Burt Reynolds) is shocked when his partner, Dehl Swift (Richard Roundtree), is killed by thugs working for Primo Pitt (Rip Torn). Furious, Murphy asks his former police partner, Lt. Speer (Clint Eastwood), for help in putting a stop to the mobster. Though the two men now despise each other, Speer reluctantly agrees to help Murphy solve the murder -- while both court the private eye's secretary, Addy (Jane Alexander).

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Steve D

So many cliches that it never ends up working.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

03/07/23

Full Review

Audience Member

22% really? 90% for me. Its great to see Eastwood in his usual grumpy mean self up against a totally inept comedy style of Reynolds.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/22/23

Full Review

r 9

Clint Eastwood carries it, but 'City Heat' as a whole is just about good. Burt Reynolds makes for a solid partner for Eastwood, though his character isn't as strong as the latter's - who is played by the film's standout, no doubt. There's not any star performers behind those two, though Richard Roundtree and Rip Torn are alright. One positive, though, is the 1930s set design, which I really liked. Not the most memorable flick, you could say it ought to be due to the double act up top, but I still found it to be a satisfactory watch.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Paul H

I'd say this film and Pink Cadillac are the two worst movies that Clint Eastwood ever made.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

05/31/20

Full Review

Audience Member

Clint Eastwood and Burt Reynolds are one hell of a pairing. I would say that makes this worth the watch

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/24/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Despite starring two great actors in Clint eastwood and Burt Reynolds City Heat falters all through its running time. Because the script plays on the often taciturn nature of Eastwood's performances - channelling in particular his Dirty Harry persona - there's little chance for him and Reynolds to develop much chemistry on screen. This leaves the way open for a talented supporting cast to pick up the baton, but only Madeline Kahn, in a too-small role, rises to the challenge. It's the kind of part she could play in her sleep back then, but she still enlivens every scene she's in. Sadly, one winning performance doesn't really justify sitting through the rest of this muddled mess. A one time watch, if that, only if you are a massive fan of the two leads.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

01/15/23

Full Review

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Richard Benjamin

Director

Clint Eastwood

Lieutenant Speer

Burt Reynolds

Mike Murphy

Jane Alexander

Addy

Madeline Kahn

Caroline Howley

Rip Torn

Primo Pitt

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Paul Attanasio

Washington Post

... the movie's never as good as it might have been.

Jan 4, 2018

Full Review

Variety Staff

Variety

An amiable but decidedly lukewarm confection geared entirely around the two star turns.

Dec 8, 2007

Full Review

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.

Feb 9, 2006

Full Review

David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

There's little doubt that City Heat gets off to a distressingly disastrous start...

Rated: 2/4

Mar 19, 2020

Full Review

Molly Haskell

Vogue

Burt and Clint might not go down as one of the great comic teams in history, but as a private investigator and a cop in City Heat, they bring fireworks to a lackluster season.

Feb 28, 2020

Full Review

David Elliott

Copley News Service

Imagine The Sting without charm, and you have a fix on City Heat.

Feb 22, 2019

Full Review

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Synopsis

In 1933, private investigator Mike Murphy (Burt Reynolds) is shocked when his partner, Dehl Swift (Richard Roundtree), is killed by thugs working for Primo Pitt (Rip Torn). Furious, Murphy asks his former police partner, Lt. Speer (Clint Eastwood), for help in putting a stop to the mobster. Though the two men now despise each other, Speer reluctantly agrees to help Murphy solve the murder -- while both court the private eye's secretary, Addy (Jane Alexander).

Director: Richard Benjamin
Screenwriter: Joseph C. Stinson, Blake Edwards
Production Co: Warner Bros., Malpaso Company
Rating: PG
Genre: Action, Comedy, Crime, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 1, 2009
Sound Mix: Surround

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